Confessing the Nicene Creed
An Ecumenical Faith in a Sociable God
- Theology
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
A fresh analysis of the historical roots of The Nicene Creed and its relevance for Christian life today. Ellingsen prods readers to consider what they are saying each week in worship when The Creed is confessed. He helps readers to recognize the sacred and august company with whom they are confessing the faith--the rich fellowship created by The Creed. He highlights the Creed's Biblical roots and offers readers more appreciation of the Creed's truly ecumenical orientation, updating recent efforts by Eastern and Western theologians to bridge the gap on exclusive issues like the Filioque and Christology. Ellingsen develops the insights of famed historian Jaroslav Pelikan that the purpose of the Creed and the Trinity is to make clear that the God Who saved us is the One Who created us. Ellingsen shows us how this implies that on Creedal and Trinitarian grounds faith can never again be reduced to an other-worldliness with no concern about the physical well-being of the creation. Confessing The Nicene Creed is a book not just about how to talk about the faith, but also a vision for living faith.
Endorsements (2)
“Contemporary Christians may be less acquainted with the Nicene Creed than the shorter, more frequently used Apostles’ Creed. But Ellingsen’s discussion here shows why the Nicene Creed is enduringly important. He establishes its historical setting and leads us through its main theological teachings: from God and creation to eternal life. The Creed conveys an “ever-sociable Triune God,” centered in Jesus Christ, who by the Holy Spirit calls out a community of people to live a radically new mode of existence. From this, Ellingsen calls us to be “bold confessors” of the Christian faith, guided by the Nicene Creed—even when this “goes against the grain” of society’s contemporary assumptions and ideologies. In today’s world, he says, “we can’t back down.””
“This is a rollicking, fun, and ecumenically vibrant introduction to the Nicene Creed. In addition to historical and theological reflections, Professor Ellingsen takes great delight in adducing connections between the mysteries of faith and new scientific perspectives such as bioelectricity, quantum physics, and the Higgs field. He clearly doesn’t mind disagreement about particulars of the Creed so long as agreement is found in stalwart confession of “Christ the incarnate Son.””
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