The Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed grew out of the early Roman baptismal confession (the "Old Roman Symbol"). It was not written by the apostles themselves, but earned its name because it faithfully summarizes their doctrine. Believers have confessed it at baptism since the earliest centuries of the church.

"He descended into hell" is the creed's most discussed clause: historic Protestant teaching understands it of Christ's real death and burial and His suffering of death's full curse, not of a second suffering after death (compare Acts 2:27, 31).

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

In the creed, catholic simply means universal — the one true church of all times and places, made up of everyone who truly trusts in Christ. It does not refer to the Roman Catholic denomination.