Christian prayer
The Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed in its original wording and with its meaning.
- 2 verses
- Under a minute to recite
- The Apostles' Creed
- 1
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell, the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
- 2
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Latin original
1 Credo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ, et in Iesum Christum, Fílium Eius unicum, Dóminum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine,
2 passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifixus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínferos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
3 Et in Spíritum Sanctum,
4 sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam,
5 sanctórum communiónem,
6 remissiónem peccatórum,
7 carnis resurrectiónem,
8 vitam ætérnam.
9 Amen.
Wording: The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus, John Priestly Warmoll, 1876: Credo. Copied word for word from the edition named here
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When it is prayed
Many Christians recite the Apostles' Creed during worship, at baptism and in personal prayer. In the tradition, it is a way to profess the faith shared by the Church. Many Catholics also recite it at the beginning of the Rosary.
Where it comes from
The Apostles' Creed developed from early Christian statements of faith used at baptism in the Western Church, especially in Rome. Its traditional name expresses its connection with the apostles' teaching, rather than authorship by the apostles themselves. Its wording took shape gradually and was transmitted in Latin.
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Questions about The Apostles' Creed
What is the Apostles' Creed?
It is a summary of Christian belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It also affirms the Church, forgiveness, resurrection and everlasting life.
Did the apostles write it?
It is not generally understood to have been written directly by the apostles. It developed from early Christian baptismal professions of faith and bears their name because it expresses apostolic teaching.
How long does it take to recite?
It takes under a minute to recite.
Is it the same as the Nicene Creed?
No. They are distinct statements of Christian faith with much shared teaching, but the Nicene Creed gives a fuller account of belief about Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
