Creeds and Confessions
of
The First Presbyterian Church (USA)
Creeds and Confessions are statements of doctrine which express the beliefs of a church or congregation. The Book of Confessions (including all those listed below) forms a major part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
| Name | Date | Purpose |
Early
Creed |
53-55 | Paul's first letter to the Corinthians stresses the Resurrection of Christ |
Nicene Creed |
325 |
to settle controversy about the nature and meaning of Jesus Christ |
Apostles’ Creed |
evolved by 500 |
to unify the early church with one statement of faith all could accept |
 Scots Confession |
1560 |
to proclaim Protestant faith in Scotland and England |
Heidelberg Catechism |
1563 |
to explain the differences between the Presbyterians and the Lutherans and Catholics |
 Second Helvetic Confession |
1566 |
to describe the experience of the Christian life |
Westminister Confession of Faith |
1646 | to state Protestant beliefs in a way that would help Protestant groups in England get along |
 Shorter Catechism |
1647 | to teach Protestant children the Westminister Confession of Faith |
|
Larger Catechism |
1647 | to provide a longer, more detailed version of the Shorter Catechism |
 Declaration of Barmen |
1934 | to protest the rise of Hitler and Nazism |
Confession of 1967 |
1967 | to state the faith in today’s words; a call for reconciliation |
A Brief Statement of Faith |
1991 | to provide a short modern statement of faith to use in worship and at other times |
|
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