Question 23: Why should you know these creeds?

Answer:

You should know the creeds because they clearly express the essential truths of the Christian faith. They help you grow in understanding, defend the truth, live faithfully, and remain grounded in the faith once delivered to the saints. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, 2 Timothy 1:13–14, 1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 2:6–7, Jude 1:3)

Full Scripture References

“These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (BSB)

“Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” — 2 Timothy 1:13–14 (BSB)

“But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you.” — 1 Peter 3:15 (BSB)

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” — Colossians 2:6–7 (BSB)

“Contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” — Jude 1:3 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

Knowing the creeds is essential for every Christian because they summarize the foundational truths of Scripture in a clear and memorable form. They help us know what we believe, why we believe it, and how it shapes the way we live. As Paul encouraged Timothy to “hold fast the pattern of sound teaching” (2 Timothy 1:13), so too are we called to treasure and internalize the Church’s confession of faith. The creeds give us language to profess Christ faithfully and to resist confusion, error, and false doctrine.

In Anglican worship, creeds are confessed publicly, but they must also be known personally. The Book of Common Prayer uses the Apostles’ Creed for daily devotions and the Nicene Creed in Holy Communion, reinforcing belief through repetition and prayer. Article VIII of the Thirty-Nine Articles states that the three creeds “ought thoroughly to be received and believed.” Knowing the creeds by heart enables us to teach our children, strengthen our witness, and remain anchored in truth amid cultural drift.

The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, a leading conservative Anglican bishop, wrote: “To memorize the creed is to carry with you the outline of the Gospel. It is both sword and shield—defensive against falsehood and offensive for proclamation.” When persecution, temptation, or doubt arises, remembering the creeds enables believers to stand firm in faith. They are not only intellectual statements—they are declarations of trust in the living God.

The Rev. Dr. John Yates II, longtime rector of The Falls Church Anglican, once said, “Creeds teach the soul what the mind can forget.” In other words, the creeds embed Scripture’s teachings into our hearts so that, even in weakness or suffering, we can cling to what is true. They also help new believers and children grow in the faith, providing a clear path for catechesis and discipleship. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us to teach such truth “diligently to your children,” passing it from generation to generation.

Knowing the creeds strengthens your identity as part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. When you know and confess these words, you are joined with Christians around the world and across the centuries. The creeds are not simply history lessons—they are living, worshipful confessions of the unchanging Gospel. As Bishop J.C. Ryle put it, “Right doctrine is the foundation of right living.” To know the creeds is to know Christ more truly, and to follow Him more faithfully.

Early Church Fathers on Catechism Question

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) instructed: “Learn the Creed word for word and commit it to memory, not writing it on paper but engraving it upon your heart.” — Catechetical Lectures, 5.12

Cyril emphasized deep, personal knowledge of the creed as essential for all believers. St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) taught: “The Creed is a brief and mighty confession of faith. Know it, live by it, and never forget it.” — Sermon 213.6

Augustine saw the creed as a compact guide to Christian belief and living. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD) wrote: “The Church… guards with utmost diligence the faith she has received, teaching and proclaiming it in perfect harmony.” — Against Heresies, 1.10.2

Irenaeus affirmed the importance of transmitting a consistent and knowable confession of the faith. St. Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) declared: “This rule of faith… is learned before baptism, maintained through life, and confessed even unto death.” — Prescription Against Heretics, 13

Tertullian highlighted the role of the creed in shaping lifelong Christian identity. St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD) urged: “Let us engrave upon our memory the articles of the faith, that we may never be shaken.” — Homily on Matthew 16

Chrysostom stressed the value of internalizing the creed as a defense against spiritual instability.