The Nicene Creed

Throughout the world, The Nicene Creed is asserted by millions of devout Christians. Its origins date to the fourth century, originating out of a dispute regarding the position of equality of Jesus Christ in relationship to God, the Father. Some religious authorities believed that Jesus and God were equal in status and power, while others thought that God was superior. The Christian ruler, Constantine, ordered a meeting in Nicaea so that a determination could be made regarding this controversial issue. Eventually, it was determined that God and Jesus were divinely equal, and from these discussions, the Nicene Creed emerged. Its importance to Christianity cannot be overstated given that many Christians have sacrificed their lives in defense of the Creed. Thus, each phrase of the Creed has special meaning or significance with regard to Christian ideology. The purpose of this paper is to explore the meaning of one particular phrase from the Creed: "He has spoken through the prophets."

In this particular section of the Nicene Creed, Christians are expressing their belief in the Holy Spirit. There are three occasions in the Bible when the presence of the Holy Spirit is asserted. The first is when the world is created, as evidenced by Biblical statement that "the spirit of God moved over the waters". The second reference involves the Holy Spirit giving life to Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The third instance occurred during Pentecost when the Holy Spirit entered the eleven apostles, giving life to the Church of Christ. Thus, God, in the form of the Holy Spirit created three important elements in Christianity. The Spirit gave life to the world, to Jesus, and to the church.