Credo Podcast The Nicene Creed in the Thirty-nine Articles
Jan 26, 2026
Gerald Bray, church historian and theologian known for work on the Thirty-Nine Articles and the creeds, joins to explore creedal history. He traces when and why the Nicene, Apostles, and Athanasian creeds entered English worship. He outlines Cranmer’s drafting of the Articles, later revisions, and why some creeds were dropped in America. He also discusses the creeds’ liturgical role and identity-shaping power.
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Creed Shaped A Personal Church Move
- Matthew Barrett recounts how the SBC's refusal to include the Nicene Creed in its confession pushed him toward Anglo-Catholic worship.
- That experience led him and his family to adopt Anglicanism where the Nicene Creed is central to Sunday worship.
Creeds Assert Reformation's Catholicity
- Gerald Bray explains the first eight articles situate Anglicanism within the broader catholic tradition by affirming common Christian fundamentals.
- Including the creeds signaled the Reformers were not heretics despite rejecting medieval practices.
39 Articles Grew From Continental Models
- Cranmer adapted the Augsburg Confession to create an English confessional standard rather than inventing a wholly new theology.
- The 39 Articles evolved through drafts, revisions, and political shifts until the 1571 final form.
