Presbyterian Creeds & Confessions

Those ordained to Presbyterian church office "receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our Church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and [are] instructed and led by those confessions as [they] lead the people of God."
                                                                                -- Book of Order, W-4.4002 (c)

The Nicene Creed (ca AD 325-451)
Written during the 4th century A.D. in an attempt to unify the Christian church under emperor Constantine. It is heavily influenced by the theologian Athanasius and the work of the first two ecumenical councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). It was adopted by the council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. Its central doctrines are those of the Person of Jesus Christ and the reality of the Holy Spirit. It is the only creed accepted by all three major branches of Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

The Apostles' Creed (ca AD 180-750)
Developed between the second and ninth centuries as a baptismal creed for new Christians this is the most popular creed used in worship by Western Christians. Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator.

The Scots Confession (1560) - John Knox
Written in five days by John Knox and five other "Johns" (Willock, Winram, Spottiswood, Row and Douglas) at the conclusion of the Scottish civil war in response to medieval Roman Catholicism and at the behest of the Scottish Parliament. Its central doctrines are those of election and the Church. It was approved by the Reformation Parliament and Church of Scotland, attaining full legal status with the departure of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567.

The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
Written by Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus in Germany at the direction of Frederick the Elector. Its central doctrines are human misery, divine redemption, and the response of the faithful in thanksgiving. It is the most personal of the Reformed confessions.

The Second Helvetic Confession (1566)
Written by Heinrich Bullinger in Switzerland after surviving the Black Plague as a codicil to his will. It is in response to the Anabaptists and makes an attempt to reconcile with the Lutherans. It is influenced by Ulrich Zwingli. Its central doctrines are those of Covenant and Baptism.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)
Written by the Westminster Assembly at the call of Parliament together with the following two catechisms and heavily influenced by Reynolds. It is written in the context of the English Civil War and as a response to high church Anglicanism. The central doctrines of this and the following two catechisms are the sovereignty of God and the authority and proper interpretation of Scripture.

The Shorter Catechism (1649)

The Larger Catechism (1649)

The Theological Declaration of Barmen (1934)
Written by Karl Barth and the confessing church in Nazi Germany in response to Hitler's national church. Its central doctrines concern the sin of idolatry and the lordship of Christ.

The Confession of 1967 - United Presbyterian Church
Written during the troubled 1960's and the civil rights movement in response to civil religion. Its central doctrines include reconciliation and the equality of all persons. Edward A. Dowey, Jr. headed the committee which composed it.

A Brief Statement of Faith - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1991)
After the two largest streams of Presbyterianism in the United States reunited to form the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1983 a committee was appointed to draft a confession that would briefly summarize our faith. A lengthy process of writing and review led to its adoption by the presbyteries in 1991. Like the earliest creeds it is liturgical in style and suitable for use in worship.

The above creedal statements are found in The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Part I: The Book of Confessions; published by The Office of the General Assembly, Louisville, KY; (c) 2004.