Ekklesia.Anglicana: The Prayer Book: XIII

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The Prayer Book: XIII

Catechesis: The Rule of Faith

The Book of Common Prayer includes a Catechism as an outline of the faith. In the early church, the Bishops and those who taught and defended the faith spoke of the Regula Fidei, the "rule of faith." The Rule of Faith defined the parameters of the Apostolic Faith, the deposit given by the Apostles to the Church. This rule of faith determined the boundaries of what was orthodox, serving to make heresy recognizable. This same Rule of Faith has been passed down through the centuries and defined by the Ecumenical Councils. The catechism, then, serves as a guide for teaching and understanding this same faith. In order to maintain unity in the teaching of the Faith and to provide for a more complete exposition of the Creeds, the Catechism is provided as a way for the doctrines of the church to be taught more fully. It ensures that the essentials of the faith are understood by all, and that adherence to those essentials in our teaching is binding. The catechism also serves to give an introduction of the Anglican faith to those who may not be familiar with it. It is easy to go to the catechism and see what Anglicans believe about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Prayer, Worship, the Scriptures, Baptism, the Eucharist, etc. The Catechism is therefore an invaluable resource for Anglicans and for those interested in Anglicanism.

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THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.