"The Apostles' Creed, or Symbolum Apostolicum, is, as to its form, not the
production of the apostles, as was formerly believed, but an admirable popular
summary of the apostolic teaching, and in full harmony with the spirit and
even the letter of the New Testament. As the Lord's Prayer is the Prayer of
prayers, the Decalogue the Law of laws, so the Apostles' Creed is the Creed of
creeds. It contains all the fundamental articles of the Christian faith
necessary to salvation, in the form of facts, in simple Scripture language,
and in the most natural order – the order of revelation – from God
and the creation down to the resurrection and life everlasting. It is
Trinitarian, and divided into three chief articles, expressing faith –
in God the Father, the Maker of heaven and earth, in his only Son, our Lord
and Saviour, and in the Holy Spirit (in Deum Patrem, in Jesum Christum, in
Spiritum Sanctum); the chief stress being laid on the second article, the
supernatural birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. ... It is by far
the best popular summary of the Christian faith ever made within so brief a
space. As to the origin of the Apostles' Creed, it no doubt gradually grew out
of the confession of Peter, Matthew 16:16...."
(From The Creeds of Christendom, Volume 1, by Philip Schaff, 1877)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [universal] church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.