The Creed is like saying the ball is round or what the ball is, but not how to kick it, pass it, score goals, or win the game.
Jesus and Paul were far more interested in playing the game of the Kingdom — loving enemies, proclaiming the reign of God, embodying resurrection life — than merely describing the shape of the ball.
Thanks for your reply. Proper application of the Christian faith via teaching, preaching, and missions requires proper boundary lines between what is orthodox and what is heresy. It is not enough to say "play the Kingdom game" without rightly understanding the rules. Creeds draw the boundary line, confessions begin giving the picture shape, and then individual denominations fill in the rest. Along with scripture and church history a clearer picture is then offered to Christians. Peace!
That’s a very insightful question — and you’re right, the Nicene Creed does not explicitly mention the word “love.” Here are three explanations why that I found:
1. The Creed’s Purpose Was to Defend Correct Belief, Not Express Full Christian Experience
The Nicene Creed was written primarily to defend the orthodox teaching about God — especially the divinity of Jesus Christ — against heresies like Arianism. It’s a doctrinal statement focused on who God is, what He has done, and the relationships between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s not a comprehensive summary of all Christian values (like love, mercy, justice, etc.). It’s a targeted theological defense. In that sense, the Creed is like the skeletal framework of Christian belief, not the full picture of Christian life.
2. Love Is Implied Through the Doctrine of the Trinity
Even though the word “love” isn’t explicitly said, love is deeply implied: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in eternal relationship — and relationship implies love. Later theologians (like Augustine) famously described the Trinity itself as a community of love: “The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, and the Spirit is the Love between them.” So, when the Creed speaks of “the only-begotten Son” and the “Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,” it is describing a relationship that, biblically, is rooted in love (cf. John 17:24 — “you loved me before the foundation of the world”). Thus, love is embedded in the relationships the Creed describes — even if the word isn’t used.
3. Biblical Love Language Came Elsewhere in Worship, Not in the Creed
In the early church, other parts of worship (like Scripture readings, psalms, prayers, and homilies) expressed God’s love explicitly: The Creed was recited more like a military oath of loyalty (the word creed comes from credo, “I believe”), especially for baptismal candidates. The liturgy, sermons, and Scripture would talk richly about God’s love. The Creed was meant to guard the boundaries of Christian faith, while love was woven throughout the lived Christian life.
In Short:
• The Nicene Creed is about truth claims, not emotional or ethical expressions.
• Love is assumed and embedded in the relational nature of the Triune God.
• Love was emphasized elsewhere (Scripture, worship, preaching), even if not named in the Creed itself.
I don't like the word implied. God "is" love. According to Gemini AI:
While the words "is" and "implied" both relate to something being true or understood, they aren't the same thing. Here's the difference:
* Is: This is a direct statement of fact or existence. It explicitly says that something is a certain way. For example, "The sky is blue" is a direct statement of the sky's color.
* Implied: This means something is suggested or understood without being directly stated. It's an indirect way of conveying information. For example, if someone says, "It's getting late," it implies that you should probably leave soon, even though they didn't say that directly.
Think of it this way:
* "Is" is like pointing directly at something and saying what it is.
* "Implied" is like hinting at something or suggesting it without pointing directly.
So, while something that is might have implications, and something that is implied might be true, the words themselves describe different ways of conveying information.
The Creed is like saying the ball is round or what the ball is, but not how to kick it, pass it, score goals, or win the game.
Jesus and Paul were far more interested in playing the game of the Kingdom — loving enemies, proclaiming the reign of God, embodying resurrection life — than merely describing the shape of the ball.
Thanks for your reply. Proper application of the Christian faith via teaching, preaching, and missions requires proper boundary lines between what is orthodox and what is heresy. It is not enough to say "play the Kingdom game" without rightly understanding the rules. Creeds draw the boundary line, confessions begin giving the picture shape, and then individual denominations fill in the rest. Along with scripture and church history a clearer picture is then offered to Christians. Peace!
It's interesting in the Creed itself that Light, judgement, forgiveness and Salvation are mentioned, but not love.
That’s a very insightful question — and you’re right, the Nicene Creed does not explicitly mention the word “love.” Here are three explanations why that I found:
1. The Creed’s Purpose Was to Defend Correct Belief, Not Express Full Christian Experience
The Nicene Creed was written primarily to defend the orthodox teaching about God — especially the divinity of Jesus Christ — against heresies like Arianism. It’s a doctrinal statement focused on who God is, what He has done, and the relationships between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s not a comprehensive summary of all Christian values (like love, mercy, justice, etc.). It’s a targeted theological defense. In that sense, the Creed is like the skeletal framework of Christian belief, not the full picture of Christian life.
2. Love Is Implied Through the Doctrine of the Trinity
Even though the word “love” isn’t explicitly said, love is deeply implied: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in eternal relationship — and relationship implies love. Later theologians (like Augustine) famously described the Trinity itself as a community of love: “The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, and the Spirit is the Love between them.” So, when the Creed speaks of “the only-begotten Son” and the “Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,” it is describing a relationship that, biblically, is rooted in love (cf. John 17:24 — “you loved me before the foundation of the world”). Thus, love is embedded in the relationships the Creed describes — even if the word isn’t used.
3. Biblical Love Language Came Elsewhere in Worship, Not in the Creed
In the early church, other parts of worship (like Scripture readings, psalms, prayers, and homilies) expressed God’s love explicitly: The Creed was recited more like a military oath of loyalty (the word creed comes from credo, “I believe”), especially for baptismal candidates. The liturgy, sermons, and Scripture would talk richly about God’s love. The Creed was meant to guard the boundaries of Christian faith, while love was woven throughout the lived Christian life.
In Short:
• The Nicene Creed is about truth claims, not emotional or ethical expressions.
• Love is assumed and embedded in the relational nature of the Triune God.
• Love was emphasized elsewhere (Scripture, worship, preaching), even if not named in the Creed itself.
I don't like the word implied. God "is" love. According to Gemini AI:
While the words "is" and "implied" both relate to something being true or understood, they aren't the same thing. Here's the difference:
* Is: This is a direct statement of fact or existence. It explicitly says that something is a certain way. For example, "The sky is blue" is a direct statement of the sky's color.
* Implied: This means something is suggested or understood without being directly stated. It's an indirect way of conveying information. For example, if someone says, "It's getting late," it implies that you should probably leave soon, even though they didn't say that directly.
Think of it this way:
* "Is" is like pointing directly at something and saying what it is.
* "Implied" is like hinting at something or suggesting it without pointing directly.
So, while something that is might have implications, and something that is implied might be true, the words themselves describe different ways of conveying information.
I like the Nicean Creed
Great thoughts Steve!!