Authorship
Attributed to Jesus’ disciples whom he had appointed as apostles (see Luke 6:13)

Content
The creed states the church’s basic beliefs, but does not go into any further detail. For example, it declares “I believe in the Holy Spirit”, but assumes prior knowledge of who the Holy Spirit is. It is a creed that is designed to be remembered easily and passed on verbally to new Christians. The basic teaching could then be expounded upon by the preacher with reference to the bible.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.