What is the Nicene Creed?
Quick answer
The Nicene Creed (325/381 AD) is the church’s most detailed early confession, written to defend the full deity of Christ and the Spirit against the Arian heresy. It declares Jesus "true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father."
Written at the Council of Nicaea (325) and expanded at Constantinople (381), it stands as the single greatest theological agreement of the global church.
Its precision on the Trinity safeguards the gospel: only the truly divine Son can save, and only the truly divine Spirit can sanctify.
Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants — all confess it. It is the great anchor of Trinitarian Christianity.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.