Nicene Creed

Both Moses Bar Kepha (9th AD) and Dionysius Bar Salibi (12th AD) affirm that the Nicene Creed is not a prayer or petition to be prayed with or for another. Bar Salibi writes, "... it is not justifiable that we believe or confess for others. But everybody shall confess for himself. Therefore, everyone ought to say, "I believe" for himself.

Bar Salibi adds that it is appropriate for a bishop or presbyter (priest) to lead the Creed saying "we believe" because he "represents all his flock."

The Creed affirms the Church's Faith regarding: 1) the Nature of God [One, True, Almighty], 2) the Incarnation [Only-begotten, of one essence, came down, Virgin Mary, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension), 3) reality of the Second Coming [Shall come again, judge the living and the dead], 4) the Holy Spirit (procession, equal worship), 5) the nature of the Church (One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic), 6{ One Baptism, and 7) the Resurrection and life to come.

Each statement affirms and clarifies false and heretical statements that existed and in some cases were prevalent in the early centuries of Christianity. Church fathers such as St. Athanasius the Great, St Gregory the Theologian, and St Basil the Great were instrumental in defending the Christin faith.