(1) Whoever desires to be saved must above all things
hold to the catholic faith. (2) Unless a man keeps it in its entirety inviolate, he will assuredly
perish eternally.
(3) Now this is the catholic faith, that we worship
one God in trinity and trinity in unity, (4) without either confusing the persons, or dividing the
substance. (5) For the Father's person is one, the Son's another, the Holy Spirit's another; (6) but
the Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is one, their glory is equal, their majesty is co-eternal.
(7) Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such
is also the Holy Spirit. (8) The Father is uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Spirit uncreate.
(9) The Father is infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite. (10) The Father is
eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal. (11) Yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal;
(12) just as there are not three uncreates or three infinites, but one uncreate and one infinite. (13) In
the same way the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty; (14) yet there are
not three almighties, but one almighty.
(15) Thus the Father is God, the Son God, the Holy
Spirit God; (16) and yet there are not three Gods, but there is one God. (17) Thus the
Father is Lord, the Son Lord, the Holy Spirit Lord; (18) and yet there are not three Lords, but there
is one Lord. (19) Because just as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge each person separately
to be both God and Lord, (20) so we are forbidden by the catholic religion to speak of three Gods or
Lords.
(21) The Father is from none, not made nor created
nor begotten. (22) The Son is from the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. (23) The
Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. (24) So
there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. (25) And
in this trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, (26) but all three persons
are co-eternal with each other and co-equal. (27) Thus in all things, as has been stated above, both
trinity and unity and unity in trinity must be worshipped. (28) So he who desires to be saved should
think thus of the Trinity.
(29) It is necessary, however, to eternal salvation
that he should also believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. (30) Now the right faith is
that we should believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is equally both God and man.
(31) He is God from the Father's substance, begotten
before time; and He is man from His mother's substance, born in time. (32) Perfect God, perfect man
composed of a human soul and human flesh, (33) equal to the Father in respect of His divinity, less
than the Father in respect of His humanity.
(34) Who, although He is God and man, is nevertheless
not two, but one Christ. (35) He is one, however, not by the transformation of His divinity into flesh,
but by the taking up of His humanity into God; (36) one certainly not by confusion of substance, but
by oneness of person. (37) For just as soul and flesh are one man, so God and man are one Christ.
(38) Who suffered for our salvation, descended to
hell, rose from the dead, (39) ascended to heaven, sat down at the Father's right hand, from where
He will come to judge the living and the dead; (40) at whose coming all men will rise again with their
bodies, and will render an account of their deeds; (41) and those who have done good will go to eternal
life, those who have done evil to eternal fire.
(42) This is the catholic faith. Unless a man believes
it faithfully and steadfastly, he cannot be saved. Amen.
