The Creed of St. Athanasius:
This article was sent to me by Abdul Haleem; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him.
According to the Catholic Dictionary, the Athanasian Creed is "an official statement of Christian doctrine principally in regard to the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation, probably composed during the life of St. Athanasius (d. 373) but not actually by him. It is sometimes called the Quicumque vult from the opening words. It has a place in the Latin Liturgy, being said at Prime on the feast of the Holy Trinity. Before the Office reforms that came into force in 1956 it was said more frequently.
"Following Vatican II the Hour of Prime was entirely suppressed so the Creed is no longer part of the liturgy at all.
The Creed goes as follows:
1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary to hold the Catholic faith.
2. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish
everlastingly.
3. But this is the Catholic faith: That we worship one God in trinity, and trinity in
unity;
4. Neither confounding the persons; nor dividing the substance.
5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son; another of the Holy Ghost.
6. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the
glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is the Holy Ghost.
8. The Father is uncreated; the Son is uncreated; the Holy Ghost is uncreated.
9. The Father is incomprehensible; the Son is incomprehensible; the Holy Ghost is
incomprehensible.
10. The Father is eternal; the Son is eternal; the Holy Ghost is eternal.
11. And yet there are not three eternals; but one eternal.
12. And also there are not three uncreated; nor three incomprehensible; but one uncreated,
and one incomprehensible.
13. So likewise the Father is almighty; the Son is almighty; and the Holy Ghost is
almighty.
14. And yet there are not three almighties, but one almighty.
15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.
16. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
17. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord.
18. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by
Himself to be God and Lord;
20. So are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say: there are three Gods, or three
Lords.
21. The Father is made of none; neither created nor begotten.
22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made; nor created; but begotten.
23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son not made; neither created; nor begotten,
but proceeding.
24. Thus there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost,
not three Holy Ghosts.
25. And in this trinity none is before or after another, none greater nor less than
another.
26. But the whole three persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal.
27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the unity in trinity, and the trinity in unity is
to be worshipped.
28. He, therefore, that will be saved, must thus think of the trinity.
Brother, Osama, post this and explain to Muslims why:
I have found that if I DIRECTLY REPRINT this definiton of Trinity and make Christians try
to prove it - THEY CANNOT
Even using the Bible as their sole authority, they always end up
(1) giving a Unitarian explanation (the three persons are "three jobs" God holds
(Still only ONE person, right!)
(2) A polytheistic explanation ("The trinity is like marriage - husband one wife
become one" - BUT SILL MORE THAN ONE PERSON.)
(3) An Arian or Nestorian explanation (I.e. Jesus is more than human but still subordinate
to God, i.e. there is no "co-equality" of the persons, and usually not
"co-eternity")
Sincerely, Abdul Haleem
Back to Answering Trinity section.