The Creed is Bible Based, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37
July 13, 2025
Each Sunday we pray the Nicene Creed (at times some parishes exercise the option to use the Apostles’ Creed). We say the words but do you ever wonder about the origin of the Creed?
The Nicene Creed’s name comes from the Council of Nicaea that originally wrote the Creed (with councils shortly after that approving the wording of the Creed we know today).
The Council of Nicaea occurred in 325 A.D. That’s almost 300 years after Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Other Christian groups who think the Catholic Church drifted away from the authentic teaching of Jesus would say that 300 years is a long time. How is one to know that what we read in the Nicene Creed is authentic teaching?
First, the answer is because we pray and trust that the Holy Spirit is always leading our Catholic Church. As human beings we might go astray but the Holy Spirit will always bring us back on track when we listen to him. This is the very foundation of what it means to be “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” as we profess in the Nicene Creed.
Secondly, even though the Nicene Creed was written almost 300 years after Jesus’ death, it is not new teaching. It is rooted in Scripture. In my reflection a few weeks ago on Trinity Sunday, “The Nature of God, the Most Holy Trinity, Year C,” I matched what we find in the Nicene Creed with its scriptural basis. The Nicene Creed is Bible-based.
As I began to reflect on this Sunday’s readings, as soon as I began to read the second reading from Colossians, I recognize in themes and words that we find in the Nicene Creed.
Writing to the Colossians, Paul refers to Jesus as the “firstborn of all creation.” Here, I think of the words in the Nicene Creed that refer to Jesus as “the Only Begotten Son of God” and “born of the Father before all ages.” In the Nicene Creed, we profess belief in Jesus as eternal (cf. John 1:1-5).
Paul continues in his letter to the Colossians to describe Jesus, “For in him were created all things in heaven and earth, the visible and the invisible…all things were created through him and for him.” In the Creed we speak of Jesus, “through him all things were made.” The Catholic Church of the Fourth Century at the Council of Nicaea was not the first to speak of Jesus as Creator along with God our Father, whom we call in the Nicene Creed, “maker of heaven and earth” for it is found in the Bible.
The Nicene Creed speaks of God as maker of “all things visible and invisible.” I already cited Paul’s words, “the visible and the invisible.” I hope this helps make it clear to you that the Church Fathers at Nicaea were led by the Holy Spirit to be faithful to the Bible.
Paul then writes of Jesus, “He is before all things.” Here, again, I put to the words found in the Nicene Creed, “born of the Father before all ages.” We should think about this not just in the order of physical creation in time but to realize that when Paul says Jesus “is before all things,” he is speaking of the nature of Jesus as our Creator.
Paul next speaks of Jesus as “the head of the body, the church.” In the Nicene Creed, we speak of Jesus as the one whose “kingdom will have no end.” Jesus is our king. He is our head, we the Church as his body.
Paul continues to speak of Jesus, “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” In the Nicene Creed, we speak of Jesus as the one who “rose again on the third day” and “we look forward to the resurrection of the dead. Jesus’ Resurrection marks the beginning of a new age as we look forward to “the life of the world to come.”
As Paul writes, “…and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross.” In the Nicene Creed, we profess that Jesus “was crucified” and we profess our faith in the “forgiveness of sins.” Jesus died for us!
I do not want to pass over Paul’s words concerning Jesus, “and in him all things hold together.” God did not create us and walk away. God works everyday to hold us together as “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Thanks be to God.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff