The sentimental Christmas may be popular as a religious holiday for some because it can come off as celebrating the birth of a helpless baby. Jesus lies in a manger to be gazed upon and adored, but not to be heard and heeded. A speechless babe wrapped tightly in swaddling cloths seems more obliging in allowing people to tailor their religious beliefs however they see fit.
David Garland

ATHANASIUS CREED

ATHANASIUS CREED

ATHANASIUS CREED

  1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things is necessary to hold the Catholic faith.
  2. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
  3. But this is the Catholic faith: That we worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity;
  4. Neither confounding the persons; nor dividing the substance.
  5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son; another of the Holy Ghost.
  6. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
  7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is the Holy Ghost.
  8. The Father is uncreated; the Son is uncreated; the Holy Ghost is uncreated.
  9. The Father is incomprehensible; the Son is incomprehensible; the Holy Ghost is incomprehensible.
  10. The Father is eternal; the Son is eternal; the Holy Ghost is eternal.
  11. And yet there are not three eternals; but one eternal.
  12. And also there are not three uncreated; nor three incomprehensible; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
  13. So likewise the Father is almighty; the Son is almighty; and the Holy Ghost is almighty.
  14. And yet there are not three almighties, but one almighty.
  15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.
  16. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
  17. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord.
  18. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
  19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by Himself to be God and Lord;
  20. So are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say: there are three Gods, or three Lords.
  21. The Father is made of none; neither created nor begotten.
  22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made; nor created; but begotten.
  23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son not made; neither created; nor begotten, but proceeding.
  24. Thus there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
  25. And in this trinity none is before or after another, none greater nor less than another.
  26. But the whole three persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal.
  27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the unity in trinity, and the trinity in unity is to be worshipped.
  28. He, therefore, that will be saved, must thus think of the trinity.

Athanasius (A.D. 297?-373)

cf.”The Creed of Athanasius” — Vol.7, page 366, Anti-Nicene Fathers.

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