Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 4/26/2007

Question
Is the Apostles Creed necessary today; since we  have been graced with the bible? Is it not more important to embrace the word of GOD; first and foremost as our authority; instead, of standing behind a creed? To me power to live this life can and will only be found in GOD's holy word who is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

Yes and NO. As Baptists were are non creedal, meaning we don't follow any creed or confession but only the Bible.  Now having said that, there is nothing in the Apostle's creed that Baptists don't believe in.  Even were it says one "catholic" church, the word catholic means universal. So Baptists do believe in a universal body of all believers.

Both the Apostle's Creed and the Nicean Creed were written and became popular before individuals really had the chance to have their own copy of a bible.  The creeds summed up what most Christians believed.  So if you couldn't read the Bible for yourself, memorizing a creed gave you a foundation for what you believed.