A Quote from the Athanasian Creed

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A Quote from the Athanasian Creed

The following is a quote taken from the "Athanasian Creed," and may express the way Athanasius (a fourth century theologian) explained the trinity and the nature of Jesus Christ.

There is some uncertainty as to whether or not Athanasius himself wrote the creed. Though it expresses his views, some believe that it was actually written a few decades after he had died. Either way, it's still a good summary of these teachings.

(This quote is only a part of the whole creed. The entire creed can be found at many sites on the internet.)

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The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit

The Son of God - God and Man

The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.

And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; but the whole three persons are co-eternal together and co-equal . . .

He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man;

God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the substance of his mother, born in the world; perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting; equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood. Who although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ. . .