The Value of Creeds
What is the value of creeds and confessions? They define the beliefs of a communion of churches, protect from false teaching, and give testimony to the world.
What is the value of creeds and confessions? They define the beliefs of a communion of churches, protect from false teaching, and give testimony to the world.
Should Christians recite creeds? This article gives the biblical grounds for doing so. It shows that creeds serve as memorable summaries of what we believe about salvation.
What role should creeds, confessions, and catechisms play in the church? It is this question that this article deals with.
This article considers what effect the revising of historic creeds like the Apostles' Creed has on ecumenical ties.
Struggling to incorporate the Christian creeds into the congregation's life and worship? This article suggests five ways to incorporate the creeds into the worship service.
This article is a response to John Goldingay's article in the same journal on the topic of canon and Old Testament theology. Seitz asks critical questions with regard to the form of the canon, the function of creeds and the rule of faith, and finally about referring to the danger of an appeal to narrativity, which can easily reduce the Old Testament to a past story.
Creeds and doctrines of the church have been developing since the start of the church, and there is no reason they should not continue to be developed. However, the article contends that those who intend to come with such developments must understand that the creeds and doctrines we already have are a result of centuries of reflection. Whatever creed must be made, should reflect the truth of Scripture. The article also includes some critical analysis of modern forms of creeds and confessions.
Creeds, which are formal summaries of fundamental truths of religious belief, have been ignored in some Protestant churches, including Reformed Churches. The article cites ignorance of Scripture and laziness in paying attention to the doctrines in these creeds as some of the causes of this neglect. The article goes on to state why the creeds and standards are important as a part of the worship system of the church.
The author observes the importance of the doctrine of total depravity, and thus the sinfulness of man in church history. In discussing man's depravity, the author appeals to such circles as philosophy and the general empirical observations of human conduct. References are made to such works as Calvin's Institutes and the Reformational creeds (e.g., the Westminster Confession).
This article investigates the reasons why Scripture is the hightest authority, above other authorities such as oral tradition, the church, and creeds. The author suggests that the central argument for the authority of Scripture relates to Christ himself. Not only is Scripture an authority; it is the only authority. This is a carefully argued topic, with the word "authority" itself investigated as to its meaning in different ages.
This article wrestles with a question with a specific focus.
This article argues for traditional material (creeds) to be found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, and notes how it functions.
Demarest reflects upon the origin and authority of the Christian creeds, and the lack of appreciation for them today. He further considers possible reasons for this lack of appreciation, noting the factor of doctrinal development used by many modern theologians.
In order for true unity and ecumenicity to exist within the churches, there needs to be a convincing confession of faith. This article looks at the role confessions and creeds play in shaping such unity of churches. Attention is given to the need for confessions, the problems and challenges of adopting confessions, and the method for formulating them.
This article defines five elements of the reformed practice: the need for church membership, creeds and confessions, reformed worship, giving and tithing biblically, and infant baptism.
Does confessing the sufficiency of scripture nullify the need for creeds? Why should a believer be bound by creeds? Is the authority of scripture not enough? This article discusses the danger of independentism (seeking autonomy from creeds and confessions). Creeds have a derived authority, since they are based on the truth of scripture. Creeds are crucial to the expression of the true faith as taught in Scripture and for the unity of God’s true churches.
Does confessing the sufficiency of scripture nullify the need for creeds? Why should a believer be bound by creeds? Is the authority of scripture not enough? This article discusses the danger of independentism (seeking autonomy from creeds and confessions). Creeds have a derived authority, since they are based on the truth of scripture. Creeds are crucial to the expression of the true faith as taught in Scripture and for the unity of God’s true churches.
Bridging the gap between those who resist any use of creeds and those who uphold creeds above scripture, this article proposes a healthy way of viewing creeds. The author maintains that creeds should be viewed historically (unifying the church of all times and places) and doctrinally (identifying the cores of the Christian faith). Having this perspective on the creeds, however, does not mean that confessions cannot ever be improved or changed.
This article links the need for creeds to the biblical call to confess Christ individually and corporately, the work of the Spirit in guiding the church in the truth, and the call to the church to uphold biblical doctrine. Confessions are important for the unity of the church, defense of the faith, resolving disputes, catechetical use, and pastoral care. The author calls the church to intentionally use the creeds.
This article looks at what creeds and confessions are, where we find creeds in the Bible, if they are necessary, and how creeds and confessions are practically used.
This article is about confessions and church unity. Multi-confessional standards, the purpose of confessions, creeds and liturgy, and the use of confessions in defending the faith are all discussed in this article. Non-confessional churches are also mentioned by the author.