A) INTRODUCTION.

B) TO THE CREEDS.

C) CONCLUSION.

 

 

A) INTROCUTION

 

 

What is so interesting about these creeds is that there is evidence that these early “creeds” became a part of God’s Word, as opposed to “coming from” God’s Word.

 

 

B) TO THE CREEDS

(In Order By Their Appearance In Scripture)

 

 

FIRST:

Romans 1:2:  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Romans 1:3:  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Romans 1:4:  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

 

SECOND:

Romans 4:5:  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

 

Romans 4:5, appears to be an early creed that precedes Pauline authorship, according to Bultmann’s book, “Theology of the New Testament,” volume 1, page 82, “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page, 148.

 

 

THIRD:

Romans 10:9:  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

First Timothy 3:16:  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

Romans 10:9 and First Timothy 3:16 are considered to be confessional creeds, according to Moules book, “Birth,” pages 33-35; Jeremias book, “Eucharistic Words,” pages 102 & 112; Bultmann’s book, “Theology,” volume 1, pages 81 &125; Neufeld’s book, “Confessions,” pages 43 & 140; Gary R. Habermas book, “The Historical Jesus,” pages 145 & 146).

 

 

FOURTH:

First Corinthians 11:23:  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

 

First Corinthians 11:23, “resents a fixed tradition which is probably based on material independent of the sources for the synoptic Gospels,” “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page 147 (see also Mouls’s book “Birth,” page 38).  In Jeremias’ book, “Eucharistic Words,” pages 101 & 104-105, speaking of this text, he notes that Paul’s words “received,” and “delivered,” are not Paul’s typical terms, but “represent the rabbinical technical terms” for passing on tradition (However, Paul was a Pharisee; Acts 23:6).  Additionally, there are other supposed non-Pauline phrases such as, “he was betrayed,” and “when He had given thanks,” and “My body,” First Corinthians 11:23-24.

 

 

FIFTH:

First Corinthians 15:3:  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

First Corinthians 15:4:  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 First Corinthians 15:5:  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

 First Corinthians 15:6:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

 

First Corinthians 15:3-6 is the most prominent, according to “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, Pages 144 & 152-157 (from now on referred to as “THJ”).  The importance of this creed can hardly be overestimated.  What it brings out is that no longer can it be charged that there is no demonstrable early eyewitness testimony for the resurrection of Christ.  In First Corinthians 15:5-6, Paul seems to interject his own statements, such as, “but some are fallen asleep.”  This statement would still link the events themselves with those who actually participated in that time and space.

 

 

SIXTH:

Philippians 2:6:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

 

Philippians 2:6, is taken from Isaiah 45:23, according to Cullmann’s book, “Confessions,” pages 55 & 57-62; “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page 151.

 

Philippians 2:6 is considered to be a “pre-Pauline hymn” (see Oscar Culmann’s book, “The Earliest Christian Confessions,” pages 22-23, 28, 55, 57-62; Bultmann’s book, “Theology of the New Testament,” vol. 1, pages 27, 125, 131, 175, 298; Neufeld’s book, “The Earliest Christian Confessions,” pages 204-206, 221-225, 248; Pannenberg’sbook, “Jesus,” pages 366-367; “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page 145).

 

 

SEVENTH:

First Timothy 3:12:  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

 

First Timothy 3:12, was referred to as both a confessional creed and a “Christ-hymn,” according to Jeremias book, “Eucharistic Words,” page 132; Bultmanns book, “Theology,” volume 1, page 176, and volume 2, pages 153 and 156; Fullers book, “Foundations,” Pages, 214 & 216 & 227 & 239; Gary R. Habermas book, “The Historical Jesus,” page 145.

 

 

EIGTH:

Second Timothy 2:8:  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

 

 

NINETH:

First John 4:2:  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

 

First John 4:2, is considered to be a confessional creed, according to Oscar Culmann’s book, “The Earliest Christian Confessions,” pages 35 & 38; “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page 144).

 

 

C) CONCLUSION

 

 

First Timothy 6:13 and Luke 24:34 are also considered to be early traditions, but not quite determined to be “creeds.”  See Bultmann’s book “Theology,” volume 2, page 121; Neufeld,’s book, “Confessions,” pages 20 & 31; “The Historical Jesus,” by Gary R. Habermas, page 147.

 

There are probably more.  See if you can find some.