The Nicene Creed, first formulated in 325 AD and refined in 381 AD, summarizes essential Christian beliefs and draws deeply from Scripture. Below, we’ll walk through the Creed line by line and connect each statement to its biblical foundations.
Although different Christian traditions may interpret certain phrases differently, the Creed itself is firmly rooted in the teachings of Scripture.

1. One God, the Father Almighty

"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible."

• Deuteronomy 6:4 – "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord."
• Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
• Colossians 1:16 – "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible..."

2. Jesus Christ, the Son of God

"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father."

• John 1:1-2 – "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
• John 10:30 – "I and my Father are one."
• Hebrews 1:3 – "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person..."

3. Christ’s Incarnation

"Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man."

• Philippians 2:6-8 – "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God... and was made in the likeness of men."
• John 6:38 – "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
• Luke 1:35 – "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..."

4. Christ’s Crucifixion & Resurrection

"He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures."

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures... he was buried, and... rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
• Luke 24:6-7 – "He is not here, but is risen... The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

5. Christ’s Ascension

"And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father."

• Acts 1:9 – "While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
• Mark 16:19 – "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

6. Christ’s Return

"And He shall come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end."

• Revelation 22:12 – "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
• 2 Timothy 4:1 – "The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."

7. The Holy Spirit

"And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son."

• John 15:26 – "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father..."
• Romans 8:11 – "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you... he shall also quicken your mortal bodies."

8. Worship and Glorification

"Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified."

• Matthew 28:19 – "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
• 2 Corinthians 13:14 – "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all."

9. The Prophets

"Who spoke by the prophets."

• 2 Peter 1:21 – "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
• Hebrews 1:1-2 – "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets..."

10. The Church

"We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic Church."
* Catholic meaning "one, universal" church, not Roman Catholicism.

• Ephesians 4:4-5 – "There is one body, and one Spirit... One Lord, one faith, one baptism."