The Apostles' Creed is an early statement of Christian belief, probably from the first or second century. It appears to have been written as a response to Gnosticism. Generally, the creed is stated today as follows, with alternate words in parentheses:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
- And (or I believe) in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the (or by the power of the) Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit), born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; he descended into hell (or into Hades or to the dead); the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on (or is seated at) the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick (or living) and the dead.
- I believe in the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit); the holy catholic (or universal) church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
- ''Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae.
- ''Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum: qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
- Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
