What is the Athanasian Creed?
Q: What is the Athanasian Creed?
A: The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of faith, also referred to as Quicumque vult (translated as Whoever wants), which talks about trinity and has been in use since the 6th century.
Q: Who was thought to have written it?
A: It was originally thought that St. Athanasius had written it, but this view is largely seen as false today due to various reasons such as the original text being in Latin while Athanasius wrote mainly in Greek, and neither he nor other people who lived at the same time as him mention it.
Q: Who are some possible authors?
A: Some possible authors include St. Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo or Vincent of Lérins, with J.N.D Kelly suggesting that St Vincent may not have been its author but from the same background area of Lerins in southern Gaul and Caesarius of Arles being another possibility.
Q: When were the oldest surviving manuscripts created?
A: The oldest surviving manuscripts date from the late 8th century.
Q: What does it explain?
A: The creed explains Trinity in such a way to stand against positions such as Arianism and includes the filioque clause.
Q: How did Martin Luther refer to it?
A: Martin Luther said there were three statements of faith - Nicene Creed (Credo in unum deum), Te Deum (Te Deum Laudamus) and the Athanasian Creed - referring to them collectively.
Q: How does it start?
A: The creed starts with "Whoever wants..."
