(Making of the Creeds (SCM Classics)) [By: Young, Frances] [Apr, 2013]

by Frances M. Young

In lucid and non-technical prose, Young demonstrates how and why the two most familiar Christian creeds - the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed - came into being. She describes how creeds originated in instruction before baptism and have their roots in the New Testament itself. She then shows how the rise of Gnosticism and a tendancy towards fragmentation in the church made a clear statement of faith necessary, as well as outlining the various controversies which led to particular words and phrases being included in the creeds as we now have them. She then describes the construction of the great Christian doctrines of the Trinity and incarnation.

Genres: Theology, History, Church History, Christianity, Religion

Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Rev Young’s book extremely- rather than being what could be be quite a dry and boring topic grounded in its own turf of history, Young makes the material exciting and philosophically fascinating. It seems, rather than being a book about the bland history of the making of the creeds, that the book is aimed at giving a brilliant introduction into the beginnings of patriotic philosophy and theology. Of course, the making of the creeds would always be intertwined with this philosophy, but here it is absolutely saturated with it.

Indeed, I would have to say that this is one of the most brilliantly explained definitions of Arianism that I have read so far (I.e. actually making it understandable). It was all about grounding Arius in the thought of Athanasius that made it fully comprehensible. Christ the cosmic Logos is all things, but no homoosious with the Father; he is the first of God’s creatures- rather than being framed in the Athanasian definition of the three persons in unity in the complex of the Trinity.

I’m so excited to go and read theology- I just got my offer from Edinburgh yesterday; and this has only made me more happy with my volte face :))

[Rev. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this slim but comprehensive and insightful volume while studying for my Master of Theological Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School (1993-95). It was not on the reading list, I read it on my own as a supplementary text – and I am very glad I did! Easily-readable, yet information-packed, her lucid style and firm command of the subject matter made a surprisingly complex topic comprehensible and enjoyable.

She traces the process of the development of the core Christian doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation from the spontaneous affirmations contained in the Holy Scriptures, through the Apostles Creed, to the fuller and more fleshed-out (no pun intended!) doctrine of the Nicene and eventually Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creeds, which became and remain the basis of orthodox Christianity, whether Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant.

As an Anglican priest, I hope to use this as a text for Christian formation classes, if I can find an affordable reprint. It is deep and thorough enough for the beginning theological scholar, yet clear and concise enough for the lay person. Highly recommended!

[Nick Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

good in parts
very good in others

[Jared Schumacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful summary of the creeds and their theological import as well as the political and theological circumstances of their creation. An excellent little read.

[Jonathan]

None

[Big H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry. If you can get through that though, there's some good history to be had.