Creeds of the Churches, Third Edition: A Reader in Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present [Paperback]

John H. Leith (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1982

Creeds of the Churches offers, in one comprehensive volume, the major Christian statements of faith from biblical times to the present. The third edition has been updated to include the Athanasian Creed, the London Confession, the Frankfurt Declaration, and the Lima Text, among others. A brief introduction to each creed explains its place in the developing theology of the Christian community.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John H. Leith was Professor Emeritus of Theology at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education until his death in 2002. He is the author of a number of books, including Basic Christian Doctrine, An Introduction to the Reformed Tradtion, From Generation to Generation, and Crisis in the Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 748 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 3 edition (January 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804205264
• ISBN-13: 978-0804205269
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. John Haddon Leith (1919-2002) was a minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a professor of historical theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He held degrees from Erskine College, Columbia Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University Graduate School, and he received honorary degrees from Erskine College, Davidson College, and Presbyterian College. He valued brevity and understood that simplicity is close to integrity, so that he desired in his writings to communicate the gospel and the faith of the church in a straightforward and understandable way.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The origins of Orthodox Christian theology, May 24, 2004

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Leif Jacobson (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creeds of the Churches, Third Edition: A Reader in Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present (Paperback)

Although not a riveting read, this book gives an accurate and in-depth portrayal of the development of Orthodox Christian Ideology, as seen through the creeds of the churches. Too many people in the church today do not know the basis of their beliefs, where they came from, or what they are grounded upon. This book starts from the earliest known creeds, starting with the Rules of Faith from about the year 200, and goes all the way up through the 1970's. The most significant portion of the book would be the first few pages, in which we get the Rules of Faith, the Apostle's Creed, the Creed of Nicea, The Constantinopolitan Creed, and the Definition of Chalcedon. These seminal statements of faith were constructed by different church fathers and ecumenical councils at the church's most vulnerable period. Not only was it trying to establish itself against the pagan religions that were already established within the Roman Empire, but it was also combatting heretical forces within, especially the Arian heresy. To see how these creeds help establish the church as it is now is truly fascinating, and this book would be great for anyone who is interested how their beliefs transformed from the teachings of Christ to the Nicene creed. The translator also provides in-depth introductions to each creed, mentioning both the history of the creed and the effects of it. This book would be a great addition to any Christian library.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Guard from Doctrinal Divergence!, May 19, 2004

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Thee Italian Job (La Mirada CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creeds of the Churches, Third Edition: A Reader in Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present (Paperback)

I highly recommend this work! No Christian library is complete without this book. One of the main problems that is present with believers in the contemporary church is that they have no grasp at why they believe what they believe. Too often they just rely on Christian self-help novels and supposed daily devotional books to help them with their Christian understanding. This I believe is a great tragedy. How can we accurately understand and communicate our beliefs if we can only convey the fuzzy feeling that we have inside our heart? We need to go much deeper.

I recommend this book very highly because it cleary maps out the ways in which Christianity has matured throughout the centuries. Christians throughout time have had differing opinions about what the inherent Word of God says. Often times some believers have been completely wrong and tragically formulated heresies with their ideas. Leaders of the church have been present to confront the innacurate thesis. The Creeds of The Churches lays out the what the church of those times truly believed in order that there would be no argument as to what the church stood for.

Purchasing this book is truly a great investment, one that will indeed bring you to a closer understanding of the beliefs which men before us believed. Beliefs which soldify what we believe today.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth It, October 23, 2004

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A Regular Joe (A Regular City, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creeds of the Churches, Third Edition: A Reader in Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present (Paperback)

Most Bargain book stores now sell this book for about 5.99. Spanning time, it offers insight into all the major statements of faith throughout history without a great deal of commentary. If you are worried about the book having any particular denominational slant, it doesn't seem to show, and I'm writing as a Catholic apologist. If you can get it for a discount, go for it. Great reference title.