Creedal statements in the Bible refer to concise, formal declarations of faith that summarize essential Christian beliefs. While the Bible itself is the inspired Word of God, it contains early examples of creedal-like affirmations that served as foundational statements of faith. For instance, Deuteronomy 6:4 presents the Shema, declaring, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,” which functions as a foundational creedal statement. Similarly, Peter’s confession in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” and Thomas’s declaration in John 20:28, “My Lord and my God!” are personal confessions that reflect core Christian beliefs.
The Apostle Paul also provides early creedal fragments in his writings. In 1 Corinthians 15:3–7, he outlines a summary of the gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, and appeared to various witnesses. This passage is often regarded as one of the earliest creedal formulations in Christian history. Another example is found in 1 Timothy 3:16, where Paul writes, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory,” which encapsulates key aspects of Christ’s life and work.
Additionally, the writer of Hebrews urges believers to “hold fast our confession” and “the confession of our hope,” indicating that public affirmation of faith was a vital part of early Christian practice. These biblical passages demonstrate that creedal statements are not merely later church inventions but have roots in the New Testament itself, serving as concise summaries of essential Christian doctrine. While the creeds developed later in church history, such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, they are built upon these biblical foundations and serve to clarify, preserve, and unify Christian belief.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – The Shema
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
1 Kings 18:39
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen
Mark 12:29-31
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
John 1:1-3,10,12-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:49
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
John 6:68-69
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 20:28
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Acts 8:36-37
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[a]
Acts 16:31
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9-10
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 8:6
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 12:3
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…
Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Colossians 1:12-20
Giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 2:9-15
For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power: In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Timothy 3:16
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Hebrews 6:1-2
6Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
1 John 4:2
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
