Amazon Prime Free Trial
FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button and confirm your Prime free trial.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited FREE Prime delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Nicene Creed: An Introduction Hardcover – March 29, 2023
Purchase options and add-ons
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!
- Print length248 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherLexham Press
- Publication dateMarch 29, 2023
- Dimensions5 x 0.9 x 7.38 inches
- ISBN-101683596331
- ISBN-13978-1683596332
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
From the Publisher
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
“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
"My earnest prayer is that every Christian reads this book!”
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #66,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #26 in Catechisms
- #39 in Ritual Religious Practices
- #85 in Christian Historical Theology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
Reviews with images
Excellent resource on how the early church viewed the Trinity and expressed it in Creeds.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023First, 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024I 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025I 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, 2024I 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023I'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.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024Short, clear and concise. This is a keeper, it’s a great book on one of the most important Cristian creeds.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2023The in-depth dive into the Nicene Creed is eye-opening and inspiring. A must read.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2023This 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.
Top reviews from other countries
- dawn kuruvillaReviewed in India on January 13, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, thorough, verse by verse expositions on the Nicene creed
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.