Athanasian Creed · 7 of 9

From the Creed of Athanasius

210.FROM THE CREED OF ATHANASIUS From this it is evident that there are not three who are infinite, eternal, almighty, Gods, and Lords, but one; and that no one of them is greatest or least, first or last; thus there is one Divine; and this Divine is that of which the Lord was conceived, and this was Himself; and because it is one and the same it is plain that it is Jehovah. (Let this be confirmed from the Word of the Old Testament.)

211.Let two sayings be taken up and explained: (1) “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life”; and “No one cometh to the Father but by Me.” (2) “My Father is the Vinedresser and I am the Vine,” etc. It is plain that these things were said concerning His Human, for He spoke of the Father besides. If doctrine concerning the Lord had been made from these two passages, it would then have been known to everyone that it is the Lord who alone should be approached, and also that His Human is Divine.

212.(Let the sayings be taken up, in which the Lord is called “Jehovah,” “the Holy One of Israel,” “the Redeemer,” as Isaiah 41:13, 14; 49:7-9, 26; 54:5; 63:8, 9, 16; Ps. 19:14; and many other passages; also those in which he is called “Savior,” “Former,” “Creator,” “Maker.”)

213.When the church was being established by the Lord, the primary thing was to acknowledge and to receive Him; to acknowledge that it was He of whom the Word of the Old Testament speaks; and that He was God, and had power over all things. Therefore He so often said, “Believe ye that I am able?” also, “Because thou believest”; and “Let it be done according to thy faith,” that is, according to the faith that the Lord was God who had power over all things, or was almighty. This was the primary, for without that faith there was no safety, because all things are from Him. Through that confession and faith from the heart is conjunction; without it there is not conjunction, and thus there is no safety. The case is similar at the present day, when the New Church is being established; which is called the New Jerusalem, and when its doctrine is taught; the primary thing is to know and believe that the Lord is the only God, from whom is all safety. It is for this reason that this now is taught; this is the occasion of the present work; for without that faith no one comes into the New Church, neither does anyone receive anything from its doctrine; consequently, without this faith no one henceforth can be saved. For henceforth it is not allowable to believe in three equal Gods and say one, nor to think of the Human of the Lord as separate from the Divine, as is done by so many.

214.(Perhaps lastly may be presented the passages of the New Testament where the term “faith” or “believing” is used.)