Know the Creeds and Councils

KNOW Series

by Justin S. Holcomb

In every generation, the Christian church must interpret and restate its bedrock beliefs, answering the challenges and concerns of the day. This accessible overview walks readers through centuries of creeds, councils, catechisms, and confessions--not with a dry focus on dates and places, but with an emphasis on the living tradition of Christian belief and why it matters for our lives today.As a part of the KNOW series, Know the Creeds and Councils is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith. Each chapter covers a key statement of faith and includes a discussion of its historical context, a simple explanation of the statement's content and key points, reflections on contemporary and ongoing relevance, and discussion questions.

Genres: Theology, Church History, History, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Church

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

Justin Holcomb is an Episcopal priest and a professor of theology and Christian thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. He previously taught at the University of Virginia and Emory University. Justin holds an M.A. in Theological Studies and an M.A. in Christian Thought from Reformed Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Emory University. He serves on the boards for REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) and GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments).

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good starter book on knowing the major creeds and councils throughout the history of Christianity. I have to say, I was relieved when I read through this book and I didn't disagree with the key components of Christianity. I'm not a heretic! Well, I guess I still may be, but any doubts I may have had about my belief structure have been mostly put to rest. So score one for Sunday school.

This is a rather dense topic, but it was broken down into manageable chunks that didn't overwhelm. I really appreciated the paragraph structure, as it allowed me to read a paragraph, think about it and either continue or re-read it as necessary. That may sound kind of obvious and simple, but having read other works that are not so easily broken down, case in point Bonhoeffer's Ethics, I really REALLY appreciate bite-sized chunks.

I would highly recommend this to someone who wants to learn more about the history of the Christian church and who is interested in getting an overview of the beliefs of the Church and how they came to be. It should be required reading for anyone who calls themselves a Christian. As I've said before in various ways, we need to know our past so we can know how we got to where we are and if we want to avoid past mistakes in our future. This is a good book to make sure one is personally on track and to make sure our Church as a whole is also traveling the right path.

4.5 stars. Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan Academic for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to everything from the Council of Nicea to the Heidelburg Catechism to Vatican II. Holcomb covers a lot of material in very few words.

I do find it interesting that he covers only six of the seven ecumenical councils -- he skips over Nicea II. I also sometimes wished he took a more evaluative stance. He offers high praise of the Westminster Confession, but offers no real criticism of the Council of Trent. I think a book written at this level (maybe counter-intuitively) needs more bias put into it.

Still, it's a good intro for people who are unfamiliar, and a good refresher for the rest of us.

[Luke C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book serves as an excellent introduction to creeds and confessions. In light of recent news, I thought it was wise to brush up on my understanding of the topic. This was my second time reading it, and I was surprised by how helpful it proved to be. Great introduction to the topic with good references. I don’t think I fully appreciated its value the first time through, but this reread made me realize just how good it is.

[Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really Liked It

Holcomb gives us a tour through early church history in this book on the Creeds and Councils. Since it is a short book, it is very easy to read through. I would recommend this book for all Christians who have not studied this topic in the past, since I think this knowledge of the early church and the central doctrine of the church is essential.

[Neil Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent concise introduction to the significant creeds, councils and catechisms in church history. The book is meant to be informative and not polemical and is geared towards fair and charitable representations that serve that purpose.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend Justin Holcomb's Know the Creeds and Councils. This isn't the first book I've read on the subject of church history, though I wish it had been! The book I read was thick, scholarly, and in my opinion, poorly organized. This one, on the other hand, was reader-friendly, well-organized, and written primarily to be UNDERSTOOD. In the introduction, he defines the four key terms used throughout the book: creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils. He shares his purpose for writing the book: "to provide an accessible overview of the main creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils of Christian history. It is an introduction to some of the most important theological declarations in the Christian tradition." He shares his method: "For each creed, confession, catechism, or council, I present historical background, a short summary of the content, and thoughts on contemporary relevance. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions and recommended reading for further study." The chapters are arranged chronologically, of course.

The definitions he gives are straight forward. For example, this is how he defines the term catechism: "A catechism is a book or document giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in Q&A form. Catechisms represent the practical, “on-the-ground” application of the main teaching agreed upon at church councils and expressed through creeds and confessions."

Chapter 1: The Apostles' Creed ca. 140
Chapter 2: Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed 325
Chapter 3: Councils of Ephesus 431, 449, 475
Chapter 4: Council of Chalcedon 451
Chapter 5: Athanasian Creed Late 400s to Early 500s
Chapter 6: Councils of Constantinople 381, 553, 681
Chapter 7: Councils of Carthage and Orage 419 and 529
Chapter 8: Council of Trent 1545-63
Chapter 9: Heidelberg Catechism 1563
Chapter 10: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion 1563
Chapter 11: Westminster Confession of Faith 1646
Chapter 12: Second Vatican Council 1962-65
Chapter 13: Modern Confessions: Lausanne Covenant (1974) and Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)

What I appreciate is Holcomb's assessment of each. He is fair, kind, respectful, of course, and the goal is never to persuade readers to believe exactly what he believes. But he provides a solid grounding for understanding Christian doctrines. One feels that he is a true (tour) guide: he knows the path and can point out the sights along the way. He can tell you where to watch your step, where to be careful. And along the way, he can share interesting facts.

Let's play Did You Know!

Did you know...."the Apostles’ Creed has expressed the essentials of Christianity in a way that Christians of all stripes can rally around."

Did you know...."the Nicene Creed was the first creed to obtain universal authority in the church, and it improved the language of the Apostles’ Creed by including more specific statements about the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit."

Did you know that...."Without the truths that were expressed in the Definition of Chalcedon, it is difficult to see how our salvation was accomplished. If Christ were not fully human, or if he were not fully divine, he would not be able to serve as our mediator — as the God-man. He would be either just another man or God himself."

Did you know that...."According to Martin Luther, the Athanasian Creed was “the most important and glorious composition since the days of the apostles.”

Did you know that...."The Council of Trent aimed to remedy the problems within the Catholic Church that had contributed to the Reformers’ cries of protest. The reforms included correcting abuses of power by the clergy, clarifying the balance of authority between Scripture and church tradition, and issuing official statements on justification, the sacraments, and purgatory. All in all, the Council of Trent did not repair the fractures between the Catholics and Protestants, but it did succeed in clarifying the Catholic Church’s position on significant areas of doctrine and bringing moderate reform to the abuses of power against which the Reformers had revolted."

Did you know that..."Even 450 years after it was written, the Heidelberg Catechism remains an official statement of theology for most of the branches of the Reformed church worldwide today."

Did you know that...."the Thirty-nine Articles created a fertile ground for theological exploration while simultaneously identifying the potential pitfalls of heresy."

Did you know that..."The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) is a Reformed confession produced by that Westminster Assembly in London. Intended to set the doctrinal standards for the Church of England, it became a powerful force in the Church of Scotland and has influenced Presbyterian churches all over the world. Centuries later, numerous churches and denominations worldwide look to the Westminster Confession as their standard of doctrine, subordinate, of course, to Scripture"

While I would not want to be quizzed on what I remember from the book several weeks later, I do feel it was a helpful read overall.

[Ian Clary]

Excellent, easy to read, clear introduction to creeds, confessions and councils from the early church to the 20th century. Highly recommended.

[Kevin Halloran]

A helpful, introductory level book on creeds and councils.

[Davontae Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, introductory read for church history.

[Cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, approachable & practical! Great group discussion fodder.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Good introduction to the confessions, creeds, and councils. I enjoyed it.

[Doug Hibbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, tell me what Trent, Nicaea, Heidelberg, and Westminster have in common. Do you know?

If you are a Christian, it would be good for you to know. These are someLinks to Zondervan Page, but it's cheaper elsewhere! of the cities where groups of Christians have gathered to express the Christian Faith. While each of these, and others in Know the Creeds and Councils, were not perfect in their formulations, these Councils helped us know what Christianity is.

It is quite certain that, as a Believer, there is nothing to be considered as important as the Word of God Himself, or the Word of God as revealed in the Bible. Yet how do we explain what we know about God as revealed in the Bible as a Trinity? There is no one verse that uses this word, or that fully summarizes the concept. Instead, we formulate the expression of God in Three Persons to show what the whole of Scripture contains.

Likewise, how do we concisely explain the Jesus is fully God and fully man? This is an assumed, foundational concept in Christianity today, yet it took a few councils to get worded clearly. These beliefs, then, are not made up by councils and instilled through creeds but discussed and clarified, rooted in Scripture.

Unfortunately, most American Christians do not know their history very well. We are unaware of what this guy’s pizza box protest to the Pope was about:

And we need to know. We need to see and understand what the history of the faith is about, and how we came to understand that we believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Holcomb’s work here is valuable. He has provided an easily read introduction to the most significant creeds and councils of the Christian Faith, though he has somewhat focused on what we would call the Western World. There is still adequate information to provide background on Christianity as a global faith here.

Could more be said then Holcomb says? Without a doubt. He could cover Baptist formulations more in-depth, or he could note better some of the errors made by councils through the ages. Further, his introduction that covers the need for creeds was excellent, I would have liked a little more discussion on the danger of violently enforced adherence.

That being said, it’s an introductory book. If you put everything in an introductory work, it becomes an exhausting exhaustive work, and you lose your target audience. Know the Creeds and Councils instead serves as an excellent springboard into discussion of where we have come from as Christian people. It will make for an excellent church group study, and also would serve for a study for seekers desiring to know more background on Christianity.

If only Zondervan and Holcomb had used footnotes, this would be a 5 star book, but separating text from reference and explanatory notes hurts the reader. Footnotes, publishers. Footnotes.

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for the review. No influence was exerted on the review, but I’ll admit to having seen someone else’s copy of this, liked it, and so grabbed it free

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an accessible, short volume of historical theology that exams and compares the major Protestant Confessions, the ancient Christian Creeds and major church councils. The laymen who is interested in how and why the church has developed and used historic creeds and councils will find this to be an easy to understand work that should be of useful reference for years to come.

Justin Holcomb, an Episcopal priest, and professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, has taken a difficult task - taking the great creeds and church councils and showing how they have been used as teaching tools, to an era that has largely forgotten and put them aside, or at least assumed them without studying them. I do believe that Holcomb has done this task well, for while he does take time to introduce the reader to the breadth of historical theology, his writing does not drag. As he explains, the creeds and councils, while used to shepherd the church, were used as didatic tools, for even the least academic laymen to study and clearly understand the Christian faith.

In comparison to another recent book, The Credal Imperative by Carl Trueman ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433...#), written from a similar corner of the evangelical and Reformed world, Holcomb's book is not polemic, but more of how a reader can understand and apply how the church has taught and explained doctrine in the past. Certainly, with an eye for the reader to use the creeds and councils in life, but that is secondary to what this book is doing.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great book and a good complement to Know the Heretics, though I found one flaw that bothered me. This book moves more beyond the early church, not just covering the early creeds but moving into councils from the Reformation era and even a few in the 20th century. Thus it is more broad, covering Catholic councils (Trent in the 1500s, Vatican II in the 1900s) and Reformed confessions (Westminster, Heidelberg Catechism). It is the absences in this broadness that makes me pause though. Why favor just these two traditions? During the Reformation era we are missing both Lutheran and Anabaptist writings. Or even move beyond mere belief and mention the Barmen Declaration that spoke out against Hitler in WWII.

Related to this, is what I see as perhaps an unavoidable problem in a book like this. In discussing the anathemas connected to one of the creeds, Holcomb reflects on whether one can be condemned for simply believing the wrong thing about God, as the creed states. Such a discussion is probably too deep for a book as brief as this and leads to more questions then answers. Are those who assent to the correct beliefs saved even if they commit horrific evils? Are some with questionable beliefs condemned to judgment even if they live as true disciples of Jesus? This is why I think something from Anabaptists (such as the Schleitheim Confession) and the Confessing Church in Germany would have filled out this book nicely.

[Adam Balshan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars [Theology]
(W: 2.63, U: 2.63, T: 2.45)
Exact rating: 2.57

Slight misuse of words (especially "mystery") and occasional, over-casual lexemes.

Quotations [3] and explanations [3] formed the main content, but were hampered by a waffling or vague Ecclesiology and the shortness of the description.

Truth was mainly 2 to 2.25, with a terrible axiom [0.5] of Conciliarism (e.g., "Creeds distinguish orthodoxy from heresy," p.14). On the other hand, he gave a fair shake [3] to Nestorius, Pelagius, and Romanists (while seemingly disagreeing with each).

Takeaway:
Worth one quick read to those interested in the title, but not as a basis of Ecclesiology. "Further Reading" suggestions might be helpful as a next step.

_______
// W lexical 2.38, semantic 2.5, register 3, pacing 2.63

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short review: This and its companion (Know the Heretics) are a good introduction to early theology of the church and how that theology developed. The early creeds in particular are important to the church because they are almost universally affirmed, but many are less sure about what they are affirming. This is a good book to help the reader (or an adult study group) understand how the creeds were developed and what they contain and then how the later councils have continued to impact our current theology. This is a little drier than Know the Heretics, but both are very readable and non-technical.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/know-the-creeds-and-...

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable overview of the major councils, creeds, confessions, and catechisms in Christian history. Covered basic definitions and distinctions between the terms, then explored about a dozen of the most influential, discussing their historical contexts, major characters involved, key doctrines, and ongoing relevance. Although I’ve read several books on church history which covered each of these councils or documents, I found this to be the most understandable and relatable. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about how our beliefs have developed over the centuries!

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice concise summaries of the great creeds and ecumenical councils. For each creed or council, Justin Holcomb provides sections on historical background, content, and relevance. There are even discussion questions. Helpfully, Holcomb writes with evangelical sensibilities, so his sections on relevance are encouraging and challenging for those of us who share the same. I recommend it - great resource.

[Andrew Bankson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet, and brief introduction to the major creeds and councils throughout Christian history. Holcomb writes in a readable, almost conversational, yet well-informed style. Though writing as a Protestant minister, Holcomb does a good job of telling the history of the church Catholic in a relatively unbiased manner.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book I knew very little about the topic. This short book gave an excellent overview by examining the key historical Christian creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils throughout church history. Justin Holcomb first defines the terms and then in each chapter (where he's discussing one of those four from history) he gives the historical background, the content, the relevance, along with discussion questions and "for further reading" suggestions. This made the flow of the book very readable for me. I now have an appreciation for these important theological statements after learning about the context and (general) history behind them. He did a really good job at explaining terms as he went along which was also very helpful.

A couple of good summary quotes -->

"Each one [of the four terms] represents a tool that the church has used to speak about God clearly and faithfully, to guide its members closer to God, and sometimes to distinguish authentic Christianity from the innovations, heresies, and false teachings that the New Testament warns of."

"Learning how Christians throughout history have wrestled with the tough questions of our faith gives us a valuable perspective that deepens our understanding of the Christian faith, increases our dependence on God's revelation in Jesus Christ and Holy Scriptures, fuels our worship of God, increases our love for each other, and motivates mission to the world."

That last quote captures my biggest takeaway from this book - it has given me a valuable perspective.

[Aubrey Dew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good primer on creeds, confessions, catechisms, and the councils of church history. Each chapter was very brief and focused on one or two creeds and councils. I really liked this book but it was only a primer book so I gave it an 8.5. Each chapter also has further reading resources and discussion questions and I found that helpful.

I have some familiarity with creeds, confessions, and catechisms but I did not know much about councils before this book. I have heard them referenced and I know some about Vatican I & II from Sproul’s book “Are We Together?” but that’s about it. I found this extremely helpful to know some of the basic people and history surrounding very very early church history and need to find a bigger and more detailed book on church history.

I had some trouble understanding the Council of Chalcedon and the Councils of Constantinople, mainly because I was unfamiliar with what they were trying to resolve about the Trinity and more specifically the personhood and two natures of Christ. R.C. Sproul videos helped me out quite a bit.

It also surprised me about how politicized theology was. I have heard of instances of this of course, but I just did not realize how deeply the church, theology, and politics were knit together.

“If I can bring anyone into that hall [creeds], I have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms [confessions], not the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals.”

[Peter Witkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using only 192 small pages, Holcom accomplishes the herculean task of providing his readers with helpful introductions to more than thirteen creeds and doctrinal statements. Each of his chapters chronicles the historical background, the content, and the relevance of documents such as the Apostle’s creed, the Council of Trent, and the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. At the end of each chapter, the author provides his readers with discussion questions and a list of books for further study, making this the perfect book for both the pastor and the lay person. Though no book of this size could comprehensively deal with every issue tied to these documents, Holcom provides his readers with a meaningful introduction to those movements that both indirectly and directly shape their theological practice. For example, he details Nicaea which solidified the church’s understanding of Jesus and the Council of Trent which explains why protestants cannot rejoin the Catholic Church. Though Jesus’s church does not need councils and theological documents to be the church, these statements prove to be more helpful than most Christians realize. Holcom writes, “Creeds aren’t dogmas that are imposed on Scripture but are themselves drawn from the Bible and provide a touchstone to the faith for Christians of all times and places.”

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Justin S. Holcomb is REALLY helpful to understand the Christian creeds and councils throughout history--from the Apostle's Creed (2nd century) to the Capetown Declaration from 2010 (part of the Lausanne Covenant & Movement).

Each chapter is between 8-15 pages, and generally has a format of Historical Background, Content, Relevance, Discussion Questions (3-5 questions), and Further Reading (3-5 sources).

He includes very succinct and easy to read breakdowns of some of the most difficult debates of Christendom from the past two thousand years.

These are not all ecumenical (These apply to all branches of the Church) councils, as some are primarily for Catholics (i.e. Council of Trent; Second Vatican Council) and others are primarily for Protestants (i.e. Heidelberg Catechism; Westminster Confession of Faith, etc.).

Holcomb helped me to learn some of the debates in greater details, which gave me a greater appreciation for some people/groups that I disagree/have disagreed with, as I could get greater glimpses of insight as to what they were keeping in mind as they came to the stances that they did.

The book is only a 170 pages, and very helpful, so if you're interested in these topics, it's a must have!

[Jeremy Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the major Creeds and church councils.

The ones covered in this book include: Apostles Creed (140 A.D), Council of Nicea/Nicene Creed (325), Ephesus (431, 449, 475), Chalcedon (451), Athanasian Creed (Late 400s), Constantinople (381), Carthage and Orange (419/529), Trent (1545-63), Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1563), Westminster Confession (1646), Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Lausanne Covenant (1974) and the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978).

As you can tell, there is a wide range covered, and I would argue, the most important ones.

If you are unfamiliar with many of these documents or councils, I highly recommend it. Even for the person semi-familiar, you will learn a lot! Like for example, the background story on why the Second Council of Ephesus is known as the "robber council".

We must know our history to help prevent us from repeating many of the same mistakes.

[Stephen G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mama always said, "Eat your broccoli!" Reading this book is like eating your theological broccoli. Perhaps I'm not as scholarly or as spiritually mature as most pastors as I don't get excited about creeds and councils. I can't say I was longing for the opportunity to read this book. Yet Holcomb clearly and concisely lays out the important creeds and councils of church history, and he manages to do it in a way that is enjoyable.

What I most appreciated about Holcomb's book is his charitable tone. Just by writing a book on creeds and councils, he's dealing with very divisive issues throughout church history. However, he does so with fairness. He is particularly sensitive to the Catholic/Protestant differences and represents both sides' positions well.

This is a great resource for pastors and church leaders as it allows the reader to quickly pull the important points from key councils and creeds throughout church history.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good study of the major councils, creeds, and confessions of the church. Holcomb covers: The Apostles' Creed, Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed, Councils of Ephesus, Council of Chalcedon, Athanasian Creed, Councils of Constantinople, Councils of Carthage and Orange, Council of Trent, Heidelberg Catechism, Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, Westminster Confession of Faith, Second Vatican Council, Lausanne Covenant, and the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.

Holcomb looks at the historical contexts behind these councils and documents, the teachings of them, the aftermath, and the on-going relevance.

Holcomb keeps it simple, and the chapters are not too long. He also includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and a bibliography for further reading on each topic.

Very good. Recommended to all.

[Tyler Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid introduction to some of the most important creedal formulas and church councils that have shaped the denominational landscape in the 21st Century. Dr. Holcomb attempts to write at a lay-level while providing some historical context, theological developments, and current relevance to a few of the more influential creeds. This is a tall task! The distinctions between hypostasis and essence, or monotheletism and dithelitism are sure to make the average reader in my church find it too technical for them. And those with a bit more education under their belt are going to want a more thorough analysis of the "descent clause" in the Apostle's Creed. So in one sense, this book is sure to disappoint. But this is a natural consequence of any book written at this level and with this topic as its subject matter! Bravo to Dr. Holcomb for the product!

[Aaron Irlbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the creeds and confessions of the Christian faith. The short length of the book prohibits the author from being extensive in his commentary, and that is precisely what makes the book so easily accessible to any reader interested in the topic. Holcomb writes with clarity and helpful insight, but the real genius of his writing is how he cuts to the heart of the issue without delay. He says in few, but measured words, what other men have said in volumes. This book should be on the shelf of every believer.

[Rick Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the layman and those not familiar with Church History these are great instructional reviews! The KNOW series also includes separate booklet reviews on KNOW The Heretics of the Early Church, KNOW How We Got Our Bible and KNOW Why You Believe. All these are booklets are great overviews, easy to read and understand are well worth the time. You can read each booklet in couple of hours. I'm using them to supplement other studies.

[Luke Gorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding primer

This book really put in perspective the importance of the councils, creeds catechisms and confessions formulated right around significant moments in church history. I was particularly helped by a more robust understanding of the 39 articles and its uses. I was greatly helped by the context surrounding the different confessions around the reformation and what the aims and goals driving their production. Easy read. Much benefit