I believe.

The Nicene Creed has to be one of the most important sayings of the Christian faith. It synthesizes everything that a Christian believes in. The Bible is not systematic theology; that is, it is not a cohesive collection of theologies, but rather, a collection of writings from antiquity, inspired by God. It forces the reader to decipher for themselves what the Bible is saying. Origen says that if there is something within Scripture that is a skandalon, or a stumbling block, then the reader must take extra liberties and dive deeper into the text in order to fully understand the "spiritual" implications.  

And that's mainly why there are so many interpretations ranging from NRSV to The Message. They are all great interpretations, and they deeply impact the readers who adhere to them. But they don't really create a one-liner for people to believe in. That's good and all, but I love Spark Notes. I never use Spark Notes to replace the actual text itself, but I always use it as a complement to what I'm reading. There's many times when I don't fully understand what's going on. Take for instance in my favorite book, The Great Gatsby, when there's some random green light flashing across the waters. I would have no idea what this meant had it not been for Spark Notes, or my wonderful English teacher in high school. But because I had this aid to help decipher the deeper implication, I feel like I have a greater appreciation for the original text.

Which is why the Nicene Creed should be used, applied, and read by all who believe in Christ. The Bible isn't meant to be read in isolation. It is meant for the body of believers to read all as one because when we say yes to God, we instantly become part of an ongoing dialogue that God has had with creation. We are no longer just one person, but we are God followers who are woven into this tapestry of faith. So the Nicene Creed creates the punchline that every Christian believes; it's the one-liner for all who believe. If someone asks you what the Bible is about, you can say this:

We believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.