John Henry Newman An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine Chapter 1 The Development of Ideas Summary Section 1. The Process An idea is the representation of an object of thought. Just like an object, an idea can only be fully understood when it is observed from a distance from a number of different perspectives. When an idea arrests and possesses the mind it is said to have life. Many ideas have a persistence and follow a life cycle. The final representation of an idea will be of the same substance but it will be completed by the meditations and reflections of many minds. An idea does not evolve it does not change from its original substance. Things do not change over time they change but stay the same. Ideas include contradictions and paradoxes. But one aspect of Revelation must not be allowed to exclude or obscure another; and Christianity is dogmatical, devotional, practical all at once; it is esoteric and exoteric; it is indulgent and strict; it is light and dark; it is love, and it is fear. p.36 There will be an initial time of confusion but as time proceeds new light will be shed and a definite teaching will emerge. It will interact with other systems, it will be criticised by enemies and respond. The idea develops but stays the same: Then in time it will have grown into an ethical code, or into a system of government, or into a theology, or into a ritual, according to its capabilities: and this body of thought, thus laboriously gained, will after all be little more than the proper representation of one idea, being in substance what the idea meant from the first, its complete image as seen in a combination of diversified aspects, with the suggestions and corrections of many minds, and the illustrations of many experiences. p.38 In a higher world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change and to be perfect is to have changed often. Section 2. The kinds of development In order to analyse the kinds of development we need to look at the ways the word development is used generally in common language. There are roughly 3 main ways it is used: for the process of development for the results of development for a development, true or false ie a corruption

We also need to exclude: mathematical development, a series of logical statements physical development

-

material development

Political development When society is the subject matter of an idea often irregular process subject to personalities / fate of battles. As the idea develops it is often detached from the political development. Logical development Although the idea may be initiated in the church it is developed in a logical environment such as the courts. For example, the doctrine of Royal Supremacy After the start of the Anglican church the idea of the head of state becoming head of the church developed so that sedition, conspiracy and rebellion rank as higher sins than heresy and schism in the prayer book. Historical development Over time the accumulation of judgements / wisdom moves toward the development of an idea: truth is the daughter of time Ethical development What is desirable / optional over time may become what is essential this in essence is the idea behind ethical development. Over a period of time with an accumulation of experience what was originally only optional is come to be seen as obvious and necessary. Guizot religion is mans way of organising the rapid growth of ethical development. Religion could be seen as the optional element that over time becomes essential. Guizot saw religion as a way to organise human nature. Metaphysical development The analysis of an idea with complete delineation. What happens when an idea grows in the mind to become an essential element of though such as a character in fiction. For example Shakespeares development of Hamlet or Ariel. the mind may be employed in developing the solemn ideas, which it has hitherto held implicitly and without subjecting them to its reflective and reasoning powers. p.52 The mind contemplates and forms ideas

*ideas evolve* this process is a development thus the power of the mind develops impressions into systems or creeds. The religious vision that we have is only capable of being expressed through such ideas. As to Christianity, supposing the truths of which it consists to admit of development, that development will be one or other of the last five kinds. Taking the Incarnation as its central doctrine, the Episcopate as taught by St Ignatius, will be an instance of political development, the Theotokus of logical, the determination of the date of our Lords birth of historical, the Holy Eucharist of moral, and the Athanasian Creed of Metaphysical. Episcopate

45. Development of the Episcopate. Ignatius.

It is matter of fact that the episcopal form of government was universally established in the Eastern and Western church as early as the middle of the second century. Even the heretical sects, at least the Ebionites, as we must infer from the commendation of the episcopacy in the pseudo-Clementine literature, were organized on this plan, as well as the later schismatic parties of Novatians, Donatists, etc. But it is equally undeniable, that the episcopate reached its complete form only step by step. In the period before us we must note three stages in this development connected with the name of Ignatius in Syria (d. 107 or 115), Irenaeus in Gaul (d. 202), and Cyprian in North Africa (d. 258). The episcopate first appears, as distinct from the presbyterate, but as a congregational office only (in distinction from the diocesan idea), and as yet a young institution, greatly needing commendation, in the famous seven (or three) Epistles of Ignatius of Antioch a disciple of the apostles, and the second bishop of that see (Evodius being the first, and Hero the third). He is also the first who uses the term "catholic church," as if episcopacy and catholicity sprung up simultaneously. The whole story of Ignatius is more legendary than real, and his writings are subject to grave suspicion of fraudulent interpolation. We have three different versions of the Ignatian Epistles, but only one of them can be genuine; either the smaller Greek version, or the lately discovered Syriac.188188 The question of the genuineness will be discussed in 165. Cureton (1845) Bunsen, Lipsius, and others accept the Syriac version as the original form of the Ignatian epistles, and regard even the short Greek text as corrupt, but yet as dating from the middle of the second century. Rothe, Hefele, Schaff (first ed.), Dsterdieck, Uhlhorn, Zahn, Harnack, defend the genuineness of the shorter Greek recension. The larger Greek recension is universally given up as spurious. The origin of the hierarchical system is obscured by pious frauds. See below, 164 and 165.87 In the latter, which contains only three epistles, most of the passages on the episcopate are wanting, indeed; yet the leading features of the institution appear even here, and we can recognise ex ungue leonem.189189 In the Syriac Ep. to Polycarp, the word bishop occurs four times; in the Syriac Ep. to the Ephesians, God is blessed for having given them such a bishop as Onesimus. In the shorter Greek Ep. to Polycarp episcopacy is mentioned in the salutation, and in three of the eight chapters (ch. 5

twice, ch. 6 twice, ch. 8 once). In the 21 chapters of the Greek Ep. to the Ephesians, the word bishop occurs thirteen times, presbyter three times, and deacon once (in the first six chapters, and ch. 21). In the Greek Trallians, the bishop appears nine times; in the Magnesians, eleven times; in the Philadelphians, eight times; in the Smynaeans, nine times. Thus in the three Syriac Epistles the bishop is mentioned but six times; in the seven shorter Greek Epistles about fifty times; but one of the strongest passages is found in the Syriac Epistle to Polycarp (ch. 5. and 6.).88 In any case they reflect the public sentiment before the middle of the second century. The substance of these epistles (with the exception of that to the Romans, in which, singularly enough, not a word is said about bishops190190 Except that Ignatius speaks of himself as "the bishop of Syria," who "has found favor with God, being sent from the East to the West" (ch. 2). The verb is also used, but of Christ (ch. 9).89), consists of earnest exhortations to obey the bishop and maintain the unity of the church against the Judaistic and docetic heresies. With the near prospect and the most ardent desire for martyrdom, the author has no more fervent wish than the perfect inward and outward unity of the faithful; and to this the episcopate seems to him indispensable. In his view Christ is the invisible supreme head, the one great universal bishop of all the churches scattered over the earth. The human bishop is the centre of unity for the single congregation, and stands in it as the vicar of Christ and even of God.191191 , each bisbop being thus a sort of pope.90 The people, therefore, should unconditionally obey him, and do nothing without his will. Blessed are they who are one with the bishop, as the church is with Christ, and Christ with the Father, so that all harmonizes in unity. Apostasy from the bishop is apostasy from Christ, who acts in and through the bishops as his organs. We shall give passages from the shorter Greek text (as edited by Zahn): If any one is able to continue in purity ( i.e., in the state of celibacy), to the honor of the flesh of our Lord, let him continue so without boasting; if he boasts, he is lost () if he become known more than the bishop,192192 Zahn reads, Ad Polyc. cap. 5: ,i.e . if he be better known or more esteemed than the bishop. The other reading is, , beyond, or apart from.91 he is corrupt (). It is becoming, therefore, to men and women who marry, that they marry by the counsel of the bishop, that the marriage may be in the Lord, and not in lust. Let ever thing be done for the honor of God. Look to the bishop, that God also [may look] upon you. I will be in harmony with those who are subject to the bishop, and the presbyters, and the deacons; with them may I have a portion near God!" This passage is one of the strongest, and occurs in the Syriac Epistle to Polycarp as well as in the shorter Greek recension.193193 Ad Polyc. cap. 5 and 6. The Greek text varies but little from the Syriac.92 It characteristically connected episcopacy with celibacy: the ascetic system of Catholicism starts in celibacy, as the hierarchical organization of Catholicism takes its rise in episcopacy. "It becomes you to be in harmony with the mind (or sentence, ) of the bishop, as also ye do. For your most estimable presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted to the bishop as the strings are to the harp."194194 Ad Ephes. c. 4: . .93 "It is evident that we should look upon the bishop as we do upon the Lord himself."195195 Ad Ephes c. 6: .94 "I exhort you that ye study to do all things with a divine concord: the bishop presiding in the place of God ( ), and presbyters in the place of the college of the apostles, ( ), and the deacons, most dear to me, being intrusted with the ministry () of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before all ages, and in the end appeared to us."196196 Ad Magnes. c. 6.95

"Be subject to the bishop, and to one another, as Christ [was subject] to the Father according to the flesh, and the apostles to Christ and to the Father and to the Spirit, in order that the union be carnal (), as well as spiritual."197197 Ibid. c. 13. The desire for "carnal" unity is significant,96 "It is necessary, as is your habit, to do nothing without the bishop, and that ye should be subject also to the presbytery ( ), as to the apostles of Jesus Christ."198198 Ad Trallian. c. 2: , , .97 "As many as are of God and of Jesus Christ, are also with their bishop."199199 Ad Philad. c. 3.98 "Let all of you follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ [follows] the Father; and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons as the ordinance of God. Without the bishop let no one do anything connected with the church. Let that eucharist be accounted valid which is [offered] under the bishop or by one he has appointed. Wherever the bishop is found, there let the people be; as wherever Christ is, there is the catholic church. Without the bishop it is not lawful either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast."200200 Ad. Smyrn. c. 8: , , ; , .99 This is the first time that the term "catholic" is applied to the church, and that episcopacy is made a condition of catholicity. "He that honors the bishop, shall be honored by God; he that does anything without the knowledge of the bishop serves the devil."201201 Ad Smyrn. c. 9: ..00 This is making salvation pretty much depend upon obedience to the bishop; just as Leo I., three centuries later, in the controversy with Hilary of Arles, made salvation depend upon obedience to the pope by declaring every rebel against the pope to be a servant of the devil! Such daring superabundance of episcopalianism clearly betrays some special design and raises the suspicion of forgery or large interpolations. But it may also be explained as a special pleading for a novelty which to the mind of the writer was essential to the very existence of the church. The peculiarity in this Ignatian view is that the bishop appears in it as the head and centre of a single congregation, and not as equally the representative of the whole church; also, that (as in the pseudo-Clementine Homilies) he is the vicar of Christ, and not, as in the later view, merely the successor of the apostles,the presbyters and deacons around him being represented as those successors; and finally, that there are no distinctions of order among the bishops, no trace of a primacy; all are fully coordinate vicars of Christ, who provides for himself in them, as it were, a sensible, perceptible omnipresence in the church. The Ignatian episcopacy, in short, is congregational, not diocesan; a new and growing institution, not a settled policy of apostolic originfrom http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2.v.vi.v.html Theotokus

TheotokosFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. Theotkos) is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God. Roman Catholics use the title Mother of God more often than Theotokos. The Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human.

Contents[hide]

1 Etymology and translation o 1.1 Mother of God 2 Theology 3 Use of Theotokos in the early Christian Church 4 Third Ecumenical Council 5 Hymns 6 Solemnity 7 Icons 8 Notes 9 References 10 See also 11 External links

Etymology and translationTheotokos is a compound of two Greek words, God and parturition, childbirth. Literally, this translates as God-bearer or the one who gives birth to God. However, since many English-speaking Orthodox find this literal translation awkward, in liturgical use,

Theotokos is often left untranslated, or paraphrased as Mother of God. The latter title is the literal translation of a distinct title in Greek, (translit. Mtr Theou). Mother of God also accurately translates the Greek words (translit. Theomtor; also spelled , translit. Theomtr) and (translit. Mtrotheos), which are found in patristic and liturgical texts.{e.g. " ... ... ." Methodius of Patra, "Speech on Symeon and the Holy Theotokos".} In many traditions, Theotokos was translated from the Greek into the local liturgical language. The most prominent of these were Latin (Deipara, Dei genetrix and, as paraphrased, Mater Dei), Church Slavonic ( translit. Bogoroditsa), Coptic ( translit. Ti.Theotoks), Arabic ( translit. Wlidat Allah), Georgian ( translit. Ghvtismshobeli), Armenian: ( translit.Astvadzatzin), and Romanian (Nsctoare de Dumnezeu or Maica Domnului).

Mother of God

The Iveron Theotokos (Iverskaya), an 11th century Russian icon based on the 10th-century Hodegetria type, Iviron Monastery, Mount Athos. The English term Mother of God is mostly used as an imprecise translation of Theotokos, and frequently requires explanation.[1] The other principal use of Mother of God has been as the precise and literal translation of , a Greek term which has an established usage of its own in traditional Christian theological writing, hymnography, and iconography. In an abbreviated form it often is found on Orthodox icons (see illustration above), where it is used to identify Mary. A hymn normally sung as part of the Greek Divine Liturgy includes both titles in close proximity, in both cases referring to Mary, showing that the titles are not synonymous: "It is truly fitting to call you blessed, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and wholly pure and the Mother of our God ( , ...", emphasis added.) The difference between the two terms is that the former, Theotokos explicitly refers to physical childbearing, while the

latter, Mother of God, describes a family relationship but not necessarily physical childbearing. Within the Christian tradition, Mother of God has not been understood, or intended to be understood, as referring to Mary as Mother of God from eternity, that is, as Mother of God the Father, but only with reference to the birth of Jesus, that is, the Incarnation. This limitation in the meaning of Mother of God must be understood by the person employing the term. By contrast, Theotokos makes it explicit, thus excluding any misunderstanding of Mary's divine maternity. However, those reading or hearing the English phrase Mother of God as a translation of a Greek text cannot unless they know the Greek text in question, or obtain additional information know whether the phrase is a literal translation of or an imprecise rendering of or one its Latin equivalents or equivalents in other languages. Catholic and Orthodox Christians justify use of the term Mother of God by citing Luke 1:43 in which Elizabeth greets the Virgin Mary as the "mother of my Lord."

TheologyKey articles on

Mariology

General perspective Mother of Jesus Blessed Virgin Specific views Anglican Eastern Orthodox Marian veneration Muslim Protestant Roman Catholic Key prayers & devotions Angelus Hail Mary Rosary Ecumenical Ecumenical views Theotokos specifically excludes the understanding of Mary as Mother of God in the eternal sense. Christians believe that God is the cause of all, with neither origin nor source, and is therefore "without a mother." This stands in contrast to classical Greco-Roman religion in particular, where a number of divine female figures appear as "mothers" of other divinities, demi-gods, or heroes. For example, Juno was revered as the mother of Vulcan; Aphrodite, as the mother of Aeneas.

On the other hand, Christians believe God the Son is begotten of God the Father "from all eternity" (see Trinity and Nicene Creed), but is born "in time" of Mary. Theotokos thus refers to the Incarnation, when the Second Person of the Holy Trinity took on human nature in addition to his pre-existing divine nature, this being made possible through the cooperation of Mary. Since mainstream Christians understand Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully human, they call Mary Theotokos to affirm the fullness of God's incarnation. The Council of Ephesus decreed, in opposition to those who denied Mary the title Theotokos ("the one who gives birth to God") but called her Christotokos ("the one who gives birth to Christ"), that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human. As Cyril of Alexandria wrote, "I am amazed that there are some who are entirely in doubt as to whether the holy Virgin should be called Theotokos or not. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, how is the holy Virgin who gave [Him] birth, not [Theotokos]?" (Epistle 1, to the monks of Egypt; PG 77:13B). Thus the significance of Theotokos lies more in what it says about Jesus than any declaration about Mary. Within the Orthodox doctrinal teaching on the economy of salvation, Mary's identity, role, and status as Theotokos is acknowledged as indispensable, and is for this reason formally defined as official dogma. The only other Mariological teaching so defined is that of her virginity. Both of these teachings have a bearing on the identity of Jesus Christ. By contrast, certain other Marian beliefs which do not bear directly on the doctrine concerning the person of Jesus (for example, her sinlessness, the circumstances surrounding her conception and birth, her Presentation in the Temple, her continuing virginity following the birth of Jesus, and her death), which are taught and believed by the Orthodox Church (being expressed in the Church's liturgy and patristic writings), are nonetheless not formally defined by the Church, and belief in them is not a precondition for baptism.

Use of Theotokos in the early Christian ChurchMany Fathers of the early Christian Church used the title Theotokos for Mary since at least the third century AD. Origen (d. 254) is often cited as the earliest author to use Theotokos for Mary (Socrates, Ecclesiastical History 7.32 citing Origen's Commentary on Romans) but the text upon which this assertion is based may not be genuine. Dionysios of Alexandria used Theotokos in about 250, in an epistle to Paul of Samosata. Athanasius of Alexandria in 330, Gregory the Theologian in 370, John Chrysostom in 400, and Augustine all used Theotokos. Theodoret wrote in 436 that calling the Virgin Mary Theotokos is an apostolic tradition.

Third Ecumenical Council

Stained glass window of the Theotokos at the Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral. The Greek letters and appearing on either side of her are abbreviations for the term "' " (Mtr Theou, "Mother of God"), consisting of the initial and final letters of each word; the addition of these is a common practise in Eastern Orthodox iconography when depicting her. The use of Theotokos was formally affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. The competing view, advocated by Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople, was that Mary should be called Christotokos, meaning "Birth-giver of Christ," to restrict her role to the mother of Christ's humanity only and not his divine nature. Nestorius' opponents, led by Cyril of Alexandria, viewed this as dividing Jesus into two distinct persons, the human who was Son of Mary, and the divine who was not. To them, this was unacceptable since by destroying the perfect union of the divine and human natures in Christ, it sabotaged the fullness of the Incarnation and, by extension, the salvation of humanity. The council accepted Cyril's reasoning, affirmed the title Theotokos for Mary, and anathematised Nestorius' view as heresy. (See Nestorianism) In letters to Nestorius which were afterwards included among the council documents, Cyril explained his doctrine. He noted that "the holy fathers... have ventured to call the holy Virgin [T]heotokos, not as though the nature of the [W]ord or his divinity received the beginning of their existence from the holy Virgin, but because from her was born his holy body, rationally endowed with a soul, with which [body] the [W]ord was united according to the hypostasis, and is said to have been begotten according to the flesh" (Cyril's second letter to Nestorius). Explaining his rejection of Nestorius' preferred title for Mary (Christotokos), Cyril wrote: "Confessing the Word to be united with the flesh according to the hypostasis, we worship one Son and Lord, Jesus Christ. We do not divide him into parts and separate man and God as though they were united with each other [only] through a unity of dignity and authority... nor do we name separately Christ the Word from God, and in similar fashion, separately, another Christ from the woman, but we know only one Christ, the Word from God the Father with his own flesh... But we do not say that the Word from God dwelt as in an ordinary human born of the holy virgin... we understand that, when he became flesh, not in the same way as he is said

to dwell among the saints do we distinguish the manner of the indwelling; but he was united by nature and not turned into flesh... There is, then, one Christ and Son and Lord, not with the sort of conjunction that a human being might have with God as in a unity of dignity or authority; for equality of honor does not unite natures. For Peter and John were equal to each other in honor, both of them being apostles and holy disciples, but the two were not one. Nor do we understand the manner of conjunction to be one of juxtaposition, for this is insufficient in regard to natural union.... Rather we reject the term 'conjunction' as being inadequate to express the union... [T]he holy virgin gave birth in the flesh to God united with the flesh according to hypostasis, for that reason we call her Theotokos... If anyone does not confess that Emmanuel is, in truth, God, and therefore that the holy virgin is Theotokos (for she bore in a fleshly manner the Word from God become flesh), let him be anathema." (Cyril's third letter to Nestorius)

HymnsMary is very frequently addressed as Theotokos in the hymns of the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches. The most common is Axion Estin (It is truly meet), which is used in nearly every service. Other examples include Beneath thy compassion dating from the third century, the Hail Mary in its Eastern form, and All creation rejoices, which replaces Axion Estin at the Divine Liturgy on the Sundays of Great Lent.

SolemnityMain article: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God In the Roman Catholic Church, the solemnity of the Theotokos is celebrated on January 1st, on the same day as the World Day of Peace. This solemnity comes from around 500 AD and was originally celebrated in the Eastern Churches.from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokus

Athanasian Creed

Athanasian CreedFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search

Athanasius of Alexandria was traditionally thought to be the author of the Athanasian Creed, and gives his name to its common title. The Athanasian Creed (Quicumque vult) is a Christian statement of belief, focusing on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology. The Latin name of the creed, Quicumque vult, is taken from the opening words "Whosoever wishes." The Athanasian Creed has been used by Christian churches since the sixth century of the common era. It is the first creed in which the equality of the three persons of the Trinity is explicitly stated, and differs from the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds in the inclusion of anathemas, or condemnations of those who disagree with the Creed. Widely accepted among Western Christians, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and liturgical Protestants, the Athanasian Creed has been used in public worship more and more infrequently in recent years. The creed only gained limited and occasional acceptance among Eastern Christians.

Contents[hide]

1 Origin 2 Content 3 Uses 4 References 5 External links

Origin

The Shield of the Trinity, a visual representation of the doctrine of the Trinity, derived from the Athanasian Creed. The Latin reads: "The Father is God, The Son is God, The Holy Spirit is God; God is the Father, God is the Son, God is the Holy Spirit; The Father is not the Son, The Son is not the Father, The Father is not the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is not the Father, The Son is not the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is not the Son." A medieval account credited Athanasius of Alexandria, the famous defender of Nicene theology, as the author of the Creed. According to this account, Athanasius composed it during his exile in Rome, and presented it to Pope Julius as a witness to his orthodoxy.[1] This traditional attribution of the Creed to Athanasius was first called into question in 1642 by Dutch theologian G.J. Voss,[2] and it has since been widely accepted by modern scholars that the creed was not authored by Athanasius.[3] Athanasius' name seems to have become attached to the creed as a sign of its strong declaration of Trinitarian faith. The reasoning for rejecting Athanasius as the author usually relies on a combination of the following: 1. The creed originally was most likely written in Latin, while Athanasius composed in Greek. 2. Neither Athanasius nor his contemporaries ever mention the Creed. 3. It is not mentioned in any records of the ecumenical councils. 4. It appears to address theological concerns that developed after Athanasius died. 5. It was most widely circulated among Western Christians.[4][5] The use of the Creed in a sermon by Caesarius of Arles, as well as a theological resemblance to works by Vincent of Lrins, point to Southern Gaul as its origin.[6] The most likely time frame is in the late fifth or early sixth century of the common era - at least 100 years after Athanasius. The theology of the creed is firmly rooted in the Augustinian tradition, using exact terminology of Augustine's On the Trinity (published 415 c.e.).[7] In the late 19th century, there was a great deal of speculation about who might have authored the creed, with suggestions including Ambrose of Milan, Venantius Fortunatus, and Hilary of Poitiers, among others. [8] The 1940 discovery of a lost work by Vincent of Lrins, which bears a striking similarity to much of the language of the Athanasian Creed, have led many to conclude that the creed originated either with Vincent or with his students.[9] For example, in the authorative modern monograph about the creed, J.N.D. Kelly asserts that Vincent of Lrin was not its author, but that it may have come from the same milieu, namely the area of Lrins in southern Gaul.[10] The oldest surviving manuscripts of the Athanasian Creed date from the late 8th century.[11]

Content

The Athanasian Creed is usually divided into two sections: lines 1-28 addressing the doctrine of the Trinity, and lines 29-44 addressing the doctrine of Christology.[12] Enumerating the three persons of the Trinity (i.e., Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), the first section of the creed ascribes the divine attributes to each individually. Thus, each person of the Trinity is described as uncreated (increatus), limitless (Immensus), eternal (ternus), and omnipotent (omnipotens).[13]. While ascribing the divine attributes and divinity to each person of the Trinity, thus avoiding subordinationism, the first half of the Athanasian Creed also stresses the unity of the three persons in the one Godhead, thus avoiding a theology of tritheism. Furthermore, although one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct from each other. For the Father is neither made nor begotten; the Son is not made but is begotten from the Father; the Holy Spirit is neither made nor begotten but proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque). Didactic as its content appears to contemporary readers, its opening sets out the essential principle that the Catholic faith does not consist in the first place in assent to propositions, but 'that we worship One God in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity'. All else flows from that orientation. Its teaching about Jesus Christ is more detailed than in the Nicene Creed, and reflects the teaching of the First Council of Ephesus (431) and the definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451). The 'Athanasian' Creed boldly uses the key Nicene term homoousios ('one substance', 'one in Being') not only with respect to the relation of the Son to the Father according to his divine nature, but that the Son is homoousios with his mother Mary, according to his human nature. The Creed's wording thus excludes not only Sabellianism and Arianism, but the Christological heresies of Nestorianism and Eutychianism. A need for a clear confession against Arianism arose in western Europe when the Ostrogoths and Visigoths, who had Arian beliefs, invaded at the beginning of the 5th century. The final section of this Creed also moved beyond the Nicene (and Apostles') Creeds in making negative statements about the people's fate: "They that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire." This caused considerable debate in England in the mid-nineteenth century, centred around the teaching of Frederic Denison Maurice.

Uses

Detail of a manuscript illustration depicting a knight carrying the "Shield of the Trinity." Composed of 44 rhythmic lines, the Athanasian Creed appears to have been intended as a liturgical document - that is, the original purpose of the creed was to be spoken or sung as a part of worship.[14] The creed itself uses the language of public worship, speaking of the worship of God rather than the language of belief ("Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God"). Among medieval European Christian churches, this creed was recited following the Sunday sermon or at the Sunday Office of Prime.[15] The creed was often set to music and used in the place of a Psalm. Early Protestants inherited the late medieval devotion to the Athanasian Creed, and it was considered to be authoritative in many Protestant churches. The statements of Protestant belief (confessional documents) of various Reformers commend the Athanasian Creed to their followers, including the Augsburg Confession, the Formula of Concord, the Second Helvetic Confession, the Belgic Confession, the Bohemian Confession and the Thirty-nine Articles. [16] Among modern Lutheran and Reformed churches adherence to the Athanasian Creed is prescribed by the earlier confessional documents, but the creed does not receive much attention outside of occasional use - especially on Trinity Sunday.[17][18] In Reformed circles, it is included (for example) in the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia's Book of Forms (publ. 1991). That said, it is rarely recited in public worship. In the successive Books of Common Prayer of the reformed Church of England from 1549 to 1662, its recitation was provided for on 19 occasions each year, a practice which continued until the nineteenth century, when vigorous controversy regarding its statement about 'eternal damnation' saw its use gradually decline. It remains one of the three Creeds approved in the Thirty-Nine Articles, and is printed in several current Anglican prayer books (eg A Prayer Book for Australia (1995)). As with Roman Catholic practice, its use is now generally only on Trinity Sunday or its octave. In Roman Catholic churches, it was traditionally said at Prime on Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost, except when a Double feast or day within an octave occurred, and on Trinity Sunday. In the 1960 reforms, it was reduced to once a year on Trinity Sunday. It has been effectively dropped from the Catholic liturgy since Vatican II, although it is retained in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. It is however maintained in the Forma Extraordinaria, per the decree Summorum Pontificum, and also in the rite of exorcism, both in the Forma Ordinaria and the Forma Extraordinaria of the Roman Rite. In Lutheranism, the Athanasian Creed is -- along with the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds -- one of the three ecumenical creeds placed at the beginning of the 1580 Book of Concord, the historic collection of authoritative doctrinal statements (confessions) of the Lutheran church. It is still used in the liturgy on Trinity Sunday. A common visualisation of the first half of the Creed is the Shield of the Trinity.from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasian_Creed