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ANALYSIS OF THE DOCTRINES 2.1 Constantine “The Great” Supports the Pauline Christianity 2.2 Christian Theologians Freely Made Changes To Their Doctrines 2.3 Christians Oldest Confession of Faith: The Apostles Creed 2.4 The Summary of Pauline Doctrines (Based on the Apostles and Other Christian Creeds) |
2.3 Christians Oldest Confession of Faith – The Apostles Creed [1]
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.[2] The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven And Sitteth on the Right hand of God the Father. 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
Jesus himself did not formulate any Creeds or Articles of faith.[3] The Christianity’s oldest “confession of faith”, “The Apostles Creed”, the main profession of faith of the Pauline Churches which is to Christians what the “Kalimah Syahadah” is to Muslims was only developed in 150 C.E (100 or so years after Jesus ascension). Surprisingly, its original form was much briefer and that phrases were added to the Apostles Creed to meet various needs. Professor Clyde L. Manschreck, President, American Society of Church History, admits this by saying: “Although the exact present wording of the Creed can be traced only to the eight century, the present form can be approximated in the fourth century, and the short form can be traced back to about 150 C.E. Churches and individuals apparently felt free to make changes…”[4] The eminent Critic, Theodor Zahn, author of “Articles of The Apostolic Creed” emphasizes that: “Before 250 C.E the article of faith was: “I believe in God, the Almighty”. Between 180 and 220 C.E, the word “Father” was added before “Almighty”. This was bitterly contested by a number of Church leaders, and Bishop Victor and Zephysius are on record as condemning the change, regarding it as an unthinkable sacrilege to add or subtract any word to the scriptures. They opposed the tendency to regard Jesus as divine, asserting that he was essentially a man like other men. The same view was held by Churches, which had sprung up in North Africa and West Asia.”[5] [1] Craig, David, What Christians Believe (Oneworld Publications, Oxford, England), 2000, vi [2] Strangely, Christians believe that their God, Christ, not only suffered death but also entered into hell after his death. Jawad Ibn Sabbath said: Explaining this believe, Father Martyrose told me that When Christ accepted human form it was necessary for him to bear all human sufferings and afflictions. Therefore he was sent to hell and punished. When he was delivered from hell, all those who were present in hell before him were released with him. I demanded some proof and support (from the scriptures) for this belief. He answered that his belief did not need any support. (Izharul Haq, Part 3, 267) [3] The Myth of The Cross, 126 [4] A History of The Church In The World: from persecution to uncertainty, 42 [5] Zahn, T., Articles of the Apostolic Creed, 33-37, in M. Ataur Rahim, Jesus Prophet of Islam (England, Diwan Press), 1977, 9
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