Creed - English

A clear expression of faith in a Christian church. Or a formula in which the church codifies the key points of doctrine in a concise manner. It is also called a creed or a creed. Christians place great importance on the Bible, the ministry, and creeds. In ancient times, the church's main focus was on the confession of Jesus as the Savior, but as missionary activities were carried out and the content and interpretation of various rituals were improved, the tension of confrontation with paganism and heresy came into play, and efforts were made to clearly write down the object of faith. As a result, the oldest form of the Apostles' Creed was formed spontaneously in the education of new believers. Although creeds are confessions of faith, they serve as a code of conduct for believers, have an integrative function that strengthens the bond between believers, and contributed to the establishment of the doctrine of the Trinity. However, on the other hand, they limit the concept of God. The Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, Chalcedonian Creed, Athanasian Creed, etc. are collectively called catholic creeds. The Reformation was centered on the doctrine of justification by faith. Many creeds were also called confessions of faith or catechesis, and theories of faith were developed that focused on how believers should practice their faith. In modern times, creeds are established under the name of declarations (such as the Barmen Declaration of 1934, which opposed the Hitler regime), and have a strong ecclesiastical character that resists state power.

[Shiro Kawamata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

キリスト教会で信仰を明白に表現すること。または教会が教義のポイントを簡潔に成文化した定式をいう。信仰箇条、信経(しんきょう)ともよぶ。キリスト教徒は聖書と職制と信条を重要視する。古代、イエスが救主(すくいぬし)であるとのキリスト告白が教会の関心の中心であったが、宣教活動が展開され、諸儀礼の内容と解釈が整備される過程で、異教と異端との対決の緊張が作用し、信仰の対象を明確に文章化する努力がなされた。その結果、入信者教育の場で使徒信条の最古の形が自然発生的に成立した。信条は信仰告白であるが、信徒の生活規範の役割を果たし、信徒の同志的結合を強化する統合的機能を担い、三位(さんみ)一体論の教義の確立に寄与した。だが一方では神観念を限定化した。使徒信条、ニカイア信条、カルケドン信条、アタナシウス信条などを公同信条と総称する。宗教改革は信仰義認論の教説に関心の中心があった。多くの信条は信仰告白、信仰問答の呼称でもよばれ、信徒の信仰のあり方を主題とする信仰論が展開された。現代、信条は宣言（たとえばヒトラー政権に反対した1934年のバルメン宣言など）の呼称で制定され、国家権力に抵抗する教会論的性格を強くもつ。

［川又志朗］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例