The Apostles Creed

The Apostles' Creed is one of the oldest and most concise summaries of Christian doctrine, traditionally believed to have originated with the Twelve Apostles — each contributing one article of faith — though modern scholarship dates its present form to around the 7th or 8th century, developed from earlier baptismal creeds. It covers the essential mysteries of the faith: the nature of God as Trinity, the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the beliefs that define the Christian life and hope. In Catholic practice it is used at Baptism as the profession of faith, as the opening prayer of the Rosary, and in certain forms of the Liturgy of the Hours. It is also recited at Sunday Mass in some rites and is accepted by most Protestant traditions, giving it a genuinely ecumenical standing. For many believers it serves as a daily anchor — a concise recollection of what the faith holds to be true.