apostles' creed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “apostles' creed” mean?
A foundational statement of Christian belief, traditionally attributed to the twelve apostles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A foundational statement of Christian belief, traditionally attributed to the twelve apostles.
A concise, authoritative summary of core Christian doctrines concerning God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and salvation, used in liturgical worship and catechesis across many Christian denominations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and punctuation are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of historical Christian orthodoxy and liturgical tradition.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general discourse but standard within liturgical and theological contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “apostles' creed” in a Sentence
[Subject] recites/affirms/believes [in] the Apostles' Creed.The Apostles' Creed states/declares/confesses that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apostles' creed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will creed together, reciting the Apostles' Creed.
American English
- The new members creedalized their faith by affirming the Apostles' Creed.
adjective
British English
- The Apostles'-Creed statements are central to the doctrine.
American English
- The Apostles'-Creed formulation is ancient.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, historical, or religious studies contexts.
Everyday
Rare, except among practicing Christians discussing their faith.
Technical
A technical term in liturgics, systematic theology, and church history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apostles' creed”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apostles' creed”
- Misspelling as 'Apostle's Creed' (singular possessive).
- Confusing it with the longer Nicene Creed.
- Using lowercase ('apostles' creed').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a later development (likely 4th-7th centuries AD) that summarises apostolic teaching, not a text written by the apostles themselves.
No, it is used primarily by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, and other mainline Protestant churches. Some evangelical and non-denominational churches do not use formal creeds.
The Nicene Creed is longer, more theologically precise, and was formulated by church councils to address specific heresies. The Apostles' Creed is shorter, older in its basic form, and used more in baptism and daily prayer.
It is capitalised because it is the proper name of a specific, historic text, much like the 'Lord's Prayer' or the 'Magna Carta'.
A foundational statement of Christian belief, traditionally attributed to the twelve apostles.
Apostles' creed is usually formal, religious in register.
Apostles' creed: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpɒs.əlz ˈkriːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑː.səlz ˈkriːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As the Apostles' Creed says... (used to introduce a quoted belief)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
APOSTLES' CREED: Apostles Pass On Sacred Truths, Clearly Reciting Essential Evangelical Doctrines.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION (The creed is the foundation of belief); MAP (The creed is a map of core doctrines).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the Apostles' Creed?