English versions of the Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian faith created at the Council of Nicaea in 325 and expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381. It’s a concise summary of what many Christian churches believe and is spoken in worship in many languages, including English. The creed begins with “Credo” meaning “I believe,” and it is meant as a personal confession of faith, though it is usually recited aloud in worship.
In English, the creed has been translated for use in worship services that mix Latin and vernacular language. A key recent development is the work of international bodies that prepare English texts for liturgy. The 1970s and 1980s saw revisions by the International Commission on English Texts (ICET) and, later, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). In 2011, ICEL issued an updated English translation for the Roman Rite Mass.
Different Christian families use slightly different English versions:
- Roman Catholic: In the United States, the official Mass text used a singular form, beginning with “I believe.” The Catholic versions are drawn from ICEL/ICET texts and include the long, traditional phrases about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Anglicans and some Protestant groups: Many use a version that begins “We believe,” reflecting a communal proclamation. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer in the U.S. and other ecumenical texts often use this plural form.
- Orthodox and Eastern Churches: They have their own English renderings that closely follow their traditional Greek or Church Slavonic texts and may vary in wording and emphasis.
- Other churches (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.): They often use English translations influenced by ICET/ELLC work or adopt variations of the traditional 1662 wording, sometimes with small changes in wording to fit their theology and language.
- Some churches keep older or alternative forms, including minor changes to terms like “Catholic” or “Apostolic,” or the addition/removal of certain phrases such as “Filioque.” These choices reflect different church histories and doctrinal emphasis.
A note on language: some translations use “we believe” (plural) to emphasize the community of faith, while the Roman Catholic Mass uses “I believe” (singular). Both forms are tied to different liturgical traditions and theological emphases.
Simple, easy-to-understand version (common in many churches)
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:20 (CET).