I was disappointed we did not get to confess the Athanasian Creed today. Instead we only confessed a summary of it responsively. For my own (and your own) edification, the Athanasian Creed:
The Athanasian Creed
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood; Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
For those of you who prefer the Latin text : Creeds of Christendom, with a History and Critical notes. Volume II. The History of Creeds. (iv.i.iv)
In the bulletin, it was mistakenly credited to St. Athanasius. While its authorship is unknown, many opinions preside over its origin and author. Regardless of its authenticity, we do believe it to be a rightful confession of the God as Trinity.
One opinion is : CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Athanasian Creed
For the past two hundred years the authorship of this summary of Catholic Faith and the time of its appearance have furnished an interesting problem to ecclesiastical antiquarians. Until the seventeenth century, the “Quicunque vult”, as it is sometimes called, from its opening words, was thought to be the composition of the great Archbishop of Alexandria whose name it bears. In the year 1644, Gerard Voss, in his “De Tribus Symbolis”, gave weighty probability to the opinion that St. Athanasius was not its author. His reasons may be reduced to the two following: firstly, no early writer of authority speaks of it as the work of this doctor; and secondly, its language and structure point to a Western, rather than to an Alexandrian, origin. Most modern scholars agree in admitting the strength of these reasons, and hence this view is the one generally received today. Whether the Creed can be ascribed to St. Athanasius or not, and most probably it cannot, it undoubtedly owes it existence to Athanasian influences, for the expressions and doctrinal colouring exhibit too marked a correspondence, in subject-matter and in phraseology, with the literature of the latter half of the fourth century and especially with the writings of the saint, to be merely accidental. These internal evidences seem to justify the conclusion that it grew out of several provincial synods, chiefly that of Alexandria, held about the year 361, and presided over by St. Athanasius. It should be said, however, that these arguments have failed to shake the conviction of some Catholic authors, who refuse to give it an earlier origin than the fifth century.
Another is found here: Quicumque
The Athanasian Creed, also know as the “Quicumque vult”, was formerly recited at the office of Prime on Sundays. It is one of the four authoritative Creeds of the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church and some Protestant Churches also hold it to be authoritative. While the Creed has always been attributed to St. Athanasius (d. 373 AD), it was unknown in the Eastern Churches until the 12th century and thus it is unlikely he is the author. St. Ambrose is one suggested author, but many authors have been proposed with no conclusive agreements reached. Current theory suggests it was composed in southern France in the 5th century. In 1940, the lost ‘Excerpta’ of St. Vincent of Lerins (flourished in 440: “quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est”) was discovered, and this work contains much of the language of the Creed. Thus, either St. Vincent, or an admirer have been suggested as the author. The earliest known copy of the creed was included in a prefix to a collection of homilies by Caesarius of Arles (died 542).
Finally from the ever popular Wikipedia : Athanasian Creed – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Athanasian Creed (Quicunque vult) is a statement of Christian doctrine traditionally ascribed to St. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, who lived in the 4th century. However most of today’s historians agree that in all probability it was originally written in Latin, not in Greek, and probably originated in Gaul around 500; if so, then Athanasius cannot have been the original author. Its theology is closely akin to that found in the writing of Western theologians, especially Ss. Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo, and Vincent of Lérins. J.N.D. Kelly, a contemporary patristics scholar, believes that St. Vincent of Lérin may have been its author (J.N.D. Kelly, The Athanasian Creed, NY: Harper and Row, 1964).
It was designed to overcome Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism, and Macedonianism. The filioque is part of its original text. Liturgically, this Creed was recited at the Sunday Office of Prime in the Western Church; it is not used in the Eastern Church.
Today the Athanasian Creed is rarely used even in the Western Church. When used, one common practice is to use it once a year on Trinity Sunday.
The irony of our liturgy today (complete with Praise band) was that many of the “songs” confessed God’s glory and the two “hymns” confessed what God has done. Reading the creed clearly speaks of the Trinity not in relation to God’s glory but rather to who God is by what God has done.
For example, we sang with the Praise team:
“Father/Jesus/Spirit, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy Name, in all the Earth!
Glorify Thy Name, Glorify Thy Name, Glorify Thy Name in all the Earth!”
This is certainly a confession of God as Trinity. Praise and glory should be given to him. Yet such singing makes no statement of faith. It is no confession of God as he has made known to us. It is a nebulous and indefinite confession.
Contrast the song versus our closing hymn (not led by the Praise team) :
“God Loved the World So that He Gave”
Hymn #245
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 3:16
Author: unknown, 1791, cento
Tranlsated by: August Crull, 1923, alt.
Titled: “Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt”
Composer: Geroge J. Elvey, 1862
Tune: “St. Crispin”“1. God loved the world so that He gave
His only Son the lost to save
That all who would in Him believe
Should everlasting life receive.2. Christ Jesus is the Ground of faith,
Who was made flesh and suffered death;
All that confide in Him alone
Are built on this chief Corner-stone.3. God would not have the sinner die,
His Son with saving grace is nigh,
His Spirit in the Word doth teach
How man the blessed goal may reach.4. Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son
Forgives all sins which thou hast done;
Thou’rt justified by Jesus’ blood,
Thy Baptism grants the highest good.5. If thou be sick, if death draw near,
This truth thy troubled heart can cheer:
Christ Jesus saves my soul from death,
That is the firmest ground of faith.6. Glory to God the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To Thee, O blessed Trinity,
Be praise now and eternally!”
Now that actually confesses something! It would not be hard to turn even that hymn into a “praise song.” Take the last stanza and repeat it three times. To do so would miss the meat of the text and scripture. How do we know God as Trinity? That is, by what he has done.
We confess that Athanasian Creed not because it is long, is confusing, or is traditional. No, we confess this creed because it speaks to us of Him and teaches us of Him. It rightfully exposes God’s Word to us. Confess it!
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