The Nicene Creed

By: Don Pirozok

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The Birth of the Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed is one of the most important statements of Christian faith ever produced. It is recited across the world in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and many Protestant churches, standing as a common confession uniting believers across centuries and continents. But this Creed did not emerge in a vacuum. It was written in a moment of crisis, forged out of fierce controversy, and shaped by the need to define the Church’s faith against serious threats. To understand the Creed, we must first understand why it was necessary.
The immediate context was the rise of the Arian controversy in the early fourth century. Arius, a presbyter in Alexandria (c. 256–336 AD), began teaching that the Son of God was not eternal but a created being. Arius argued that before the Son was begotten, He did not exist. For Arius, the Son was the highest of creatures, exalted above all others, but still not truly God. His famous slogan was: “There was when he was not.” This teaching threatened the very heart of Christianity, for if the Son is not truly God, then He cannot save us. A created being cannot bridge the infinite gap between God and man, nor can His death have infinite worth.