The Athanasian Creed

The Trinity

1. Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith.
2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
3. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
4. Neither confounding the persons: nor dividing the substance.
5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.
6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost.
8. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal.
11. And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
12. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
13. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
14. And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
15. So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God.
16. And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord.
18. And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord;
20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion: to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
21. The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
22. The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
25. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another;
26. But the whole three persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal.
27. So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped.
28. He therefore that will be saved: must thus think of the Trinity.

The Incarnation

29. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
30. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man;
31. God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and man, of the substance of his mother, born in the world;
32. Perfect God, and perfect man: of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;
33. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood.
34. Who although he be God and man: yet he is not two, but one Christ;
35. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking of the manhood into God;
36. One altogether; not by confusion of substance: but by unity of person.
37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and man is one Christ;
38. Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
39. 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.
40. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works.
41. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
42. This is the catholic faith: which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.