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What Christians Believe: Understanding the Nicene Creed
Today, more than a quarter of Americans claim no religious affiliation at all. Religious belief in general, and Christianity in particular, is increasingly regarded as mythical and unreasonable—the superstitious product of prescientific minds.
But what do thoughtful Christians actually believe?
In this short book, renowned preacher, teacher, and theologian Bishop Robert Barron invites skeptics, seekers, and lifelong Christians alike to consider this question through one of Christianity’s most pivotal the Nicene Creed, an ancient statement of faith that has guided Christian thought for 1700 years and is still accepted by Christians around the world today. With philosophical and theological acumen, Bishop Barron walks through the Creed line by line, explaining its teachings on the mystery of the Trinity, the saving mission of Jesus Christ, and both the life of the Church below and the life of the world to come.
Drawing on Sacred Scripture, Church teaching, and the richness of the Catholic intellectual tradition, What Christians Believe unfolds the essentials of the Christian faith with conviction and clarity.
But what do thoughtful Christians actually believe?
In this short book, renowned preacher, teacher, and theologian Bishop Robert Barron invites skeptics, seekers, and lifelong Christians alike to consider this question through one of Christianity’s most pivotal the Nicene Creed, an ancient statement of faith that has guided Christian thought for 1700 years and is still accepted by Christians around the world today. With philosophical and theological acumen, Bishop Barron walks through the Creed line by line, explaining its teachings on the mystery of the Trinity, the saving mission of Jesus Christ, and both the life of the Church below and the life of the world to come.
Drawing on Sacred Scripture, Church teaching, and the richness of the Catholic intellectual tradition, What Christians Believe unfolds the essentials of the Christian faith with conviction and clarity.
Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2025
213 people are currently reading
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About the author
Robert Barron
217 books857 followersBishop Robert Emmet Barron is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian. He is the former Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago and also is the founder of Word On Fire (www.WordOnFire.org).
Bishop Barron is the creator and host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith. He is a passionate student of art, architecture, music and history, which he calls upon throughout his global travels in the making of the documentary.
Word On Fire programs are broadcast regularly on WGN America, Relevant Radio, CatholicTV, EWTN, the popular Word on Fire YouTube Channel, and the Word on Fire website, which offers daily blogs, articles, commentaries, and over ten years of weekly sermon podcasts. In 2010, Father Barron was the first priest to have a national show on a secular television network since the 1950s.
Fr. Barron received his Masters Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1982 and his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique in 1992. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986 and has been a professor of systematic theology at the nation's largest Catholic seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary since 1992. He was visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2007. He was also twice scholar in residence at the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican.
In addition, Fr. Barron lectures extensively in the United States and abroad. Cardinal Francis George calls Fr. Barron “one of the Church’s best messengers.
Fr. Barron was baptized at Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago and grew up at St. John of the Cross parish in Western Springs, Illinois.
WordOnFire.org - Fr. Barron's website launched in 1999 and currently draws over 1 million visitors a year from every continent. Fr. Barron posts weekly video clips, commentaries and radio sermons and offers an audio archive of over 500 homilies. Podcasts of his sermons are widely used by tens of thousands of visitors each month.
TV - EWTN (The Eternal Word Television Network) and CatholicTV broadcasts Fr. Barron's DVDs to a worldwide audience of over 150 million people.
Radio - Since 1999, Fr. Barron's weekly Word on Fire program has been broadcast in Chicago (WGN) and throughout the country (Relevant Radio - 950 AM Chicago) to 28 million listeners in 17 states. Fr. Barron also is a regular commentator on the "Busted Halo Show" on the Sirius satellite radio network based in New York.
DVDs - Fr. Barron's DVDs are used as powerful faith formation tools in universities, schools, churches and homes around the country. The series includes Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues; Faith Clips; Conversion: Following the Call of Christ; and Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness.
YouTube - With over 180 online video commentaries by Fr. Barron, over 1 million viewers worldwide have made him the most popular of any evangelist on YouTube. These frequent, high-quality productions include brief and lively theological reviews of contemporary culture, including movies such as No Country for Old Men, Apocalypto, and The Departed, a three-part critical review of Christopher Hitchen's book God is Not Great, The Discovery Channel's The Jesus Tomb, the HBO series "The Sopranos", "Rome" and more.
Missions - MISSION CHICAGO features evangelization lectures by Fr. Barron at the behest of Cardinal George. These special missions and presentations throughout the Archdiocese are centered in downtown Chicago and attract business, civic, and cultural leaders.
Books - His numerous books and essays serve as critical educational and inspirational tools for seminarians, priests, parishioners and young people worldwide. His published works are also central to the numerous retreats, workshop and talks that h
Bishop Barron is the creator and host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith. He is a passionate student of art, architecture, music and history, which he calls upon throughout his global travels in the making of the documentary.
Word On Fire programs are broadcast regularly on WGN America, Relevant Radio, CatholicTV, EWTN, the popular Word on Fire YouTube Channel, and the Word on Fire website, which offers daily blogs, articles, commentaries, and over ten years of weekly sermon podcasts. In 2010, Father Barron was the first priest to have a national show on a secular television network since the 1950s.
Fr. Barron received his Masters Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1982 and his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique in 1992. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986 and has been a professor of systematic theology at the nation's largest Catholic seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary since 1992. He was visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2007. He was also twice scholar in residence at the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican.
In addition, Fr. Barron lectures extensively in the United States and abroad. Cardinal Francis George calls Fr. Barron “one of the Church’s best messengers.
Fr. Barron was baptized at Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago and grew up at St. John of the Cross parish in Western Springs, Illinois.
WordOnFire.org - Fr. Barron's website launched in 1999 and currently draws over 1 million visitors a year from every continent. Fr. Barron posts weekly video clips, commentaries and radio sermons and offers an audio archive of over 500 homilies. Podcasts of his sermons are widely used by tens of thousands of visitors each month.
TV - EWTN (The Eternal Word Television Network) and CatholicTV broadcasts Fr. Barron's DVDs to a worldwide audience of over 150 million people.
Radio - Since 1999, Fr. Barron's weekly Word on Fire program has been broadcast in Chicago (WGN) and throughout the country (Relevant Radio - 950 AM Chicago) to 28 million listeners in 17 states. Fr. Barron also is a regular commentator on the "Busted Halo Show" on the Sirius satellite radio network based in New York.
DVDs - Fr. Barron's DVDs are used as powerful faith formation tools in universities, schools, churches and homes around the country. The series includes Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues; Faith Clips; Conversion: Following the Call of Christ; and Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness.
YouTube - With over 180 online video commentaries by Fr. Barron, over 1 million viewers worldwide have made him the most popular of any evangelist on YouTube. These frequent, high-quality productions include brief and lively theological reviews of contemporary culture, including movies such as No Country for Old Men, Apocalypto, and The Departed, a three-part critical review of Christopher Hitchen's book God is Not Great, The Discovery Channel's The Jesus Tomb, the HBO series "The Sopranos", "Rome" and more.
Missions - MISSION CHICAGO features evangelization lectures by Fr. Barron at the behest of Cardinal George. These special missions and presentations throughout the Archdiocese are centered in downtown Chicago and attract business, civic, and cultural leaders.
Books - His numerous books and essays serve as critical educational and inspirational tools for seminarians, priests, parishioners and young people worldwide. His published works are also central to the numerous retreats, workshop and talks that h
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 3, 2025
An excellent summary of essential Christian/Catholic beliefs as set forth in the Nicene Creed. Bishop Barron goes through the Creed on a line by line basis explaining each element of Christian belief.
March 18, 2025
This is a great overview of the essentials of Christianity. I think this is perfect for someone wanting to learn more about what things are captured inside the Christian religion. To that end, this is a great book for curious outsiders or even for current believers who just haven’t taken the time to learn what Christians actually believe about things like faith, why Christ is said to be “punished,” baptism, how the church is a sacrament, etc.
May 9, 2025
3.8/5
A powerful reflection into the meaning of the words of the Nicene Creed. I have probably recited it a million times, but this gave me a new appreciation for it. I was particularly moved by the final portion on “the life of the world to come”.
If you want an introduction into Christian Theology (with a capital T) in less than 150 pages then this is a great start. Quite dense and way more technical than I was expecting, but I would be comfortable giving this to someone who knew almost nothing about the Church as long as the expectation was set that they should not be deceived by its short length.
In a word - pithy.
A powerful reflection into the meaning of the words of the Nicene Creed. I have probably recited it a million times, but this gave me a new appreciation for it. I was particularly moved by the final portion on “the life of the world to come”.
If you want an introduction into Christian Theology (with a capital T) in less than 150 pages then this is a great start. Quite dense and way more technical than I was expecting, but I would be comfortable giving this to someone who knew almost nothing about the Church as long as the expectation was set that they should not be deceived by its short length.
In a word - pithy.
October 15, 2025
Really good and insightful book. Very eloquently thought out and written. Very technical so following allowing and absorbing was tough at times. It was a good book I may have to read it again to really hammer down the theology.
May 5, 2025
It was a great breakdown of each part of the Nicene Creed. It was sectioned off so it can be referred back to later. I like learning the why, all the deeper meaning of the Catholic Faith.
It references plenty of verses and moments in the Bible as well as old theologians like Thomas Aquinas.
It was a bit of a headache in the sense that there was a lot going on. Maybe not the best book to blow through in two days, it’s something I need to sit with for a little bit. It was great to expand my mind a little, which I think everyone needs.
I love learning about my faith, so this was great.
It references plenty of verses and moments in the Bible as well as old theologians like Thomas Aquinas.
It was a bit of a headache in the sense that there was a lot going on. Maybe not the best book to blow through in two days, it’s something I need to sit with for a little bit. It was great to expand my mind a little, which I think everyone needs.
I love learning about my faith, so this was great.
November 3, 2025
Beautifully written book that takes an in-depth view of a simple statement of faith. I love taking the dive into the meaning of words that I recite on at least a weekly basis. The theological and scriptural references are great and really help to anchor the reader's understanding of the Creed. Fantastic book for anyone from the curious, to the devout!
July 23, 2025
Not exactly light reading (although you’d think so given the size of the book), but worth every word. I just love Barron and how he sees and explains things
April 10, 2025
This book made my mind hurt, but in a good way. It is a concise, line-by-line explanation of the Nicene Creed, the prayer that sets forth the basic tenets of what, particularly, Roman Catholics and, generally, all Christians believe. The book is short, less than 150 pages not counting the notes at the end. However, it is dense with information and theological and philosophical analysis. I’m a fast reader who can read a 250- to 300-page novel in an afternoon, yet it took me about 2 weeks to read and absorb the content of WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE. True to his word, Bishop Barron did not “dumb down” religion for the masses. As with all of Barron’s work, I came away from this book feeling closer to God, with a better understanding of my faith, and with more confidence in my ability to articulate my beliefs to others.
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August 25, 2025I was hoping for a theological discussion of the Creed, but found instead a Catholic apologist trying to do acrobatic backflips justifying the stands of the Church of Rome. Very disappointing, unless you are Roman Catholic.
May 8, 2025
A distinctive feature of Barron’s analysis is his attention to the opening phrase of the Creed-whether it is “we believe” or “I believe.” He reflects on the communal and personal dimensions of faith, noting that Christianity is not merely a private conviction but a shared commitment, while also emphasising the need for individual assent and responsibility. This duality sets the tone for the rest of the book, where Barron insists that authentic faith is not blind credulity but a reasoned trust that transcends, rather than contradicts, rational understanding.
Barron situates the Creed historically, explaining its origins at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, where the Church affirmed the full divinity of Christ. He then systematically examines each article of the Creed, delving into the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the hope of the world to come. Throughout, Barron draws on Scripture, Church tradition, and the Catholic intellectual heritage, presenting Catholicism as a faith that is intellectually robust and spiritually dynamic.
The book does not shy away from contemporary challenges. Barron addresses the cultural forces that undermine faith today, such as secularism, the legacy of the Enlightenment, and the “dumbing down” of religious education. He argues that a deeper understanding of the Creed equips believers to engage thoughtfully and confidently with a skeptical world.
Barron’s writing is praised for its balance of theological rigour and readability. He avoids unnecessary complexity, making the book suitable for a wide audience, including those with little background in theology. He also underscores the practical implications of belief: faith is not just assent to propositions but a call to live out the Gospel in community, service, and hope.
Barron situates the Creed historically, explaining its origins at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, where the Church affirmed the full divinity of Christ. He then systematically examines each article of the Creed, delving into the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the hope of the world to come. Throughout, Barron draws on Scripture, Church tradition, and the Catholic intellectual heritage, presenting Catholicism as a faith that is intellectually robust and spiritually dynamic.
The book does not shy away from contemporary challenges. Barron addresses the cultural forces that undermine faith today, such as secularism, the legacy of the Enlightenment, and the “dumbing down” of religious education. He argues that a deeper understanding of the Creed equips believers to engage thoughtfully and confidently with a skeptical world.
Barron’s writing is praised for its balance of theological rigour and readability. He avoids unnecessary complexity, making the book suitable for a wide audience, including those with little background in theology. He also underscores the practical implications of belief: faith is not just assent to propositions but a call to live out the Gospel in community, service, and hope.
June 10, 2025
In this book, Bishop Robert Baron breaks down each line of the Nicene Creed, reflecting on its origin, meaning, and relation to the Catholic faith. Though a relatively short book at 164 pages, it’s a deep dive.
Whether you’re a lifelong Catholic, new to the faith, or looking to learn more about Catholicism and Christianity, there’s no better place to start. As a lifelong Catholic myself, I learned a lot.
The writing is accessible to every audience while also maintaining a full form. Nothing is watered down, which I greatly appreciated.
Thanks to NetGalley and Word on Fire for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book!
Whether you’re a lifelong Catholic, new to the faith, or looking to learn more about Catholicism and Christianity, there’s no better place to start. As a lifelong Catholic myself, I learned a lot.
The writing is accessible to every audience while also maintaining a full form. Nothing is watered down, which I greatly appreciated.
Thanks to NetGalley and Word on Fire for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book!
January 11, 2026
Absolutely incredible overview of the Nicene Creed in its entirety. Would recommend to every Christian!
“In his simplicity, God contains the fullness of the power of existence, and he requires the multiplicity of creation to represent that fullness, creatures emerging, we might say, as the variety of colors emerge from a prism upon which pure white light is shining. The astonishing variety on display in every corner of the created world is God's attempt to manifest the intensity of his perfection in a finite mode.”
“In his simplicity, God contains the fullness of the power of existence, and he requires the multiplicity of creation to represent that fullness, creatures emerging, we might say, as the variety of colors emerge from a prism upon which pure white light is shining. The astonishing variety on display in every corner of the created world is God's attempt to manifest the intensity of his perfection in a finite mode.”
January 12, 2026
This is a tremendously robust exercise in explaining the Nicene Creed, a fundamental text for Christians for around 1,700 years which is recited each Sunday at Mass around the world. Bishop Barron, a Catholic evangelist whose Word on Fire ministry has focused on bringing the rational and theological case for faith against modern secular ways of thinking, including so-called New Atheism, knocks it out the park here, and I would happily put this book in the hands of anyone who wants to know more about what Christians actually believe, as the title suggests.
May 13, 2025
The Nicene creed is something I was taught to recite from when I was a little kid, it’s something I can still rattle off, but it’s not something that I consciously think about that it means anymore. This book gives a really good, easy to understand overview of what the Nicene Creed means and how to understand it.
August 29, 2025
A bit of a dense read as Bishop Barron makes a lot of references to Christian philosophy as well as philosophy in general that can be difficult to grasp on the initial read through.
I think it’s an important read for anyone catholic or converting to Catholicism. It really delves deep into the meaning of the nicene creed and helps understand the thought that was put in to each phrase.
I think it’s an important read for anyone catholic or converting to Catholicism. It really delves deep into the meaning of the nicene creed and helps understand the thought that was put in to each phrase.
January 1, 2026
Bishop Barron is a very intelligent individual, and he communicates in a way that invites you into what he knows, instead of trying to talk above you. Before this, I'd only listened to his stuff (documentary episodes, podcast episodes, etc.), and it's nice to see that quality translated to his writing.
December 16, 2025
Really interesting read and analysis of the Catholic faith and specifically the Nicene Creed, but for me a lot of it was very wordy and hard to follow. Still a good book, but just didn’t do what I wanted it to for me.
May 1, 2025
Densely packed but excellent. Worth reading intentionally slowly.
June 9, 2025
I’m new to Catholicism and this really helped.
June 18, 2025
the essence of it is good but the author rambles on
June 29, 2025
The author has much knowledge. However, it is difficult to read as a beginner and has very specific language. Great book, but I wish it was a little more simple.
July 4, 2025
Good read, took lots of notes.
October 9, 2025
Excellent explanation of what Christians believe.
November 1, 2025
Too many rabbit trails to follow and very wordy.
November 28, 2025
I really enjoyed Barron's exposition of the Nicene Creed, apart from some disagreements involving Catholic interpretation of scripture and tradition.
December 16, 2025
Very intense discussion of the Nicene Creed. Parts were inspirational and parts made my eyes gloss over. I’m glad to now understand parts of my faith a little better.
December 27, 2025
Beautifully concise and intellectually robust explanation of the Nicene Creed.
January 27, 2026
Very detailed explanation and description of the niceness creed.
December 27, 2025
More technical and heady than I expected. Not a book for the new Christian.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews