The Creed of Saint Athanasius

(Commonly So-called)

Which Faith except everyone 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 : another of the Holy Ghost.

But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one : the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate : the Holy Ghost uncreate.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible : the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal : and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet there are not three eternals : but One eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated : 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 there 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 we are 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 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 afore, or after other : none is greater, or less than another;

But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together : and co-equal.

So that in all things, as is aforesaid : the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved : must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation : that he also believe rightly 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 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 man : but by taking up of 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 account for 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, he cannot be saved.