ANALYZING AMBIGUITIES IN THE APOSTLES CREED

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• The Apostles Creed begins:

  I BELIEVE...The "Rule of faith" (creeds) of the early church spoken of in the bible, and having been formed by the Lord Himself at Pentecost, was the scripture itself. By 180 AD, oral and written creeds began to come into general use. This articles will review for you the Apostles Creed, both in it's origins, and it's evolutions.

  You can take a look for yourself at the message the Apostles Creed sets forth. What century it was written in, and who the apostles were who penned it. While you as a believer profess faith in the bible, what do you owe to centuries of tradition if they do not square with scripture? Absolutely nothing!

  If a person tries the spirit of a thing by God's Word, and it is proven to be the truth this is what matters. Some historical documents are partial truthes. Some are outright lies. The men who penned these have varying degrees of biblical faith. Some were totally decadent individuals. Yet the Catholic church used it's authority to place an anathema on true born again, Spirit filled men and women of God. Yet the bible says: It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? We owe our allegiance to God and to His unerring word.

  Schaf's Encyclopedia states that the Apostles Creed grew out of a desire to define Water Baptism.

  "This Creed gradually grew out of the comparison and assimilation of the Baptismal Creeds of the principal Churches in the West or Latin half of the ancient Church. The most complete and popular forms of these baptismal creeds were those of Rome, Aquileja, Milan, Ravenna, Carthage, and Hippo, "of which the Roman form, enriching itself by additions from others, gradually gained the more general acceptance. While the several articles considered separately are all of Nicene or Anti-nicene origin, the creed as a whole in its present form cannot be traced beyond the sixth century."--Schaff's " Creeds of Christendom." vol. 1. p. 20.

  WHAT IS AN APOSTLE?

  Strong’s defines the word as, "apostolos, ap-os'-tol-os, a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.[3] 77 times the word apostolos is used for Apostle or Apostles, once as "he that is sent" (John 13:16), once as "be enquired of, they are the messengers" (2 Corinthians 8:23) and once as "messenger" (Philippians 2:25) Easton’s Bible Dictionary - It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he entrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel[4] This word is used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father Hebrews 3:1, "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"

  John 20:21 "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."

  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." (Hebrews 3:1)

  It is generally used as designating that body of disciples to whom the Lord entrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called. We call this doctrine written in the cannon of scripture, which was penned by the Lord's own specially chosen apostles "The Apostles Doctrine."

  • Matthew 10:1-5 "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:"

  • Mark 3:14-15 "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:"
  • Mark 6:7 "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;"
  • Luke 6:13 "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;"
  • Luke 9:1 "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."

  The Lord Himself spoke of those who "say they are apostles and are not." So it is important to know who are the literal apostles of Messiah and who are not. One of Messiah's own qualifications for an apostle is contained in the gospel of Matthew.

  "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20)

  An example of documents set forth by "false apostles" is seen in the the doctrine of the Nicolaitans" which the Lord Himself hated! This false doctrine is spoken of in the Apocalypse of John to the churches of Pergamos and Ephesus of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation. The term Nicolaitans represent a hierarchy who exercised authority as a ruling class over the rest of the people, thus developing a pecking order of leadership.

  WHAT IS A CREED?

  The English word "creed," is derived from the Latin term "credo," meaning, "I believe." A creed therefore is a "statement of faith." It tells what a person believes. Any statement of the Christian faith must not rest in the wisdom of man, but solely in the Word of God.

  The Lord God places tremendous stress upon the importance of believing God's Word. Traditional idealogies which do not line up with scripture are to be mercilessly disgarded, that the individual may have a foundation like a house built upon the Rock. Not the shifting sands of man's opinion. Where did the Apostles Creed originate? Who were the apostles who are thought to have penned it? Were they actually apostles as God views the caliber of this calling in scripture? Do we find it exactly as it's written in it's original form, in the scriptures? What was it's original form?

  The New Testament does contain an example of a biblical creed which was spoken by the Apostle Peter at Caesarea Philippi, in response to the question Jesus addressed to him: "But who do you say that I am?" Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter immediately replied, "You are the Christ." (Mark 8:29) Three decades later, in writing to the Philippians, Paul concluded his marvellous hymn to Christ with what remains one of the foundational creeds of Christianity, "Jesus Christ is Lord." (Phil. 2:11).

  The historical document termed The Apostles Creed begins like this...

  I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN & EARTH.

  WHO IS THE ALMIGHTY?

  Rev. 1:8 depicts the Almighty God's identity as none other than Yeshua/Jesus Christ.

  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

  The writer of Colossians recorded this by inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

  8 Beware lest any man aspoil you through philosophy and vain cdeceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are acomplete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the acircumcision made without hands, in putting off the bbody of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the . 13 And you, being in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he aquickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2:8-15

  THE PROPHET ISAIAH WAS GIVEN A VISION OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD:

  The Prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 6:1, penned the following description of God as "The Almighty:"

  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

  This statement in the Apostles Creed that "The Father created the heavens and the earth," does not define God as the Creator quite as clearly as scripture itself does elsewhere, where we read that Christ Himself did the creating.

  16) For by him were all things bcreated, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were dcreated by him, and for him:

  (Col. 1: 16)

  In Genesis 1:1, where it tells us: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The reason for this is because God is used of the Godhead, whereas "The Father" is considered by Trinitarians to be one member of the Trinity. For this reason the statement concerning the Creator reads more correctly in other creeds, which simply call the Creator "God," or state that "God made the heavens and the earth."

  God taught Israel: "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord. (Deut. 6:4) The Apostles Creed, which was purports to be written by the apostles of the bible, was the product of the Western Church, as the Nicean Creed was written by the Eastern Church. By it's title, many no doubt assume it's authorship to be the apostles we read of in the bible, but it is not.

  The author of the Apostles Creed, who is unknown; compartmentalizes the Godhead in a gnostic way which distorts the actual truthes of scripture.

  The Catholic Encyclopedia dates the Apostles Creed as the 4th century, stating that "No uniform type of Creed can be surely recognized among the eastern writers before the Council of Nicea."

  Philip Schaff makes the statement: The first accounts we have of these primitive creeds are merely fragmentary." "The first writer in the West who gives us the text of the latin creed with a commentary is Rufinus, towards the close of the 4th century. The Roman Creed he authored seems to bear the earmarks of the present Apostles Creed.

  "THE OLD ROMAN CREED"

  The Old Roman Creed which was the Catechism of the Council of Trent, forms the origin of the existing Apostles Creed. It's not difficult to understand why people wished in time, to drop the appelation "The Roman Creed." The Catholic Church performed the wholesale slaughter of 100's of God's true saints, who yet cry to Him from under the altar "How long Oh Lord till thou dost judge..." Having eliminated these, of whom the world was not worthy, the Catholic church cannonized their 100's of it's own "saints," among whom was the heathen Emperor Constantine himself!

  I BELIEVE in God almighty [the Father almighty—(Rufinus)]
  And in Christ Jesus, his only Son, our Lord
  Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
  Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried
  And the third day rose from the
  Who ascended into heaven
  And sitteth on the right hand of the Father
  Whence he cometh to judge the living and the .
  And in the Holy Spirit
  The holy church
  The remission of sins
  The resurrection of the flesh
  The life everlasting. [Rufinus omits this line.]

  IN WHAT CENTURY WAS THE APOSTLES CREED WRITTEN?

  The Creed called "The Apostles Creed" is generally accepted to be a doctrinal development written sometime prior to the 10th century. The present form of the Apostles' Creed first appeared in the 6th century in the writings of Caesarius of Arles. (d 542) It is also found in the writings of St. Pirminius (founder [in 724] and first abbot of the monastery of Reichenau, an island on the western arm of Lake Constance).

  Writers such as Tertullian (c. 200) made the statement: "We believe one only God, and the Son of God Jesus Christ." This statement is along the lines of the benedictions of the New Testament epistles.

  Quoting Tertullian in De Praecept, again he states: "I believe in one God, maker of the world."

  Psalm 8:1 testifies of God's Creation work, saying:

  O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

  In speaking of the Godhead, no where in scripture does Messiah affirm a Trinitarian belief. He does say: "I and My Father are ONE." (Not two) In Matthew 28:19, in which Jesus gives the great commission, he commands His disciples:

  "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them (eis) into (1 singular name not 3 titles) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

  The Apostles received this command by revelation, and without deviating from the Lord's command baptized all converts "In the name of Jesus Christ," for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5)

  Messiah reiterates the fact that His own doctrine originates with His Heavenly Father, and that anyone who abides in the doctrine of Christ abides in the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9) Jesus Christ clearly states His "one God" doctrine in Mark 12:28-29, They asked Him: Which commandment is greatest of all? Jesus answered them: The foremost is: "Hear O Israel, the Lord they God is one Lord."

  I know from scripture that "God is one." Or I believe in the truth that God is one. (Deut. 4:35-39, Psalm 86:10,Is. 43:10, Is. 44;6) The scriptures tell us: Thou believest that God is one? Thou doest well. Even the demons believe and tremble!" Nobody can convince me otherwise.

  Jesus said: If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. (John 14:7-9) I and My Father are one. (John 10:30) Messiah is the express image of God's person. The image of the invisible God. (2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15) It is not definitive enough, as in this creed, to say that the world was created by "the Father." It would be specific to state that the world was created by the Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, for He is the Godhead revealed. In Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Col. 2:9) The New Testament states Messiah is the Creator. And He is the image of the invisible God. For by Him, all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers, or authorities--all things were created by Him and for Him, and he is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16)

  How is Messiah the Godhead revealed? Rev. 1:8, states "I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End--THE ALMIGHTY.

  The Psalmist, in speaking of creation, wrote: "Thou dost send forth Thy Spirit and they are created." (Psalm 104:30)

  Genesis opens with "In the beginning God..." He also existed prior to "the beginning," for God is eternal. a) God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) b) God is Light. (1 John 1:5) c) God is love. (1 John 4:17) It is His love which compels Him to set rules, governing His creation. Whoever dwells in love dwells in God. (1 Jn. 4:16-19) God wants His love to be in the hearts of His people. (Jn. 17:24-26, 13:34-35) d) God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:29)

• AND IN JESUS CHRIST HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD.

  I believe in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ-God's Son, my Saviour as Lord of all. The doctrine of Christ is much fuller than a statement of a few words. In the New Testament times, "To confess Christ," meant more than a one-liner from the Apostle's Creed, but their testimony as the righteousness of God in Christ, was of those who are as bold as a lion, sons amid a crooked and perverse generation, lead of the Spirit of God. (Romans 8:14, Gal. 5:18) With a life-style, complete with the power of God evidenced in speaking with new tongues supernaturally, as on the Day of Pentecost, laying hands on the sick, casting out demons, and walking in divine protection, by the power of God, as it states in Mark 16:16-18)

  Thus we understand what we read: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spiritus to see whether they be of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is from God. Every spirit that does NOT confess Yeshua/Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of antichrist. (1 John 4:2-3)

  In the Greek text, this verse declaring "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is in the continuing action. He is alive! He is manifesting His presence in and through the lives of believers. While is is true that Yeshua/Jesus has come and is coming again, this verse focuses upon the deity of Christ. He is no longer in the tomb, but has risen just as He said. (Matt. 26:32)

  WHE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

  The Apostles Creed tells us that Messiah was "conceived by the Holy Spirit." According the the Trinitarian belief, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal. Does the bible define for us who the actual "Father" of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the apostles of the Lamb, who lived and walked with Him, and saw His miracles, His ascension, and penned the holy scripture?

  The angel who came to the virgin Mary said: "The power of The Highest will over-shadow you." (Luke 1:35) Which member of the Trinity is referred to as "The Highest," in a 3 member Godhead, if the so-called members are all co-equal?" In speaking of the members of the Trinity as Trinitarian teachers, who fragment the Godhead into various job descriptions, how many fathers or persons of the Godhead "fathered" Messiah and how many fathers does Yeshua/Jesus have? He has one according to scripture, which says: "There is one God and Father of us all,who is above all and through all and in you all. (Eph. 4:6) God according to John is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. The Father is Spirit. He is called "The Holy Spirit" to further define his nature. But Eph. makes it clear there are not two separate members of the Godhead that are Spirit. There is ONE SPIRIT. (Eph. 4:4)

  The angel that appeared to Joseph said: "Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 1:20) Messiah calls His Father "The Father,"and it's to the Father that He directs all His prayers. He teaches his disciples to pray "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." (Matt. 6:9)

  The Deity of Jesus Christ

  HE WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY

  • A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. His name shall be called Immanuel, meaning "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14)
  • Born of a woman, born under the law. (Gal. 4:4)
  • Of Mary, by whom was born Jesus. (Matt. 1:16)
  • For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlastin Father, the Prince of Peace. (Is.9:6)
  • The Lord our righteousness. (Jer.23:5-6)
  • From Bethlehem shall come forth He whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
  • What is His name? What is His Son's name if thou canst tell? (Prov 30:4)

  The Humanity of Jesus Christ

  As a Messiah hungered, thirsted, wept, lived, loved, sorrowed, and died on the cross.

  He was born of the Virgin Mary

  Messiah is the God-man. God Himself incarnated Himself in the flesh. Messiah did the works of God. He demonstrated authority over the elements in calming the sea. Multiplied the loaves and fishes, and said: Destroy this temple (speaking of the temple of His body) and in three days "I" will raise it up," and many other things.

  • Redeemer is seed of the woman, who would bruise the serpents head. (Gen. 3:15)
  • Messiah would be of the tents of Shem. (Gen. 9:26)
  • The Redeemer would be of the seed of Abraham. (Gen. 22:18)
  • Messiah would come from the seed of Isaac. (Gen. 26:1-2)
  • The promise would come through the seed of Jacob. (Gen. 28:13-14)
  • Messiah would hail from the tribe of Judah. (Gen. 49:10-11)
  • Messiah shall come from the House of David. (11 Sam. 7:12-14)

  Messiah will be the Lord and Saviour of all those who repent and turn from their sins, being baptized in haShem/the name of Yeshua/Jesus, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, as stated in Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5)

  If you don't want the whole package purchased at Calvary, don't salve your conscience with a portion of it. There's no guarantee you'll make it to heaven, because pride is as the sin of witchcraft.

• I believe Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, as prophesied.

  Biblical doctrine of Mary states that the Angel Gabriel was sent to a Hebrew virgin named Mary, and the power of the Highest, over-shadowed her, and she conceived with no human intervention, but by the Holy Spirit. (Jeremiah 31:22, Luke 1:26-35)

• HE DESCENDED INTO HELL...?

  "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1 Peter 3:18-20)

  24) "Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of : because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
  (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither will thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption." (Acts 2:24,27)

  Biblically Yeshua/Jesus did not preach to the spirits in hell. He rather descended into Sheol, which was divided into two compartments, but this was not what is defined as the biblical "hell." There is a difference! The Hebrew term Sheol is translated as the unseen state, the grave, and the pit. (Deut. 32:22, 11 Sam. 22:6, Psalm 18:5, Job 11:8, 26:6, Psalm 9:17, 16:10, 55:15; 86:13, Prov. 23:14, 15:11, 27:20, Amos 9:2, Jonah 2:2, Isaiah 14:9, 15.)

  However if you read a description of hell, and it has quite a different appearance than Sheol! Gehenna is hell, and is derived from the Hebrew word "ge hinnom," or Valley of Hinnom, which was the garbage dump outside Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, when Israel fell into the worship of Baal, they sacrificed their children to him. This was called "making them pass through the fire." (Deut. 18:10,Lev 18:21, Ezek. 23:27,39, 2 Chron 28:3-4, 33:6, Jer 7:31,19:1-12) In the New Testament it symbolizes a place of eternal fire and final punishment. (Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 23:15-33, Mark 9:43-47, Luke 12:5, James 3:6.)

  Yeshua/Jesus parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus, bears out that this is the case. (Luke 16:19-31) a) One side was for the righteous . b) The other side was for the unrighteous , or wicked. When Messiah ascended into heaven, "he led captivity captive," and paradize was "caught up." Jesus said to the thief on the cross: "Verily I say to thee, This day thou wilt be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

  Sheol means "the grave," or state of the ." In 1 Pet. 3:9, we read: "By which also he (Yeshua/Jesus) went and preached unto the spirits in prison." Sheol, the place of departed spirits, held even the righteous , because at the fall of mankind, all had sinned, so all were imprisoned in Sheol. However, God witnessed that there were men and women of faith, and provided a chamber for them in Sheol. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) This is simply an extension of the ministry of haMashiach/Christ seen in the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 61:2:

  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath anointed me, to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recoveringof sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."

  Satan was given the mortgage to the whole human race, for that all had sinned. After the blood of the Lamb was applied to the Heavenly Mercy Seat, this imprisonment was illegal! Messiah went to declare the release of those souls "unjustly held." "For until the Law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the simultude of Adams transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:12-14) Reading 1 Peter 3:19:

  "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited, in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is 8 souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities, and powers being made subject to him." (Acts 2:28, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5)

  "For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned but delivered them in chains of darkness, having cast them to the deepest abyss (Tartarus) to be kept for judgement". Tartarus, then, was also a place of waiting--a jail or prison for the angels that fell. Obviously they have been found guilty but they await the sentence which comes at the Great White Throne judgement. (1 Cor. 6:3, Rev. 20:11-15, 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6.) This judgement is graphically described in Revelation 20:11 - 15 when and Hades and all whose names are not in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.

  In Rev. 5:5-6, we see Apostle John given a vision in which he sees nobody worthy to open the scroll sealed front and back. He is told to "Weep not!" for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has prevailed" to open the scroll." He looked and in the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having 7 horns and 7 eyes which are the 7 Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

  Catholics may favor saying "Jesus descended into HELL, for it fits better with the idea of being released by saying enough "Hail Marys!" But again, this is not an accurate translation. If you change your view, you will not go to hell, for feeling that this is something you do not want to confess because it's not biblically accurate.

  For thousands of years Protestants, have been coerced and intimidated into confessing religious creeds, or risk "excommunication." Messiah promised: "You will be brought before kings... and rulers for my names sake, and it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it in your hearts not to meditate before what you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which ALL your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. (Luke 21:15) Yeshua/Jesus says in Rev. 2:7, that if we refuse to tolorate false apostles who appear as angels of light, He will grant us access to the tree of life in the midst of the paradize of God.

  Constantine, who called forth the Council of Nicea and got the creed thing going-- was no minister of the gospel. He saw himself more like the First Pope, presiding as an overlord over the body of Christ! Yet he ed his wife and other family members for political expediency. He paid the way of 318 bishops, to the church council at Nicea. Then when he was finally baptized when dying. Having seen no need to do this beforehand, he chose the very man whose doctrine the council had met to depose to baptise him. In church history, whole nations were bought and sold with intimidation. Man cannot make subjection to "a man-made creed" the judge of orthodoxy, in a persons life. We've read a number of these "creeds," and have yet to see one that squares with the bible. Well "close enough," some say! This shows that they do not mind being "somewhat off the plumb-line." But when the Builder and maker is God, and he drew up the plans, He cares! God's written word alone is the true test of biblical orthodoxy.

  Messiah did not take the unrepentant wicked to heaven when paradize was "caught up," and no amount of "Hail Mary's" will pray them in or through! Through the church ages, when the Nicolaitans were hammering out false doctrines and ratifying them at church councils, while they validated sinners, the word of the Lord stood true. "To him that overcomes, I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a "white stone." In ancient times, the legal system was such that the jury tossed a black stone in the pot if they believed a man to be guilty, or a white stone for acquittal. Religious kangaroo courts may judge you falsely, but remain true to God's word, and Messiah will give you a white stone upon which a "new name" is written. Better a "white stone" than a white cane religion, I always say!

  Again in 1 Pet. 4:6, we read: "For this cause, was the gospel preached also to them that are , that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit."

  This phrase: "He descended into hell," was one of those phrases put in without judging doctrine as the bible admonishes. Hell is the placeof eternal torment from which there is no release. (Rev. 14:11, 2 Thess. 1:9)

• I BELIEVE THAT ON THE THIRD DAY FOLLOWING MESSIAH'S ATONING WORD ON THE CROSS, HE RAISED FROM THE GRAVE.

  The bible states that God raised Him:

  a) Because of His perfect obedience to His Father's will. (Phil. 2:0) b) To be Head over the church. Eph. 1:19-23, c) To confirm His deity. (Rom. 1:4) d) To be the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. (John 1:33, Acts 2:32-33) e) To be our Great Advocate and Intercessor. (Heb. 7:26-28, Rom. 8:34)

  As a sign and a wonder, when Christ raised from the , the graves of 500 people were opened, and walked about the city, and were seen. (Matt. 27:53)

  "And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city snd appeared unto many."

• I BELIEVE CHRIST ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, WHERE HE IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. (Since God is Spirit, this is a metaphor for the position of all power and authority. God is a Spirit, and spirits don't have "hands." (John 4:24) Psalm 89:25 says God's right hand is in he rivers. Where Messiah is seated, is where the New Testament believer is seated "in haMashiach/Christ." (Ephesians 2:6)

• I believe Christ will return to earth again, in the same manner as He went away, and He will both raise true believers from the grave, who have died in the faith, and take living believers together with Him, to heaven. (1 Cor. 15:20-23,35-38)

• I believe in the judgment of God.

  True believers must appear before the judgment seat of haMashiach/Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11-15, 11 Cor. 5:10-11) Believers shall be rewarded.

  Unbelievers shall appear before God's Great White Throne. (Rev. 20:11-15) They shall receive the wages of sin, and unrighteousness, which is eternal . (11 Pet. 2:13-15, Acts 1:18) The modern cities of Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, and San Francisco, and nations such as Europe, Britain, America, and Africa, shall be judged. (Matt. 10:15; 11:20-24; 12:38-42, Ecc. 11:9, 12:14

• I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

  The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is found throughout the bible, but primarily in this: "God is Spirit," and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) The Holy Spirit is spoken of in the terms of titles, such as "The Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth," (John 16:13) whom the world cannot receive for it does not behold Him nor know Him. (John 14:17) Jesus said: He is with you, but shall be in you. But again, the Lord said to His disciples: "I will not leave you comfortless, but I will come to you." (John 14:18) Modern philosophies would contradict this statement, but the word of God is true.

  Many have attempted to define the Spirit of God. In speaking of the Father, I wonder how many consider this a title for the Eternal Spirit of God, for Ephesians states there is "one Spirit." Father cannot be one Spirit and the Holy Spirit another Spirit of God, for God is one.

• I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH... ...The one true body of Christ.

  Whenever I hear the Apostle's Creed," I cannot bring myself to confess belief in the uh holyCatholic church, as stated in the creed. I believe there was one, similar to a wine press, from which flowed the blood of the martyrs, but not the church as defined in the New Testament.

  The "communion of saints, witnessed by the Catholic church, was along the lines of arrest, betrayal, and executions. The long list of saints claimed as Catholics, were for the large part, early Christians in Rome and out-lying areas, long before antisemitic spirits, ostracized the Messianic Jewish leaders of the church, drumming them out of the corps, and the spirits of error, which crept into the church brought about the enslavement of the Roman Catholic church and it's centuries in the Dark Ages.

  Although I am aware of the Charismatic Movement's influence on various denominations, I have lived long enough to have also seen the confusion, which came with it when people compromised the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Catholics loaded with familiar spirits, (demons) marching in the streets with pagan banners, publicly declaring "To Jesus through Mary," or the necromancy of Maryology, praying to Mary as Mediator instead of Christ, or rosary's said to Catholic saints, much like the Witch of Endor in the bible did, (1 Samuel 28:7) and of late, the plans to add her to the Godhead.

  Evangelism by the Catholic Church has too frequently shown them to be false apostles, and angels of light (demons) masquerading, and has brought many into it's fold, but to a "another Jesus and another gospel, as warned about by Apostle Paul. (Gal. 1:7)

  The doctrine or definition of the church, which the Apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, doesn't entirely resemble church doctrine of today. (Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5) Don't we have any reformers these days? Is it indifference, intimidation or what, that people fail to line up what's taught to them with the bible?

  There is but one way to become a member of the body of Christ, and it's through true repentance and turning from sin, being water baptized according to the apostles command in Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5. By obeying Yeshua/Jesus Acts 1:8 command, we are empowered for service, by being filled with God's Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

• THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS...

  The Communion of Saints is understood differently by Catholics who also confess the Apostles Creed. The Biblical communion is meant for all true born again, Spirit filled believers.

  1 Corinthians 11:23-27 "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."

  The bible speaks of the bread eaten at the Last Supper, saying it was normal unleavened bread such as that used during Passover. In the early church the Last Supper was held at a normal meal held on Sunday afternoon with normal bread. The Communion disc of the Catholic Church is circular like the Egyptian round bread that symbolized the sun and was absorbed into the Catholic church after the time of the Emperor Constantine.

• I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS: ...The bible teaches forgiveness of sins is based solely upon the shed blood of the Lord Yeshua/Jesus Christ, whose sinless life and atoning paid the price for our redemption.

  Sin covers a broad spectrum in the bible. a) Foolish thoughts. (Proverbs 24:9) b) Transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4) c) All unrighteousness is sin. (1 John 5:17) d) Not doing good is sin. (James 4:17) e) All unbelief is sinful. (Romans 14:23)

  The Greek word "repent," is used over 60 times in the New Testament. Before Christ went away, He said that repentance must be preached in all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:49) The first message Peter preached at Pentecost was a call to repentance. Apostle Paul preached repentance to both Jew and Gentile. (Acts 26:20-21)

  None are excluded from repentance because the bible says ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is , but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23) If your minister disagrees, don't believe him, or you'll be sitting in hell with him, one day, and you won't be a happy camper.

• I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.

  In the first resurrection of Rev.20:4-6, the resurrection of the just in Acts 24:15; Luke 14:14, the resurrection of life in John 5:29, the awakening to everlasting life in Daniel 12:2, and the better resurrection of Heb. 11:35.

  I also believe in the resurrection of the unrighteous in Rev. 20:4-6, the resurrection of the unjust in Acts 24:15, the resurrection unto damnation in John 5:29, and the awakening to shame and contempt in Daniel 12:2.

  The nature of the resurrected body is described in scripture, as being like Christ's own glorious body.

  • a) A real body, which has cognition and can be recognized by others, and which can experience fellowship and the glories of heaven. (Luke 24:39, John 5:28, 1 Cor. 15:22, Rev.20:12)
  • b) A spiritual body. (1 Cor. 15:42)
  • c) A redeemed body. (Romans 8"11-23,11 Cor. 5:4)
  • A glorious body, in comformity with the body of the glorified Christ. (Phil. 3:21, Luke 24:39)
  • An incorruptible or imperishable body. (1 Cor. 15:42) Our glorified body will be absolutely ageless, and filled with vitality. We have sorrowed at times in this life, because this realm called time, separates us inevitably from those we love, but we will see them again. No longer will we grow weary. God will wipe away every tear. No longer will we worry if we have skimpy hair or no hair, or if we are underweight or overweight, for this will be the body of which we have dreamed.

    For the unredeemed, this will not be so. Jesus said: Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28) Hell will be the destruction of ones total identity, for eternity.

  • A heavenly body. (1 Cor. 15:47-49, 2 Cor. 5:1-6) You won't be a blob floating in space, but you will be special and unique, like the stars which differ in glory.

  • AND IN LIFE EVERLASTING...AMEN!

  Life Everlasting, simply put is "Eternal Life." This new life of the believer is initiated through repentance and receiving God's forgiveness of sin, and water baptism in the name of the Lord jesus symbolizing the burial of ones old life, and rising to walk in newness of life, in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:4, Romans 8:11) God is the Eternal One, and by the believer's being placed by virtue of the new birth, "In Christ," the he enters into a state of Eternal Life, not only in this life, but extending forever and ever. The Greek adjective Aionios="eternal," shows the duration of new life in Christ. (Romans 16:26)

  THE ETERNAL ABODE OF THE RIGHTEOUS:

  There's a heaven to gain and a hell to shun! In heaven, the dwelling place of God, and land of endless light, all worship centers around God and the Lamb, from whom the glory of God emmanates, forever, for God has ordained that glory and honour and praise be ascribed to the One True & Living God.

  God's heaven will be shared for it is called the dwelling place of the redeemed. (Dan. 4:26, Zech. 12:1,) In John 14:2-3, Yeshua/Jesus said He was going away, to prepare a place, that where He is, there the believer may be also. The Hebrew term SHAMAYIN means "heavens or things heaved up." When Messiah died, rose, and ascended, "paradize" was caught up." The Greek word OURANOI is translated as "heaven or skies." There will be a new heaven and a new earth, with a new Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:1-2)

  Who Will Go To Heaven?

  a) Those who have believed in Yeshua hamashiahc/Jesus Christ, as the means of salvation. For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

  The Gifts The Lord Will Give At His Appearing
  He Who Was, And Is, And Is To Come, the Almighty) (Rev. 1:8)

  (Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ promised He will return to earth again, and when He comes, His reward is with Him, to render to every man according as his work shall be. (Romans 2:6) The righteous will receive crowns and other rewards.

  • The Crown of Life. (Matt. 25:21-23)
  • A crown of rejoicing. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)
  • The crown of righteousness. (2 Timothy 4:8)
  • A crown of glory that fades not away. (1 Peter 5:2-4)
  • An incorruptible crown. (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

  There is a real sense in which the believer lives the resurrected life here and now, as a fore-taste of the life to come. God's word says it this way:

  "And has raised us up with Him and seated us together with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:6)

  Just as heaven is a literal place, Hell is forever the abode of the wicked, prepared for all those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life. (Rev. 2:11, 20:14,20:11-15, 21:8) Hell is a place where sin and shame can never be erased. The time to erase the sin and shame is now, through the atoning blood of Yeshua/Jesus. (Daniel 12:2, Rom. 2:16) Hell will be a fiery furnace of eternal torment, from which there is no escape. (Matt. 13:42, 50, 25:41,46)

  WHO WILL GO TO HELL?

  The scripture identifies those who will go to hell, as a) The unredeemed, or wicked, who have not believed in the only begotten Son of God, for the salvation of their souls, who will stand before God's Great White Throne to receive His judgment. (Rev. 14:9-11, Rev. 20:11-15) b) The devil. (Rev. 20:1-15) c) The Anti-christ and False Prophet (Rev. 20:1-10) d) The angels that fell (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6) e) The demons or evil spirits. (Luke 8:26-31)

  Descriptins of the hell

  • Being Cast Into Outer Darkness (Matt. 25:30)
  • The state of being eternally lost. (John 17:2)
  • Dying In Ones Sins Without Pardon. (John 8:21-24)
  • God taking flaming vengeance on the disobedient. (2 Thess. 1:8)
  • The Second . (Rev. 2:11, 21:8)
  • Burning in unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:43)
  • The smoke of your torment will ascend forever. (Rev. 14:11)
  • Weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Luke 13:28, Matt. 13:42,50, 8:12, 22:13, 24:51,25:30)
  • Perdition (Hebrews 10:39, 2 Peter 3:7)
  • A resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)

• I believe in the eternal life, through Yeshua/Jesus who died, raised from the , and ascended into heaven to give this benefit of salvation, which is the fullest appropriation of salvation for us all.

  Eternal life begins the day you appropriate the Apostle Peter's words on the Day of Pentecost: "Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5) If you die in the faith, your life that is hid in Christ with God, goes on eternally. You will forever be with the Lord.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we must always hold to the Gospel which was delivered by the Apostles of the bible:

"I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel, only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema." (Galatians 1:6-9)

The following is a history of the evolutions of the Apostles Creed for your information or files.

TRYING THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY BE OF GOD

In reviewing the foundational elements about the Gospel of Yeshua haMashiach/Messiah, Jesus Christ, are the following points:

The Gospel of Messiah was the Gospel of God.

The Gospel of Messiah shall be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47).

The Gospel of Messiah was the Gospel of Paul and all the apostles (2 Corinthians 2:12).

The Gospel of Messiah was commissioned by Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 1:17).

The Gospel of Messiah is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:2).

The Gospel of Messiah went to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

The Gospel of Messiah is a mystery to most people (Ephesians 3:4, Colossians 4:3).

The Gospel of Messiah is the means Gentiles can be fellow heirs with Christ (Ephesians 3:5).

The Gospel of Messiah is the means Gentiles can be in the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3:5).

The Gospel of Messiah is the means of partaking the promises of Christ (Ephesians 3:5).

The Gospel of Messiah contains “unsearchable riches” (Ephesians 3:8).

The Gospel of Messiah brings life and immortality (2 Timothy 1:10).

The Gospel of Messiah was the means that the Corinthians were "begotten" (1 Corinthians 4:15).

The Gospel of Messiah is basic teaching, it is milk (Hebrews 6:2).

The Gospel of Messiah should not be hindered (1 Corinthians 9:12).

The Gospel of Messiah is a light to the mind, a light that can be blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The Gospel of Messiah can be perverted (Galatians 1:7).

The Gospel of Messiah can comfort you in your faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2). One can only conclude with the admonition of the apostle Peter, written immediately after he talked about how easily the writings of the apostle Paul could be misunderstood:

"You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [Messiah]. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

2 Peter 3:17–18

The First Ecumenical Council: The Nicene Creed A.D. 325

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten , not made, being of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth. Who for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was incarnate and was made man. He suffered and the third day he rose again, and ascended into heaven. And he shall come again to judge both the quick and the . And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost. And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not, or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change or conversion--all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes them.

Second Ecumenical Council: The First Council Of Constantinople A.D. 381

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the . Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And [we believe] in one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, [and] we look for the resurrection of the and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council Of Ephesus A.D. 431

[Many anathamas and positions set forth, the creeds of the first two ecumenical council affirmed and delineated, but no creed per say was produced. The main task of this council, under the sway of St. Cyril, was the anathematizing of Nestorius. As for the rest of the acts and statements made at the Third Ecumenical Council, are they not written in the 38 volume work: Early Church Fathers, Nicene And Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 14?]

The 12 Anathematisms Of St. Cyril Against Nestorius 1: If anyone will not confess that the Emmanuel is very God, and that therefore the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God, inasmuch as in the flesh she bore the Word of God made flesh (as it is written, "The Word was made flesh"): let him be anathema.

2: If anyone shall not confess that the Word of God the Father is united hypostatically to flesh, and that with that flesh of his own, he is one only Christ both God and man at the same time: let him be anathema.

3: If anyone shall after the [hypostatic] union divide the hypostases in the one Christ, joining them by that connexion alone, which happens according to worthiness, or even authority and power, and not rather by a coming together, which is made by natural union: let him be anathema.

4: If anyone shall divide between two persons or subsistences those expressions which are contained in the Evangelical and Apostolical writings, or which have been said concerning Christ by the Saints, or by himself, and shall apply some to him as to a man separate from the Word of God, and shall apply others to the only Word of God the Father, on the ground that they are fit to be applied to God: let him be anathema.

5: If anyone shall dare to say that the Christ is a Theophorus [that is, God-bearing] man and not rather that he is very God, as an only Son through nature, because "the Word was made flesh," and "hath a share in flesh and blood as we do": let him be anathema.

6: If anyone shall dare say that the Word of God the Father is the God of Christ or the Lord of Christ, and shall not rather confess him as at the same time both God and Man, since according to the Scriptures, "The Word was made flesh": let him be anathema.

7: If anyone shall say that Jesus as man is only energized by the Word of God, and that the glory of the Only-begotten is attributed to him as something not properly his: let him be anathema.

8: If anyone shall dare to say that the assumed man ought to be worshipped together with God the Word, and glorified together with him, and recognised together with him as God, and yet as two different things, the one with the other (for this "Together with" is added [i. e., by the Nestorians] to convey this meaning); and shall not rather with one adoration worship the Emmanuel and pay to him one glorification, as [it is written] "The Word was made flesh": let him be anathema.

9: If any man shall say that the one Lord Jesus Christ was glorified by the Holy Ghost, so that he used through him a power not his own and from him received power against unclean spirits and power to work miracles before men and shall not rather confess that it was his own Spirit through which he worked these divine signs: let him be anathema.

10: Whosoever shall say that it is not the divine Word himself, when he was made flesh and had become man as we are, but another than he, a man born of a woman, yet different from him, who is become our Great High Priest and Apostle; or if any man shall say that he offered himself in sacrifice for himself and not rather for us, whereas, being without sin, he had no need of offering or sacrifice: let him be anathema.

11: Whosoever shall not confess that the flesh of the Lord giveth life and that it pertains to the Word of God the Father as his very own, but shall pretend that it belongs to another person who is united to him [i.e., the Word] only according to honour, and who has served as a dwelling for the divinity; and shall not rather confess, as we say, that that flesh giveth life because it is that of the Word who giveth life to all: let him be anathema.

12: Whosoever shall not recognize that the Word of God suffered in the flesh, that he was crucified in the flesh, and that likewise in that same flesh he tasted and that he is become the first-begotten of the , for, as he is God, he is the life and it is he that giveth life: let him be anathema.

The Fourth Ecumenical Council: The Council of Chalcedon A.D. 451

Following the holy Fathers we teach with one voice that the Son [of God] and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same [Person], that he is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, very God and very man, of a reasonable soul and [human] body consisting, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood; made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted; begotten of his Father before the worlds according to his Godhead; but in these last days for us men and for our salvation born [into the world] of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God according to his manhood. This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son [of God] must be confessed to be in two natures, inseparably [united], and that without the distinction of natures being taken away by such union, but rather the peculiar property of each nature being preserved and being united in one Person and subsistence, not separated or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten, God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Prophets of old time have spoken concerning him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ hath taught us, and as the Creed of the Fathers hath delivered to us.

These things, therefore, having been expressed by us with the greatest accuracy and attention, the holy Ecumenical Synod defines that no one shall be suffered to bring forward a different faith, nor to write, nor to put together, nor to excogitate, nor to teach it to others. But such as dare either to put together another faith, or to bring forward or to teach or to deliver a different Creed to as wish to be converted to the knowledge of the truth, from the Gentiles, or Jews or any heresy whatever, if they be Bishops or clerics let them be deposed, the Bishops from the Episcopate, and the clerics from the clergy; but if they be monks or laics: let them be anathematized.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council: The Second Council of Constantinople A.D. 553

The Capitula Of The Council 1: If anyone shall not confess that the nature or essence of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is one, as also the force and the power; [if anyone does not confess] a consubstantial Trinity, one Godhead to be worshipped in three subsistences or Persons: let him be anathema. For there is but one God even the Father of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and one Holy Spirit in whom are all things.

2: If anyone shall not confess that the Word of God has two nativities, the one from all eternity of the Father, without time and without body; the other in these last days, coming down from heaven and being made flesh of the holy and glorious Mary, Mother of God and always a virgin, and born of her: let him be anathema.

3: If anyone shall say that the wonder-working Word of God is one [Person] and the Christ that suffered another; or shall say that God the Word was with the woman-born Christ, or was in him as one person in another, but that he was not one and the same our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, incarnate and made man, and that his miracles and the sufferings which of his own will he endured in the flesh were not of the same [Person]: let him be anathema.

4: If anyone shall say that the union of the Word of God to man was only according to grace or energy, or dignity, or equality of honour, or authority, or relation, or effect, or power, or according to good pleasure in this sense that God the Word was pleased with a man, that is to say, that he loved him for his own sake, as says the senseless Theodorus, or [if anyone pretends that this union exists only] so far as likeness of name is concerned, as the Nestorians understand, who call also the Word of God Jesus and Christ, and even accord to the man the names of Christ and of Son, speaking thus clearly of two persons, and only designating disingenuously one Person and one Christ when the reference is to his honour, or his dignity, or his worship; if anyone shall not acknowledge as the Holy Fathers teach, that the union of God the Word is made with the flesh animated by a reasonable and living soul, and that such union is made synthetically and hypostatically, and that therefore there is only one Person, to wit: our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Holy Trinity: let him be anathema. As a matter of fact the word "union" has many meanings, and the partisans of Apollinaris and Eutyches have affirmed that these natures are confounded inter se, and have asserted a union produced by the mixture of both. On the other hand the followers of Theodorus and of Nestorius rejoicing in the division of the natures, have taught only a relative union. Meanwhile the Holy Church of God, condemning equally the impiety of both sorts of heresies, recognises the union of God the Word with the flesh synthetically, that is to say, hypostatically. For in the mystery of Christ the synthetical union not only preserves unconfusedly the natures which are united, but also allows no separation.

5: If anyone understands the expression "one only Person of our Lord Jesus Christ" in this sense, that it is the union of many hypostases, and if he attempts thus to introduce into the mystery of Christ two hypostases, or two Persons, and, after having introduced two persons, speaks of one Person only out of dignity, honour or worship, as both Theodorus and Nestorius insanely have written; if anyone shall calumniate the holy Council of Chalcedon, pretending that it made use of this expression [one hypostasis] in this impious sense, and if he will not recognize rather that the Word of God is united with the flesh hypostatically, and that therefore there is but one hypostasis or one only Person, and that the holy Council of Chalcedon has professed in this sense the one Person of our Lord Jesus Christ: let him be anathema. For since one of the Holy Trinity has been made man, viz.: God the Word, the Holy Trinity has not been increased by the addition of another person or hypostasis.

6: If anyone shall not call in a true acceptation, but only in a false acceptation, the holy, glorious, and ever-virgin Mary, the Mother of God, or shall call her so only in a relative sense, believing that she bare only a simple man and that God the word was not incarnate of her, but that the incarnation of God the Word resulted only from the fact that he united himself to that man who was born [of her]; if he shall calumniate the Holy Synod of Chalcedon as though it had asserted the Virgin to be Mother of God according to the impious sense of Theodore; or if anyone shall call her the mother of a man or the Mother of Christ, as if Christ were not God, and shall not confess that she is exactly and truly the Mother of God, because that God the Word who before all ages was begotten of the Father was in these last days made flesh and born of her, and if anyone shall not confess that in this sense the holy Synod of Chalcedon acknowledged her to be the Mother of God: let him be anathema.

7: If anyone using the expression, "in two natures," does not confess that our one Lord Jesus Christ has been revealed in the divinity and in the humanity, so as to designate by that expression a difference of the natures of which an ineffable union is unconfusedly made, [a union] in which neither the nature of the Word was changed into that of the flesh, nor that of the flesh into that of the Word, for each remained that it was by nature, the union being hypostatic; but shall take the expression with regard to the mystery of Christ in a sense so as to divide the parties, or recognising the two natures in the only Lord Jesus, God the Word made man, does not content himself with taking in a theoretical manner the difference of the natures which compose him, which difference is not destroyed by the union between them, for one is composed of the two and the two are in one, but shall make use of the number [two] to divide the natures or to make of them Persons properly so called: let him be anathema.

8: If anyone uses the expression "of two natures," confessing that a union was made of the Godhead and of the humanity, or the expression "the one nature made flesh of God the Word," and shall not so understand those expressions as the holy Fathers have taught, to wit: that of the divine and human nature there was made an hypostatic union, whereof is one Christ; but from these expressions shall try to introduce one nature or substance [made by a mixture] of the Godhead and manhood of Christ; let him be anathema. For in teaching that the only-begotten Word was united hypostatically [to humanity] we do not mean to say that there was made a mutual confusion of natures, but rather each [nature] remaining what it was, we understand that the Word was united to the flesh. Wherefore there is one Christ, both God and man, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood. Therefore they are equally condemned and anathematized by the Church of God, who divide or part the mystery of the divine dispensation of Christ, or who introduce confusion into that mystery.

9: If anyone shall take the expression, Christ ought to be worshipped in his two natures, in the sense that he wishes to introduce thus two adorations, the one in special relation to God the Word and the other as pertaining to the man; or if anyone to get rid of the flesh, [that is of the humanity of Christ,] or to mix together the divinity and the humanity, shall speak monstrously of one only nature or essence of the united (natures), and so worship Christ, and does not venerate, by one adoration, God the Word made man, together with his flesh, as the Holy Church has taught from the beginning: let him be anathema.

10: If anyone does not confess that our Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified in the flesh is true God and the Lord of Glory and one of the Holy Trinity: let him be anathema.

11: If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinaris, Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their impious writings, as also all other heretics already condemned and anathematized by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and by the aforesaid four Holy Synods and [if anyone does not equally anathematize] all those who have held and hold or who in their impiety persist in holding to the end the same opinion as those heretics just mentioned: let him be anathema.

12: If anyone defends the impious Theodore of Mopsuestia, who has said that the Word of God is one person, but that another person is Christ, vexed by the sufferings of the soul and the desires of the flesh, and separated little by little above that which is inferior, and become better by the progress in good works and irreproachable in Iris manner of life, as a mere man was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and obtained by this baptism the grace of the Holy Spirit, and became worthy of Sonship, and to be worshipped out of regard to the Person of God the Word (just as one worships the image of an emperor) and that he is become, after the resurrection, unchangeable in his thoughts and altogether without sin. And, again, this same impious Theodore has also said that the union of God the Word with Christ is like to that which, according to the doctrine of the Apostle, exists between a man and his wife, "They twain shall be in one flesh." The same [Theodore] has dared, among numerous other blasphemies, to say that when after the resurrection the Lord breathed upon his disciples, saying, "Receive the Holy Ghost," he did not really give them the Holy Spirit, but that he breathed upon them only as a sign. He likewise has said that the profession of faith made by Thomas when he had, after the resurrection, touched the hands and the side of the Lord, viz.: "My Lord and my God," was not said in reference to Christ, but that Thomas, filled with wonder at the miracle of the resurrection, thus thanked God who had raised up Christ. And moreover (which is still more scandalous) this same Theodore in his Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles compares Christ to Plato, Manichaeus, Epicurus and Marcion, and says that as each of these men having discovered his own doctrine, had given his name to his disciples, who were called Platonists, Manicheans, Epicureans and Marcionites, just so Christ, having discovered his doctrine, had given the name Christians to his disciples. If, then, anyone shall defend this most impious Theodore and his impious writings, in which he vomits the blasphemies mentioned above, and countless others besides against our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and if anyone does not anathematize him or his impious writings, as well as all those who protect or defend him, or who assert that his exegesis is orthodox, or who write in favour of him and of his impious works, or those who share the same opinions, or those who have shared them and still continue unto the end in this heresy: let him be anathema.

13: If anyone shall defend the impious writings of Theodoret, directed against the true faith and against the first holy Synod of Ephesus and against St. Cyril and his 12 Anathemas, and [defends] that which he has written in defence of the impious Theodore and Nestorius, and of others having the same opinions as the aforesaid Theodore and Nestorius, if anyone admits them or their impiety, or shall give the name of impious to the doctors of the Church who profess the hypostatic union of God the Word; and if anyone does not anathematize these impious writings and those who have held or who hold these sentiments, and all those who have written contrary to the true faith or against St. Cyril and his 12 Chapters, and who die in their impiety: let him be anathema.

14: If anyone shall defend that letter which Ibas is said to have written to Maris the Persian, in which he denies that the Word of God incarnate of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and ever-virgin, was made man, but says that a mere man was born of her, whom he styles a Temple, as though the Word of God was one Person and the man another person; in which letter also he reprehends St. Cyril as a heretic, when he teaches the right faith of Christians, and charges him with writing things like to the wicked Apollinaris. In addition to this he vituperates the First Holy Council of Ephesus, affirming that it deposed Nestorius without discrimination and without examination. The aforesaid impious epistle styles the 12 Chapters of Cyril of blessed memory, impious and contrary to the right faith and defends Theodore and Nestorius and their impious teachings and writings. If anyone therefore shall defend the aforementioned epistle and shall not anathematize it and those who defend it and say that it is right or that a part of it is right, or if anyone shall defend those who have written or shall write in its favour, or in defence of the impieties which are contained in it, as well as those who shall presume to defend it or the impieties which it contains in the name of the Holy Fathers or of the Holy Synod of Chalcedon, and shall remain in these offences unto the end: let him be anathema.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council: The Third Council Of Constantinople A.D. 680-681

The Definition Of Faith:
The holy, great, and Ecumenical Synod which has been assembled by the grace of God, and the religious decree of the most religious and faithful and mighty Sovereign Constantine, in this God-protected and royal city of Constantinople, New Rome, in the Hall of the imperial Palace, called Trullus, has decreed as follows.

The only-begotten Son, and Word of God the Father, who was made man in all things like unto us without sin, Christ our true God, has declared expressly in the words of the Gospel, "I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." And again, "My peace I leave with, you, my peace I give unto you." Our most gentle Sovereign, the champion of orthodoxy, and opponent of evil doctrine, being reverentially led by this divinely uttered doctrine of peace, and having convened this our holy and Ecumenical assembly, has united the judgment of the whole Church. Wherefore this our holy and Ecumenical Synod having driven away the impious error which had prevailed for a certain time until now, and following closely the straight path of the holy and approved Fathers, has piously given its full assent to the five holy and Ecumenical Synods (that is to say, to that of the 318 holy Fathers who assembled in Nice against the raging Arius; and the next in Constantinople of the 150 God-inspired men against Macedonius the adversary of the Spirit, and the impious Apollinaris; and also the first in Ephesus of 200 venerable men convened against Nestorius the Judaizer; and that in Chalcedon of 630 God-inspired Fathers against Eutyches and Dioscorus hated of God; and in addition to these, to the last, that is the Fifth holy Synod assembled in this place, against Theodore of Mopsuestia, Origen, Didymus, and Evagrius, and the writings of Theodoret against the 12 Chapters of the celebrated Cyril, and the Epistle which was said to be written by Ibas to Maris the Persian), renewing in all things the ancient decrees of religion, and chasing away the impious doctrines of irreligion. And this our holy and Ecumenical Synod inspired of God has set its seal to the Creed which was put forth by the 318 Fathers, and again religiously confirmed by the 150, which also the other holy synods cordially received and ratified for the taking away of every soul-destroying heresy.

The Nicene Creed of the 318 holy Fathers: We believe, etc.

The Creed of the 150 holy Fathers assembled at Constantinople: We believe, etc.

The holy and Ecumenical Synod further says, this pious and orthodox Creed of the Divine grace would be sufficient for the full knowledge and confirmation of the orthodox faith. But as the author of evil, who, in the beginning, availed himself of the aid of the serpent, and by it brought the poison of upon the human race, has not desisted, but in like manner now, having found suitable instruments for working out his will (we mean Theodorus, who was Bishop of Pharan, Sergius, Pyrrhus, Paul and Peter, who were Archbishops of this royal city, and moreover, Honorius who was Pope of the elder Rome, Cyrus Bishop of Alexandria, Macarius who was lately bishop of Antioch, and Stephen his disciple), has actively employed them in raising up for the whole Church the stumbling-blocks of one will and one operation in the two natures of Christ our true God, one of the Holy Trinity; thus disseminating, in novel terms, amongst the orthodox people, an heresy similar to the mad and wicked doctrine of the impious Apollinaris, Severus, and Themistius, and endeavouring craftily to destroy the perfection of the incarnation of the same our Lord Jesus Christ, our God, by blasphemously representing his flesh endowed with a rational soul as devoid of will or operation. Christ, therefore, our God, has raised up our faithful Sovereign, a new David, having found him a man after his own heart, who as it is written, "has not suffered his eyes to sleep nor his eyelids to slumber," until he has found a perfect declaration of orthodoxy by this our God-collected and holy Synod; for, according to the sentence spoken of God, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," the present holy and Ecumenical Synod faithfully receiving and saluting with uplifted hands as well the suggestion which by the most holy and blessed Agatho, Pope of ancient Rome, was sent to our most pious and faithful Emperor Constantine, which rejected by name those who taught or preached one will and one operation in the dispensation of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ who is our very God, has likewise adopted that other synodal suggestion which was sent by the Council holden under the same most holy Pope, composed of 125 Bishops, beloved of God, to his God-instructed tranquillity, as consonant to the holy Council of Chalcedon and to the Tome of the most holy and blessed Leo, Pope of the same old Rome, which was directed to St. Flavian, which also this Council called the Pillar of the right faith; and also agrees with the Synodal Epistles which were written by Blessed Cyril against the impious Nestorius and addressed to the Oriental Bishops. Following the five holy Ecumenical Councils and the holy and approved Fathers, with one voice defining that our Lord Jesus Christ must be confessed to be very God and very man, one of the holy and consubstantial and life-giving Trinity, perfect in Deity and perfect in humanity, very God and very man, of a reasonable soul and human body subsisting; consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood; in all things like unto us, sin only excepted; begotten of his Father before all ages according to his Godhead, but in these last days for us men and for our salvation made man of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, strictly and properly the Mother of God according to the flesh; one and the same Christ our Lord the only-begotten Son of two natures un-confusedly, unchangeably, inseparably indivisibly to be recognized, the peculiarities of neither nature being lost by the union but rather the proprieties of each nature being preserved, concurring in one Person and in one subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons but one and the same only-begotten Son of God, the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, according as the Prophets of old have taught us and as our Lord Jesus Christ himself hath instructed us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers hath delivered to us; defining all this we likewise declare that in him are two natural wills and two natural operations indivisibly, inconvertibly, inseparably, inconfusedly, according to the teaching of the holy Fathers. And these two natural wills are not contrary the one to the other (God forbid!) as the impious heretics assert, but his human will follows and that not as resisting and reluctant, but rather as subject to his divine and omnipotent will. For it was right that the flesh should be moved but subject to the divine will, according to the most wise Athanasius. For as his flesh is called and is the flesh of God the Word, so also the natural will of his flesh is called and is the proper will of God the Word, as he himself says: "I came down from heaven, not that I might do mine own will but the will of the Father which sent me!" where he calls his own will the will of his flesh, inasmuch as his flesh was also his own. For as his most holy and immaculate animated flesh was not destroyed because it was deified but continued in its own state and nature, so also his human will, although deified, was not suppressed, but was rather preserved according to the saying of Gregory Theologus: "His will [i.e., the Saviour's] is not contrary to God but altogether deified."

We glorify two natural operations indivisibly, immutably, inconfusedly, inseparably in the same our Lord Jesus Christ our true God, that is to say a divine operation and a human operation, according to the divine preacher Leo, who most distinctly asserts as follows: "For each form does in communion with the other what pertains properly to it, the Word, namely, doing that which pertains to the Word, and the flesh that which pertains to the flesh."

For we will not admit one natural operation in God and in the creature, as we will not exalt into the divine essence what is created, nor will we bring down the glory of the divine nature to the place suited to the creature.

We recognize the miracles and the sufferings as of one and the same [Person], but of one or of the other nature of which he is and in which he exists, as Cyril admirably says. Preserving therefore the inconfusedness and indivisibility, we make briefly this whole confession, believing our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of the Trinity and after the incarnation our true God, we say that his two natures shone forth in his one subsistence in which he both performed the miracles and endured the sufferings through the whole of his economic conversation, and that not in appearance only but in very deed, and this by reason of the difference of nature which must be recognized in the same Person, for although joined together yet each nature wills and does the things proper to it and that indivisibly and inconfusedly. Wherefore we confess two wills and two operations, concurring most fitly in him for the salvation of the human race.

These firings, therefore, with all diligence and care having been formulated by us, we define that it be permitted to no one to bring forward, or to write, or to compose, or to think, or to teach a different faith. Whosoever shall presume to compose a different faith, or to propose, or teach, or hand to those wishing to be converted to the knowledge of the truth, from the Gentiles or Jews, or from any heresy, any different Creed; or to introduce a new voice or invention of speech to subvert these things which now have been determined by us, all these, if they be Bishops or clerics let them be deposed, the Bishops from the Episcopate, the clerics from the clergy; but if they be monks or laymen: let them be anathematized.

The Seventh Ecumenical Council: The Second Council Of Nice A.D. 787

The Decree Of The Holy, Great, Ecumenical Synod The holy, great, and Ecumenical Synod which by the grace of God and the will of the pious and Christ-loving Emperors, Constantine and Irene, his mother, was gathered together for the second time at Nice, the illustrious metropolis of Bithynia, in the holy church of God which is named Sophia, having followed the tradition of the Catholic Church, hath defined as follows:

Christ our Lord, who hath bestowed upon us the light of the knowledge of himself, and hath redeemed us from the darkness of idolatrous madness, having espoused to himself the Holy Catholic Church without spot or defect, promised that he would so preserve her: and gave his word to this effect to his holy disciples when he said: "Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world," which promise he made, not only to them, but to us also who should believe in his name through their word. But some, not considering of this gift, and having become fickle through the temptation of the wily enemy, have fallen from the right faith; for, withdrawing from the traditions of the Catholic Church, they have erred from the truth and as the proverb saith: "The husbandmen have gone astray in their own husbandry and have gathered in their hands nothingness," because certain priests, priests in name only, not in fact, had dared to speak against the God-approved ornament of the sacred monuments, of whom God cries aloud through the prophet, "Many pastors have corrupted my vineyard, they have polluted my portion."

And, forsooth, following profane men, led astray by their sense, they have calumniated the Church of Christ our God, which he hath espoused to himself, and have failed to distinguish between holy and profane, styling the images of our Lord and of his Saints by the same name as the statues of diabolical idols. Seeing which things, our Lord God (not willing to behold his people corrupted by such manner of plague) hath of his good pleasure called us together, the chief of his priests, from every quarter, moved with a divine zeal and brought hither by the will of our princes, Constantine and Irene, to the end that the traditions of the Catholic Church may receive stability by our common decree. Therefore, with all diligence, making a thorough examination and analysis, and following the trend of the truth, we diminish nought, we add nought, but we preserve unchanged all things which pertain to the Catholic Church, and following the Six Ecumenical Synods, especially that which met in this illustrious metropolis of Nice, as also that which was afterwards gathered together in the God-protected Royal City.

We believe ...life of the world to come. Amen.

We detest and anathematize Arius and all the sharers of his absurd opinion; also Macedonius and those who following him are well styled "Foes of the Spirit" (Pneumatomachi). We confess that our Lady, St. Mary, is properly and truly the Mother of God, because she was the Mother after the flesh of One Person of the Holy Trinity, to wit, Christ our God, as the Council of Ephesus has already defined when it cast out of the Church the impious Nestorius with his colleagues, because he taught that there were two Persons [in Christ]. With the Fathers of this synod we confess that he who was incarnate of the immaculate Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary has two natures, recognizing him as perfect God and perfect man, as also the Council of Chalcedon hath promulgated, expelling from the divine Atrium [aulhs] as blasphemers, Eutyches and Dioscorus; and placing in the same category Severus, Peter and a number of others, blaspheming in divers fashions. Moreover, with these we anathematize the fables of Origen, Evagrius, and Didymus, in accordance with the decision of the Fifth Council held at Constantinople. We affirm that in Christ there be two wills and two operations according to the reality of each nature, as also the Sixth Synod, held at Constantinople, taught, casting out Sergius, Honorius, Cyrus, Pyrrhus, Macarius, and those who agree with them, and all those who are unwilling to be reverent.

To make our confession short, we keep unchanged all the ecclesiastical traditions handed down to us, whether in writing or verbally, one of which is the making of pictorial representations, agreeable to the history of the preaching of the Gospel, a tradition useful in many respects, but especially in this, that so the incarnation of the Word of God is shown forth as real and not merely phantastic, for these have mutual indications and without doubt have also mutual significations.

We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic Church (for, as we all know, the Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, and on the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God, of the honourable Angels, of all Saints and of all pious people. For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honourable reverence, not indeed that true worship of faith which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious custom. For the honour which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented. For thus the teaching of our holy Fathers, that is the tradition of the Catholic Church, which from one end of the earth to the other hath received the Gospel, is strengthened. Thus we follow Paul, who spake in Christ, and the whole divine Apostolic company and the holy Fathers, holding fast the traditions which we have received. So we sing prophetically the triumphal hymns of the Church, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Rejoice and be glad with all thy heart. The Lord hath taken away from thee the oppression of thy adversaries; thou art redeemed from the hand of thine enemies. The Lord is a King in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more, and peace be unto thee forever."

Those, therefore who dare to think or teach otherwise, or as wicked heretics to spurn the traditions of the Church and to invent some novelty, or else to reject some of those things which the Church hath received (e.g., the Book of the Gospels, or the image of the cross, or the pictorial icons, or the holy reliques of a martyr), or evilly and sharply to devise anything subversive of the lawful traditions of the Catholic Church or to turn to common uses the sacred vessels or the venerable monasteries, if they be Bishops or Clerics, we command that they be deposed; if religious or laics, that they be cut off from communion.

Tom & Alana Campbell 5214 South 2nd Avenue Everett, Washington 98203-4113 Telephone (425) 252-2981