Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent/Session III/Symbol of Faith

by the Council of Trent

SESSION THE THIRD.

Celebrated on the fourth day of the month of February, 1546.

DECREE TOUCHING THE SYMBOL OF FAITH.

In the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.

This sacred and holy, œcumenical and general Synod of Trent, lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost—the same three legates of the Apostolic See presiding therein—considering the magnitude of the matters to be Seated of, especially of those which are comprised under the two heads of the extirpating of heresies, and the reforming of manners, for the sake of which chiefly it is assembled, and recognizing with the apostles, that its wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the spirits of wickedness in the high places,^[1] exhorts, with the same [apostle], all and each, above all things, to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith they may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one, and to take the helmet of salvation, with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.^[2] Wherefore, that this its pious solicitude may have its beginning and progress by the grace of God, it ordains and decrees that, before all other things, a confession of faith is to be set forth; following herein the examples of the Fathers, who, in the most sacred councils, have been wont, at the beginning of the transactions thereof, to oppose this shield against heresies; and with this alone, on some occasions, have they drawn the unbelieving to the faith, overthrown heretics, and confirmed the faithful. Wherefore, it has thought good, that the symbol^[3] of faith which the holy Roman Church makes use of, as being that principle wherein all who profess the faith of Christ must necessarily agree, and that firm and only foundation against which the gates of hell shall never prevail,^[4] be expressed in the very same words in which it is read in all the churches. Which [symbol] is as follows:^[5] I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages; God of God, light of light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made: who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man: crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered and was buried; and he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; and he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and again will come with glory to judge the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end: and in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets: and one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

1. Ephes. vi. 12.
2. Ib. v. 10, 16, 17.
3. I. e. tessera, or watchword, "the object of creeds having been to distinguish true Christians from heretics and infidels."—Tomline on Art. viii. p. 183. See the instances collected by Pearson on the Creed, Præf. p. 13, sq. note.
4. Matt. xvi. 18.
5. See Conc. Constant. i., c. 4.