What is the Athanasian Creed?

The Athanasian Creed stands as one of the three great creeds of Western Christianity, alongside the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. The Athanasian Creed is notable for its detailed and precise articulation of core Christian doctrines, particularly those concerning the Trinity and the nature of Christ. This blog post explores the origins, structure, content, and lasting impact of the Athanasian Creed.

Historical Background

Despite its name, the Athanasian Creed was almost certainly not written by Athanasius of Alexandria, the renowned fourth-century defender of Trinitarian orthodoxy. Most scholars believe the creed was composed in Southern Gaul (modern-day France) around the fifth or sixth century. Its association with Athanasius likely stems from the desire to lend it greater authority, given his reputation as a staunch opponent of Arianism—a heresy denying the full divinity of Christ.

The Athanasian Creed emerged in a context where the Western Church sought to clarify and defend orthodox beliefs against various heresies that threatened Christian unity. It was intended as a teaching tool and a statement of faith, ensuring that Christians understood the essentials of their religion, especially regarding the mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation.

Structure and Language

The Athanasian Creed is longer and more detailed than the Apostles’ or Nicene Creeds. Written in Latin, it is sometimes known by its opening words, “Quicunque vult” (“Whoever wishes”). The document is structured in two main sections: the first deals with the doctrine of the Trinity, and the second focuses on Christology—the doctrine concerning the nature and person of Jesus Christ.

The creed is characterized by its uncompromising language. It begins and ends with warnings that adherence to the faith as outlined is necessary for salvation. This feature has made it both a powerful assertion of orthodoxy and, at times, a controversial document due to its seemingly exclusionary tone.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

The first half of the Athanasian Creed offers one of the most thorough and precise explanations of the Trinity in Christian literature. It insists that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each fully and equally God, yet there are not three gods but one God. The creed carefully avoids both tritheism (the belief in three gods) and modalism (the belief that the Father, Son, and Spirit are merely modes or aspects of one person). Instead, it affirms the co-equality and co-eternity of the three persons of the Trinity, emphasizing that each is uncreated, infinite, and almighty, yet there is only one God.

The Doctrine of Christ

The second section addresses the doctrine of the Incarnation, echoing the Christological definitions of the early ecumenical councils. It declares that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, possessing two complete natures united in one person. The creed affirms the virgin birth, the real suffering and death of Christ, his resurrection, and his ascension. This section was crucial in countering heresies that denied either the divinity or humanity of Jesus or misunderstood how the two natures relate within the one person of Christ.

Importance and Legacy

Though never adopted as an official creed by the universal church, the Athanasian Creed has been highly influential in shaping Western Christian theology, especially in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant traditions. For centuries, it was recited in liturgical settings, particularly during Trinity Sunday and at other times of catechesis. Its precise formulations have provided theologians with a benchmark for orthodoxy and a tool for teaching the faith.

In recent times, the use of the Athanasian Creed in regular worship has declined, partly due to its length and partly because of its stern warnings about salvation. Nonetheless, it remains a valuable historical document. Its careful distinctions help modern Christians appreciate the depth and complexity of the doctrines that have shaped their faith.