The Nicene Creed summarizes important Bible doctrines that separate orthodoxy from heresy. For consistency, let’s quote the public domain King James Bible.
God the Father
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6)
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18 cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Mark 12:32; Malachi 2:10; Genesis 17:1-4; Exodus 6:3; Matthew 6:9)
maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…” (Colossians 1:16 cf. Job 38:1-30; John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11)
God the Son
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31 cf. John 20:28; Acts 11:17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5)
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds [ages],
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) ...” (John 1:14 cf. John 1:1-2; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; Psalm 2:7)
God of God, Light of Light,
“... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 cf. John 1:4, 9; Psalm 27:1; Matthew 17:2, 5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:3)
very God of very God,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 cf. John 17:1-5; 1 John 5:20)
begotten, not made,
“No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18 cf. John 16:28)
being of one substance with the Father,
“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)
by whom all things were made;
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:3, 10 cf. Hebrews 1:1-2, 10; Colossians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36)
who for us men and for our salvation
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (I Timothy 2:4-5 cf. Matthew 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Colossians 1:13-14)
came down from heaven
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven… He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” (John 3:13, 31 cf. John 6:33-35, 38)
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34-35)
and was made man;
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 cf. Hebrews 2:14)
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
“And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.” (Mark 15:15 cf. Mark 15:25; I Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24)
He suffered and was buried.
“And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)
“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:4 cf. Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:53; Matthew 27:59-60)
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31 cf. Mark 16:9; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:1, 45-46; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
and ascended into heaven
“And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:51 cf. Acts 1:9-10; Mark 16:19)
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19 cf. Acts 7:55; Luke 22:69)
And He will come again with glory
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26 cf. Matthew 24:27; John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
to judge both the living and the dead,
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;” (2 Timothy 4:1 cf. Acts 10:42; Matthew 16:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:5)
whose kingdom will have no end.
“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11 cf. Hebrews 1:8)
God the Holy Spirit
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26 cf. Acts 1:8)
the Lord and Giver of Life,
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 cf. Acts 5:3-4; Genesis 1:2)
who proceeds from the Father
“... the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26)
[and the Son,]
(This is known as the filioqué from Latin, and added by western churches to the original creed, but rejected by eastern churches.)
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father…” (John 15:26 cf. Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6)
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
who spoke by the prophets.
“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” (Ephesians 3:5 cf. I Samuel 19:20; Ezekiel 11:5; 1 Peter 1:10-11)
Church
And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church,
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22 cf. Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Ephesians 1:4; 4:4; 5:27; Acts 1:8; 2:42; Mark 16:15; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:17)
Baptism
We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:5 cf. Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 22:16)
Resurrection
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
“... if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain… ” (1 Corinthians 15:12-49 cf. John 11:24; Romans 6:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)
and the life of the world to come.
“... and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30 cf. 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)
Amen
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.” (Psalm 106:48)
The Nicene Creed separates orthodox believers from heretics. What do you believe? You decide!
