ule of faith, but to make known the sense in which they understand it.
As unlearned and unstable men wrest and subvert the Sacred Writings, it
is fitting that those who are learned and not unstable should publish
sound expositions of their contents. In the light of creeds, converts
are enabled to test their own position, and to put to proof the claims
of those who profess to be teachers of Christian doctrine.

One of the most widely accepted of these forms is the Apostles' Creed,
so called, not because it was drawn up by, or in the time of, the
Apostles--although there is a tradition to the effect that each of them
contributed a clause--but because it is in accordance with the sum of
Apostolic teaching. The history of this Creed is not easily traced. The
care with which it was guarded excluded it from the writings of the
early fathers, and it is impossible, therefore, to assign to their
proper dates, with certainty, some of the articles of which it is
composed. This, however, is evident, that it came gradually into
existence, clauses being added from time to time to guard the faithful
against false doctrine, or to enable them to defend the orthodox belief.
It appears to have been the general creed of the Christian Church, in a
form very similar to that which it now bears, from the close of the
second century.[008] At that time and afterwards it served not only as a
test of Christian doctrine, but was also used by catechists in training
and instructing candidates for admission to the Church.

It is sometimes urged as an objection to this Creed that it is not a
sufficiently comprehensive summary of Christian doctrine. Those who
object to it on this ground should consider the purpose of creeds. They
were not meant to cover the whole field of Christian faith, but to
fortify believers against the teaching of heretics. The Apostles' Creed
was not intended, and does not profess, to state all the things that
Christians ought to believe. There is no reference in it to Scripture,
to Inspiration, to Prayer, or to the Sacraments. It sets forth in a few
words, distinct and easily remembered, the existence and relations to
men of the three Persons of the Godhead--those facts and truths on
which all doctrine and duty rest, and from which they find development.

It is especially objected that there is no reference in this Creed to
the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, though not directly
expressed, this doctrine is really an