Creed of the Apostles

The Creed of the Apostles or Apostles' Creed was titled 'Symbolum Apostolorum.

Reference to an Apostles' Creed appears for the first time in a letter, probably written by Ambrose, from a Council in Milan to Pope Siricius in about 390 AD "Let them give credit to the Creed of the Apostles, which the Roman Church has always kept and preserved undefiled".

Pope Siricius was elected Bishop of Rome and was the first to issue decretals and would later be called the Pope. His first was the Directa decretal which claimed apostolic origin for clerical celibacy. These Decretals were a departure from the Doctrines of Jesus about exercising authority one over the other.

But what existed at that time was not what is now known as the Apostles' Creed but a shorter statement of belief that, for instance, did not include the phrase "maker of heaven and earth", a phrase that may have been inserted only in the 7th century.

This illumination from a 13th-century manuscript shows the apostles writing the Creed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with each of the twelve contributing one of the articles, was already current at that time.

There appears to be no truth to this made up story.

The Ambrose who had written Siricius was elected by the voice of the people as bishop of Milan. But these voters were “instant Christians”, formed at the emperor’s command, not by repentance but by government order to be baptized. These just add water converts would alter Christianity.

Ambrose, was the son of the governor of Gaul and a former high Roman official. He had asked the emperor if he could become Bishop of Milan and was granted that right by this self-appointed Bishop of Bishops. Before Ambrose could accept this position, he had to take time to research what Christianity was, for he had no idea. He returned sometime later with his own doctrines.

Ambrose considered a bishop as an “aristocratic figure” and formulated the Church according to the “ways of Rome issuing decrees, edicts, and commands”, rather than serving as a subject, minister, and servant of the people. He also displayed a fierce hatred of women that was carried into the middle ages. He was intolerant of other religions and actually argued in the Roman Senate that all other religions should be stamped out. This seems in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus. The idea that other religions should be persecuted by Roman force and policy seems to fly in the face of the injustice of the Crucifixion itself.

“Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?” Colossians 2:21-22

These people, by a majority vote, chose a single, top-down ruling bishop for thousands and, at the command of a tyrant and his Edict of Milan, were not Christians of repentance, although, they may have been baptized with water and fanfare.

The Milan Church, its hierarchy of authority, was established by the spirit and character of Constantine, not by Christ. Much of what we see as the Church today has come down through this tainted religion and apostasy. To understand the Church and its position in the Kingdom of God, we must go back to its origin, which is Christ, not Constantine.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

The Early Church was much different than the Modern Christians and their Churches.

While much of what is in in the Creed may be true it is a distraction from what Christ said about being a Doer of the word. The Early Christian and what they did was in Conflict with Rome. Many of the modern Churches preach a way that has more in common with the Corban of the Pharisees that made the word of God to none effect than they do with the Early Church and its daily ministration.

Creed use to mean 'I engage'.

Creed

Alexander of Alexandria sought to excommunicate Eusebius as a heretic until Eusebius submitted and agreed to the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicea in 325.

What about the creed? Who is to define and explain it? Isn't agreeing how it is applied an important thing?

We believe that agreeing as to the meaning of the creed is dependent on agreeing with Christ. That is a process that may require mutual rebuke and reproof amongst men and women over a long time. The agreement we seek comes in time as we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness... The Church is a system in which you may seek the way of Christ. Joining the Church does not make your salvation real. It is joining with Christ that we must seek. The Church should never come between that connection of faith.

HHC Creed http://www.hisholychurch.org/creed.php

Creeds and Conclusions http://www.hisholychurch.org/creed2.php

Creed notes in PDF. http://www.hisholychurch.org/creednotes.pdf

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.