The Apostles’ Creed Explained: What Catholics Believe

The Apostles’ Creed is one of the clearest summaries of Christian belief used in the Catholic Church.

In a few short lines, it professes faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, forgiveness, resurrection, and eternal life.

Catholics encounter the Creed in several important settings.

It is closely connected with Baptism, may be used in the liturgy in certain circumstances, and is traditionally prayed at the beginning of the Rosary.

Its purpose is not simply to recite old words.

It expresses the faith Christians claim as their own.

What Is the Apostles’ Creed?

The Apostles’ Creed is a concise statement of Christian belief.

The word creed comes from the Latin credo, meaning “I believe.”

When Catholics pray the Creed, they are not merely describing ideas about Christianity.

They are personally professing the faith of the Church.

The Creed is traditionally organized around belief in:

• God the Father
• Jesus Christ, the Son
• The Holy Spirit
• The Church
• The forgiveness of sins
• The resurrection of the body
• Eternal life

The Catechism itself uses the Creed as one of the principal frameworks for explaining Catholic doctrine.

Was the Apostles’ Creed Written by the Twelve Apostles?

Despite its name, the Apostles’ Creed was not written as a single document by the twelve apostles.

Its name reflects the belief that its teaching faithfully summarizes the apostolic faith handed on by the early Church.

The Creed developed from ancient baptismal professions of faith used in the Church of Rome.

Its language took shape gradually over the early centuries of Christianity.

This distinction is important because it allows Catholics to respect the Creed’s ancient origin without making a historical claim that the apostles themselves sat down and composed the exact present wording together.

The Apostles’ Creed

“I Believe in God, the Father Almighty”

The Creed begins with God.

Catholics profess belief in one God who is Father and almighty.

Calling God “Father” expresses His relationship to the Son within the Trinity and also His loving relationship with creation.

Calling Him “almighty” does not mean arbitrary force.

It expresses that God possesses complete power and authority and that His power is inseparable from wisdom and love.

“Creator of Heaven and Earth”

This line professes that everything that exists ultimately depends upon God.

Creation is not divine itself.

The universe, material reality, spiritual creation, human life, and everything within creation have their origin in God.

The opening words of Genesis express this belief:

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth.”

Belief in God as Creator also affects the way Catholics understand human dignity and responsibility toward the created world.

“And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord”

The Creed moves immediately from the Father to Jesus Christ.

Catholics believe that Jesus is not merely a prophet, moral teacher, or historical religious leader.

He is the Son of God and Lord.

The title Christ means Messiah or Anointed One.

Calling Jesus “Lord” expresses faith in His divine authority.

The Creed therefore places Jesus at the center of Christian faith.

“Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit”

This line refers to the Incarnation.

Catholics believe that the eternal Son of God truly became human.

Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary through the action of the Holy Spirit.

This belief does not suggest that Jesus merely appeared human.

Catholic faith holds that He is truly God and truly man.

The Annunciation in Luke describes the angel Gabriel telling Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her.

“Born of the Virgin Mary”

The Creed identifies Mary directly because the Incarnation occurred within real human history.

Jesus was born from Mary and entered the world as a human child.

Mary’s role does not compete with Christ.

Her significance comes from her relationship with Him and her faithful response to God.

This same mystery forms the heart of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, particularly the Annunciation and Nativity.

For a fuller explanation, read The 20 Mysteries of the Rosary Explained.

“Suffered Under Pontius Pilate”

The mention of Pontius Pilate anchors the Passion of Jesus in history.

Christian faith is not presented simply as a collection of timeless spiritual ideas.

Jesus lived, suffered, and died within a particular historical setting.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor involved in the trial and execution of Jesus.

The Creed therefore moves directly from Christ’s birth to the events of His Passion.

“Was Crucified, Died and Was Buried”

Catholics profess that Jesus truly died.

The Crucifixion was not an illusion or symbolic event.

His death stands at the center of Christian belief because Catholics understand it as Christ’s self-offering for the salvation of humanity.

His burial also confirms the reality of His death.

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary lead Catholics through these events in prayer and meditation.

What Does “He Descended Into Hell” Mean?

This is one of the most frequently misunderstood lines of the Creed.

It does not mean that Jesus was condemned to the hell of the damned.

Here, “hell” refers to the realm of the dead.

The Creed professes that Christ truly experienced death and entered the state of the dead before His Resurrection.

Catholic teaching understands this descent as Christ proclaiming His victory and opening the way to salvation for the righteous who had died before Him.

This line therefore belongs to the mystery of Christ’s triumph, not His defeat.

“On the Third Day He Rose Again From the Dead”

The Resurrection is central to Christianity.

Catholics believe that Jesus truly rose from the dead.

His Resurrection is not simply the idea that His teachings continued after His death.

It is the proclamation that death itself was overcome.

The Resurrection forms the First Glorious Mystery of the Rosary and the foundation of Christian hope.

Because Christ lives, Christians believe that death is not the final end of human existence.

“He Ascended Into Heaven”

After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and then ascended into Heaven.

The Ascension does not mean that Christ abandoned His Church.

It expresses His glorification and His return to the Father.

The Ascension is the Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.

Christ’s disciples are then sent into the world to continue His mission.

“And Is Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty”

This phrase uses biblical royal imagery.

It does not mean that God the Father physically sits in a chair with Jesus positioned beside Him.

To be seated at the right hand expresses authority, honor, and participation in divine kingship.

The Creed professes that the risen Christ reigns in glory.

“From There He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead”

Catholic faith looks not only backward to Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection, but also forward.

The Creed professes that Jesus will come again and that every human life ultimately stands before His judgment.

Christian judgment is inseparable from both justice and mercy.

This belief gives moral seriousness to human choices while also grounding hope in Christ.

“I Believe in the Holy Spirit”

The third major section of the Creed turns to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence, emotion, or spiritual force.

Catholics profess the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Holy Trinity.

In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is present in creation, the Incarnation, the Baptism of Jesus, and the birth of the Church at Pentecost.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit is also the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.

What Does “The Holy Catholic Church” Mean?

In the Creed, the word catholic means universal.

Catholics profess belief in the Church founded by Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

Calling the Church holy does not mean that every individual Christian behaves perfectly.

It means that the Church receives her holiness from God and is called to lead people toward holiness.

The Church is a community of believers, but Catholic teaching understands her as more than a voluntary association.

She is united in faith, Baptism, worship, and mission.

What Is the Communion of Saints?

The communion of saints refers to the spiritual unity of the whole Church.

It includes believers on earth, the faithful being purified after death, and the saints in Heaven.

All are united in Christ.

This helps explain why Catholics ask saints to pray for them.

They do not worship the saints.

They ask fellow members of the Body of Christ to intercede for them before God.

The Catechism describes the communion of saints as closely connected with the Church itself.

“The Forgiveness of Sins”

Christian faith includes the possibility of genuine forgiveness.

Catholics believe that forgiveness ultimately comes from God through Jesus Christ.

The Church is entrusted with a ministry of reconciliation, especially through Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance.

The Creed therefore does not present sin as the final word over a human life.

Repentance, mercy, conversion, and reconciliation remain possible through God’s grace.

“The Resurrection of the Body”

This line is sometimes mistaken for belief only in the immortality of the soul.

Catholic teaching goes further.

Christians believe that God will ultimately raise the dead.

The human person is not understood as a soul temporarily trapped inside a disposable body.

Body and soul belong to the fullness of human identity.

The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christian hope in the future resurrection of the faithful.

“And Life Everlasting”

The Creed ends with hope.

Catholics believe that human existence is directed toward eternal life with God.

Eternal life is not simply endless continuation of earthly existence.

It means final communion with God and the fulfillment of the salvation promised through Jesus Christ.

The final word of the Creed is:

Amen.

Amen expresses affirmation and trust.

In effect, the believer is saying:

This is the faith I profess.

Why Is the Apostles’ Creed Prayed at the Beginning of the Rosary?

The Apostles’ Creed is traditionally prayed while holding the crucifix at the beginning of the Rosary.

This places the Rosary within the broader Christian profession of faith.

Before beginning the decades and mysteries, the person praying professes belief in:

• The Trinity
• The Incarnation
• The Passion of Christ
• The Resurrection
• The Holy Spirit
• The Church
• Forgiveness
• Resurrection and eternal life

Many of these same truths are then contemplated throughout the mysteries of the Rosary.

For the complete sequence, read How to Pray the Five-Decade Rosary.

Apostles’ Creed vs Nicene Creed

The Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed express the same basic Christian faith, but they developed in different historical contexts and have different levels of detail.

The Nicene Creed is not a replacement that makes the Apostles’ Creed obsolete.

Both remain important expressions of Catholic faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apostles’ Creed?
It is an ancient Christian profession of faith summarizing core beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, forgiveness, resurrection, and eternal life.

Did the apostles write the Apostles’ Creed?
Not as a single document in its present form. The Creed developed from ancient baptismal professions of faith and summarizes the apostolic faith.

Why do Catholics say the Apostles’ Creed during the Rosary?
It is traditionally prayed at the beginning of the Rosary as a profession of the Christian faith before meditation on the mysteries begins.

What does “he descended into hell” mean?
It refers to Christ entering the realm of the dead after His death, not to Jesus suffering the punishment of the damned.

What does “catholic Church” mean in the Creed?
The word catholic means universal. Catholics understand the phrase as referring to the Church united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.

What is the communion of saints?
It is the spiritual communion of the whole Church united in Christ, including believers on earth and the saints in Heaven.

What is the difference between the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed?
The Apostles’ Creed is shorter and rooted in ancient baptismal tradition, while the Nicene Creed developed in the fourth century and expresses several doctrines in greater detail.

Is the Apostles’ Creed biblical?
The Creed is not a single passage copied from Scripture, but its major statements summarize teachings found throughout the Bible and the apostolic faith of the Church.

Final Thoughts

The Apostles’ Creed is short enough to memorize, but its meaning reaches across almost the entire Christian faith.

It begins with God as Creator.

It moves through the Incarnation, Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ.

It professes faith in the Holy Spirit, the Church, forgiveness, resurrection, and eternal life.

When Catholics pray the Creed, especially at the beginning of the Rosary, they are doing more than reciting an introduction.

They are declaring the faith within which every mystery of the Rosary is understood.