I grew up in a Methodist church often reciting creeds - we would go back and forth between the Nicene and the Apostles Creed. That's probably where my initial interest came in reading this "Introduction". I really enjoyed the bite-size segments, taking a phrase at a time and digging deeper into any insight to be gleaned. One of the most pleasant surprises came at the end in the Epilogue when the author expounded on the often controversial - or at least challenging to understand - concept of the Trinity. You'll have to read it - but he uses seven statements learned from St Augustine where he explains how to teach "the bare bones of the doctrine of the trinity in less than two minutes." So that is reason enough to add this to your collection. I was availed an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for objective feedback without commitment.

I found Phillip Cary's introduction to the Nicene Creed a helpful primer as a lay person. He goes through each clause and lays out the scriptural, historical and theological basis for them as well as discussing slight variations that have arisen in different translations of the Creed.

This book is written at a level that is accessible and yet lends itself to multiple readings, understanding more and deeper truths each time. Cary's explanation of the Trinity in the epilogue is helpful and succinct.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lexham Press from providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an informative work concerning the Nicene Creed, broken down into each individual phrase. The Council of Nicaea convened in AD 325 to concisely compose the Creed in order to address some spreading confusion.

The author has certainly put in some serious research! He goes back to the origin of specific words and/or phrases, whether they are Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or English. It's interesting to see the slight variance or shades of meaning that a specific word in a particular language imparts. None of the languages contradict the meaning, but the word gains depth when seeing an interpretation from each tongue.

Good for those looking for a scholarly treatise on the Creed.

I received this eARC courtesy of Lexham Press and NetGalley.

Happy Easter! This was a wonderful book to read the week leading up to this most holy of days. This book was a great way to get deeper into the word and allow myself to truly dig deep and understand why my faith is important to me. You can tell this was a thoughtful, well researched and informative guide to the Nicene Creed. I can see myself going back to this whenever either I have a question or as a great resource to guide someone new to the faith.

Phillip is well versed in the Bible and used it as the backbone of this book. Well written and easy to read I never felt like I was being talked at but rather I was in a conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Final Thoughts: if you have every wanted to get deeper into your faith or wondered what it is people find attractive about Jesus or the Creed, I would highly recommend this as a great starting point and resource.

Disclaimer: Thank you Netgalley and Lexham Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I've recently become more interested in the early Creeds and this book was very timely. Cary breaks down the creed and goes over the significance of each section, as well as particular word meanings. The history of the creed is covered as well as the false teachings that the council of Nicea were correcting. This book offers a great look at the core beliefs of Christianity found in the creed.

Phillip Cary offers an incredible resource for both ministers but especially lay members. Cary creates an accessible survey of each phrase in the Nicene Creed. It is a wonderful resource to refer back to but also use in training classes as it lays out in simple terms the core believes of Christianity.

First sentence: The Nicene Creed originated because ancient Christians were appalled. A teacher in one of the most influential churches in the world was trying to get them to speak of Christ and say things like "there was once when he was not" and "he came to be out of nothing." They had good reason to be appalled.

What you see is what you get: an introduction to the Nicene Creed. Phillip Cary walks his readers through the Nicene Creed. He does so--in part--by sharing his new translation of the Nicene Creed into English. Cary walks phrase by phrase through the Nicene Creed. He focuses on the original languages, the historical context, the theological/philosophical ramifications of the statements (what the Creed IS saying and what it is not saying; what it includes and what it excludes). For the record, Cary's Nicene Creed is the expanded confession formulated at the Council of Constantinople in 381. (As opposed to the Creed of Nicaea from 325). He at times discusses traditional renderings and translations of words and phrases. Occasionally he branches out into stories of word origins and associations. [The languages most referenced are Greek, Latin, and of course, English].

He points off by reminding readers that the Nicene Creed was a DEFINITIVE NO, NO, NO to the heretical beliefs creeping into churches. It was affirming what they held to be true, what they held to be biblical. It was denying what they held to be false, what they felt to contradict Scripture's teachings. He writes, "to say no is to draw a boundary and say: We're not going there, because that's not who Christ is."

Quotes:

We believe [I believe]
in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible;
and in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
who was begotten of the Father before all ages,
[God from God,]
Light from Light,
True God from True God,
begotten, not made,
having the same being as the Father,
through whom all things came to be;
who for us human beings and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate
from the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary
and became human,
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered
and was buried,
and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father,
and shall come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
of whose kingdom there shall be no end;
and in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father
[and from the Son],
who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and co-glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets;
in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins;
we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed
An Introduction
by Phillip Cary
Pub Date 29 Mar 2023
Lexham Press
Christian | Religion & Spirituality



I am reviewing a copy of The Nicene Creed through Lexham Press and Netgalley:


The Nicene Creed will help you understand as well as to celebrate what to believe.


The Nicene Creed has been central to the church’s confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed’s riches with simplicity and clarity for centuries.



In this book Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit.


The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary’s help.


I give The Nicene Creed five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

As a Catholic I have recited the Apostle's Creed more times than I can count. To understand it in this detail and depth was very rewarding. I loved how the author went piece by piece to explain and describe where the specific sentence originated and biblical ideology behind it. I thought this was well organized, easy to follow, and insightful. Anyone wanting a deeper understanding into a frequently recited prayer would love this book.