The Quicke and the Dead

 
 13th C Illuminated Manuscript -- Apostles Writing the Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      born of the Virgin Mary,
      suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to the dead.
      On the third day he rose again;
      he ascended into heaven,
      he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
      and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic Church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

 The Apostles' Creed

When was the last time you recited this historic creed of the Christian church? A lot has been made of the fact it was part of the funeral service for former president George H W Bush this past week. All the former presidents -- Carter, Clinton, Bush Jr and Obama -- along with their spouses, joined in saying it in unison. The current president and his wife did not, despite it being printed in the order of worship. Of course, Trump has stated that he doesn't ask for God's forgiveness, so why would he bother? 

The Apostles Creed is sometimes attributed to the original followers of Jesus although it doesn't emerge in written form until the late 4th century and came into the form we know in the 7th. While other statements of faith emerged through the centuries this one has endured. All of them attempt to describe succinctly the profound mysteries of God, including the incarnation. Great gatherings have been convened to create these creeds and battles fought over their content. We humans are a strange bunch.

When I was young this was the creed we recited several times a year, usually on communion Sundays if I recall correctly,  and we learned it in Confirmation Class. In some respects it was supplanted in the United Church by what we call the New Creed, a statement of faith which is no longer a Spring chicken at age fifty. 

I'll admit it might have been decades since I last included it in a worship service. Surprisingly, we actually recited it in church last Sunday as our minister son, Isaac, included it in an intergenerational service, of all times. It was actually refreshing to say it once again. This creed includes Mary, the peasant mother of Jesus, and, curiously, the arch-villain, Pontius Pilate, a Roman procurator.  


I like a couple of phrases from the original Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The "holy Ghost" and "judge the quicke and the dead" are fascinating uses of older English.

Did you grow up with the Apostles Creed? When was the last time you recited it?

 I beleeve in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the holy Ghost,
 Borne of the virgin Mary. Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
 Was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into Hell,
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the quicke and the dead.
I beleeve in the holy Ghost,
The holy Catholick Church,
 The Communion of Saints,
The forgiveness of Sinns,
The Resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.

 The Apostles Creed 1662 Book of Common Prayer: The Original Manuscript