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The Nicene Creed: An Introduction Hardcover – March 29, 2023

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 59 ratings

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Credo Magazine Book of the Year 2023 • Illumination Book Awards 2024 Gold Medal Winner for Theology


Understand and celebrate what we believe

For centuries, the Nicene Creed has been central to the church’s confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed’s riches with simplicity and clarity. Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God―Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary’s help!

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From the Publisher

The Nicene Creed by Phillip Cary
Phillip Cary, author of The Nicene Creed: An Introduction

What inspired you to write a book on the Nicene Creed?

The Nicene Creed is a summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings me great joy, and I wanted

to make that joy accessible to those who may be unfamiliar with it. — Phillip Cary

Praise for The Nicene Creed: An Introduction

Kathryn Greene-McCreight, affiliate priest, Christ Church

Kathryn Greene-McCreight

“With characteristically lively prose, engaging style, and endearing wit, Phil Cary takes us on a stroll through the history of heated debates over the nature of Christian faith-claims that forged the creeds."

Matthew Barrett, author of Simply Trinity

Matthew Barrett

"My earnest prayer is that every Christian reads this book!”

Harold L. Senkbeil, author of The Care of Souls

Harold L. Senkbeil

Phillip Cary's "little handbook on the Nicene Creed manages to be erudite, insightful, and interesting—all at once."

Editorial Reviews

Review

At once rigorous and fleet, profound and precise, this dynamic chronicle of how the Nicene Creed came to be will make a valuable addition to the libraries of Christian scholars.

―Publishers Weekly


Lively prose, engaging style, and endearing wit. … Highly recommended.

―Kathryn Greene-McCreight, affiliate priest, Christ Church, New Haven; spiritual director, Annand Program, Yale Divinity School


Phillip Cary’s book is a harvest in a time of famine.

―Matthew Barrett, author of Simply Trinity and Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary


Here is a truly inviting introduction to the faith once delivered to the saints in baptism and continuously declared throughout the world in the church’s confession.

―Scott R. Swain, president and James Woodrow Hassell Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary


This book will tickle your imagination while expanding your vocabulary and strengthening your faith in the only begotten Son of the Father who came down from heaven to bring life to a dying world.

―Harold L. Senkbeil, author of The Care of Souls

About the Author

Phillip Cary is professor of philosophy at Eastern University in Philadelphia and author of several books, including Good News for Anxious Christians and The Meaning of Protestant Theology.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lexham Press (March 29, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1683596331
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1683596332
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.9 x 7.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 59 ratings

About the author

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Phillip Cary
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Phillip Cary teaches philosophy at Eastern University, outside Philadelphia PA, where he is also Scholar-in-Residence at the Templeton Honors College. He studied under Nicholas Wolterstorff, George Lindbeck and Hans Frei at Yale University.

Phil's primary interest is to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how God uses it to give us his own Son. His favorite theologian is Martin Luther, but he has written more about Augustine, who was Luther's favorite theologian.

His latest book is The Meaning of Protestant Theology: Luther, Augustine, and the Gospel That Gives Us Christ.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
59 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's writing style clear and simple. They appreciate the insightful and eye-opening content, describing it as an excellent study of the Nicene Creed. The book is described as approachable and a great read for anyone who recites the creed. Readers also mention that the chapters are short, making it easy to follow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style clear and simple. They describe it as concise, easy to read, and approachable for beginners. The book provides thorough explanations without being overly detailed.

"...In this tightly-written book, Professor Cary answers all of these questions and shares the rich history and meaning of the Nicene Creed almost word-..." Read more

"...My clarity of the doctrine was certainly deepened. It is a easy to read and clear development of the Nicene Creed. It is well worth reading...." Read more

"...Very insightful but not too detailed so it isn’t overwhelming." Read more

"...The style of writing is accessible, even for beginners (which is good, because it is self-styled an "Introduction")...." Read more

6 customers mention "Insight"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and helpful. They appreciate the clear development of the Nicene Creed and its helpful statements of belief. The book refocus Christians on their great inheritance.

"...For many Christians, the Nicene Creed is an essential statement of the Christian Faith. It’s often used in worship liturgy...." Read more

"...My clarity of the doctrine was certainly deepened. It is a easy to read and clear development of the Nicene Creed. It is well worth reading...." Read more

"...Very insightful but not too detailed so it isn’t overwhelming." Read more

"...books and this latest contribution, while brief, well written underscoring the depth and thoughtfulness some of the early "creeds" offered...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and approachable. They say it's a great read for those who grew up or still recite the Nicene Creed.

"...I hope that Prof. Cary’s very approachable book on the Nicene Creed will be widely studied and will refocus Christians on this great..." Read more

"...It is well worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down." Read more

"...listened to a podcast the author did about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it...." Read more

"...A great read for any who grew up - or still - recite this creed." Read more

3 customers mention "Shortness"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's concise writing. They find the chapters short and easy to read.

"...Also...chapters are super short, so it isn't an intimidating read either." Read more

"...I have read all his books and this latest contribution, while brief, well written underscoring the depth and thoughtfulness some of the early "creeds..." Read more

"Short, clear and concise. This is a keeper, it’s a great book on one of the most important Cristian creeds." Read more

Excellent resource on how the early church viewed the Trinity and expressed it in Creeds.
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent resource on how the early church viewed the Trinity and expressed it in Creeds.
When I read any book, I tend to do a little research on the author. Dr Phillip Cary, who wrote “The Nicene Creed - An Introduction” is a professor of philosophy at Eastern University, in Philadelphia. He received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Yale University with a concentration on Augustine of Hippo. Pretty fascinating. He seems to have an incredible grasp on not only Christian Theology, but how that theology was developed over the first 300 years of church history until it was cemented by the time the Apostles Creed comes to full fruition as the Nicene Creed in the 4th century going into the 5th century. What is really intriguing about Dr. Cary to me is that I spent much of the book wondering, “Is he Catholic or Protestant?” He doesn’t seem to cleanly land in either “box.” He is influenced by Karl Barth, which lends me to believe he is “Reformed” but he also seems to have an incredible balance that I’ve not often seen. FASCINATING.Now diving into the structure of the book. It comes with a dust jacket, which is nice, but when you take it off (see pictures) it reveals a stunning brown cloth over board cover with gold foil stamping on the spine and cover. Simply beautiful! I also love that the liner brings some color and art, rather than just being bland. It has gold headbands and tail-bands, and it would have been VERY NICE to have a single brown or gold 1/8th inch ribbon for place keeping. I am almost certain the binding is glued, which is a little disappointing, but also pretty common for a standard book of this size. (7X5X.75 inches) Of course this is printed on standard book paper so it is plenty thick to make the reading experience simple. I am not certain of the font size, but it appears to be no less than an 11pt (appears to be Times New Roman), and is very dark and readable. It is in a justified typeset, so it makes the reading experience extremely clean, and pleasant to look at.In the introduction Dr Cary does an excellent job of defining the Catholic Church (Latin), and the Orthodox Church (Greek) as the big “C” and big “O”. The big C being under the Roman Pope, and the big O being traced back to the Eastern Roman Empire. But he also explains the little “c” and little “o.” Using this reasoning he shows how the churches that split (for example the Protestant Church) are still part of traditional orthodoxy and the catholic (a term that simply means universal) church. In other words, while it can be said these divisions within the historical church are no longer in “unity” from an ecumenical standpoint, they are all still unified by the language of the Nicene Creed. Church Councils are a critical component of church history and the more time that passed, and the more councils occurred (further removed from the original apostles) the more the Greek (Eastern) and Latin (Western) Church became divided. The author considers the Protestant Church to be a split from the Latin church, to which I would agree.With all that said, it is clear that Dr. Cary has a wonderful grasp on the theology and doctrine of the early church and how it developed into the core beliefs of the Eastern, Western, and Protestant Churches. The way he handled “begotten not made” in regards to Jesus being eternally begotten of the Father as a creator not creature was monumental in helping me understand the nature of Jesus being both God and man. This section alone is well worth the price of the book. I was also very impressed with the way he handled the section regarding the “Blessed Virgin Mary.” He explained the Theokotos (God-bearer) from the Eastern Tradition and the Mater Dei (Mother of God) from the Western Tradition in a way that I believe all traditions can appreciate. He stops short of dealing with any divisive issues regarding the nature of Mary or her perpetual virginity. Personally, I hold the position that Mary was not sinless, nor was she perpetually a virgin.In conclusion, I am so glad to have read this book, and to have it in my library for future reference. I loved the way he brought the focus of the Nicene Creed into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and took time to explain the nature of each one, along with how the Trinity operates within itself, and how it operates within mankind. He also shows us how baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit serves to affirm the Trinity, and showing that the Church has always been Trinitarian. The Trinity was not an Nicene invention, the Creed simply confirmed it. Well done! In a nutshell, this is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to grasp how the early church viewed the Trinity and how the Nicene Creed served to preserve that concept for future generations.I definitely intend to find more of Dr Cary’s books. His philosophical approach to theological matters just seem to work for my brain. This book was published by Lexham Press and they have some outstanding resources on the early church, theology, and doctrine. I highly recommend you check them out.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
    First, this book is just physically beautiful. These days, it’s rare to find a book with real graphic design and typography. This book a pleasure to hold and to look at.

    But what good is a beautiful decanter if the wine is bad? Fortunately, in this case, the wine is exceptional and very important.

    For many Christians, the Nicene Creed is an essential statement of the Christian Faith. It’s often used in worship liturgy. But where did it come from? Who wrote it? Why did they write it? What is the deep meaning behind each sentence?

    What, for example, does it mean to be, “Begotten of the Father before all ages?” What does it mean to “proceed from the father?” Why is it important for us to reassert these truths frequently?

    In this tightly-written book, Professor Cary answers all of these questions and shares the rich history and meaning of the Nicene Creed almost word-by-word. While short (about 200 pages) and very approachable, this book is also through.

    Some Christians today question the value of creeds. Some want to write their own new creeds. Others actively eschew creeds.

    Invention is hard work. And Satan is lazy. Why should he invent a new heresy when he’s got a drawer-full of old ones he can just dust off, maybe give a new coat of paint, and re-run often with great success?

    The creeds, including the Nicene Creed, passed down from our forefathers are our draw-full of truths to resist Satan’s drawer-full of lies. I hope that Prof. Cary’s very approachable book on the Nicene Creed will be widely studied and will refocus Christians on this great inheritance.

    In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to Christian layman.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
    I just finished reading "The Nicene Creed" by Phillip Cary. I though it was outstanding. I grew up in a denomination that did not use the creeds, but have found the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed incredible helpful statements of belief. Reading Dr Cary's book on the Nicene Creed gave me a entirely new understanding and appreciation for this Creed. It also gave me deep respect for the theologians who developed it. It was perhaps the fullest treatment of the Trinity I have read. My clarity of the doctrine was certainly deepened. It is a easy to read and clear development of the Nicene Creed. It is well worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025
    I listened to a podcast the author did about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Very insightful but not too detailed so it isn’t overwhelming.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2024
    I have now read this book three times.
    The style of writing is accessible, even for beginners (which is good, because it is self-styled an "Introduction"). I am a Pastor, and I learned a lot I hadn't known before. I used this book as a Bible Study at my congregation (it was maybe a shade more difficult than they would have liked) and I have given it away as gifts.
    If you want to know the history of the Nicene Creed and also grow in your understanding of the Trinity and orthodox Christianity, this book is for you.

    Also...chapters are super short, so it isn't an intimidating read either.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
    I've only become aware of Dr. Cary in recent years. I have read all his books and this latest contribution, while brief, well written underscoring the depth and thoughtfulness some of the early "creeds" offered. It is easy to fall into route or meaningless repetition of any creed or prayer, and as such, Dr. Cary helps unpack some of the richness without being too academic or complicated. A great read for any who grew up - or still - recite this creed.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
    Short, clear and concise. This is a keeper, it’s a great book on one of the most important Cristian creeds.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2023
    The in-depth dive into the Nicene Creed is eye-opening and inspiring. A must read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2023
    This is an informative work concerning the Nicene Creed, broken down into each individual phrase. The Council of Nicaea convened in AD 325 to concisely compose the Creed in order to address some spreading confusion.

    The author has certainly put in some serious research! He goes back to the origin of specific words and/or phrases, whether they are Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or English. It's interesting to see the slight variance or shades of meaning that a specific word in a particular language imparts. None of the languages contradict the meaning, but the word gains depth when seeing an interpretation from each tongue.

    Good for those looking for a scholarly treatise on the Creed.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • dawn kuruvilla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, thorough, verse by verse expositions on the Nicene creed
    Reviewed in India on January 13, 2025
    Got much help reading this short book and gave me foundational principles on Trinity.
    Understanding the name of God as LORD was the highlight for me.
    We don’t have to reinvent the wheel in understanding God and the basics of our Trinitarian faith. The Nicene creed is historically authentic and biblically faithful.
    Grateful to God for our forefathers who laboured to give us such articles of our faith.