To God Be the Glory
Words: Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915); Music: William H. Doane (1832-1915); Public Domain
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Words: Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), tr. Paul Gerhardt (1656); tr. James W. Alexander (1830);
Music: Hans Leo Hassler (1601), arr. Johan Sebastian Bach (1729); Public Domain
Athanasian Creed (5th or 6th Century)
We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit Eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord.
And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.
In the same way we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord; we are forbidden to say there are three Gods or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal and coequal. So that in all things, the Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Amen.
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History of the Athanasian Creed
Belief in One God who eternally exists in the three persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is an essential part of Biblical faith. Knowing God, and constantly affirming this faith is part of what it means to be a Christian. Athanasius (A.D. 296-373) was a bishop in Alexandria who took part in the Council of Nicaea and was a defender of the Nicene theology. The earliest copies of the Athanasian Creed are from the 5th and 6th centuries, but this confession is attributed to him. We have left off the introduction and conclusion in the original, and updated some words for clarity and ease in reading.
This morning, we confess our faith aloud through these words of the Athanasian Creed, because we worship, “God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.” As sinners we are always in danger of falling into idolatry by ascribing to God what He is not and falling into the worship of our imaginations. The Athanasian Creed arms us to rightly worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24) according to who He has revealed Himself to be in the Bible. At Redeemer Baptist Church we know what we believe about God matters, and so we join saints throughout the centuries who have confessed the same Biblical truth.
We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes
Words: Elizabeth Mills (1805-1829); Music: William Miller; Public Domain
