Die Apostoliese Geloofsbelydenis, ook bekend as Die Twaalf Artikels van die Algemene Ongetwyfelde Christelike Geloof, is ‘n vroeë en wyd-aanvaarde belydenis van geloof in die Christelike kerk. Dit is nie deur die apostels self geskryf nie, maar dit vat die kernwaarhede van die apostoliese leer saam. Dit dien as ‘n oorsig van die fundamentele Christelike geloofsoortuigings en word algemeen gebruik in die liturgie van baie kerke, insluitend Gereformeerde, Katolieke, en Anglikaanse tradisies.
Die Twaalf Artikels van die Geloof:
- Ek glo in God die Vader, die Almagtige, die Skepper van die hemel en die aarde;
- En in Jesus Christus, sy eniggebore Seun, ons Here;
- Wat ontvang is van die Heilige Gees, gebore is uit die maagd Maria;
- Wat gely het onder Pontius Pilatus, gekruisig is, gesterf het en begrawe is, en neergedaal het na die hel;
- Wat op die derde dag weer opgestaan het uit die dood;
- Wat opgevaar het na die hemel, en sit aan die regterhand van God, die almagtige Vader;
- Van waar Hy sal kom om te oordeel die lewendes en die dooies;
- Ek glo in die Heilige Gees;
- Ek glo aan ‘n heilige, algemene, Christelike kerk – die gemeenskap van die heiliges;
- Die vergewing van sondes;
- Die opstanding van die vlees;
- En ‘n ewige lewe. Amen.
Hierdie geloofsbelydenis word dikwels gebruik as ‘n liturgiese verklaring tydens doop, nagmaal, en geloofsverduidelikings, en dit dien as ‘n belydenis van wat alle ware Christene glo.
Uitgebrei
1. Ek glo in God die Vader, die Almagtige, die Skepper van die hemel en die aarde
Hier bely ons dat God nie net bestaan nie, maar dat Hy ons Vader is — ‘n persoonlike, liefdevolle God wat in verhouding met ons tree. As die Almagtige het Hy absolute mag, en as Skepper het Hy alles uit niks geskep (Gen. 1:1). Alles wat bestaan – sigbaar en onsigbaar – is deur Hom gemaak en word deur Hom onderhou (Kol. 1:16-17). Die woord “Vader” beklemtoon ook sy sorg en genade teenoor sy kinders (Matt. 6:9).
2. En in Jesus Christus, sy eniggebore Seun, ons Here
Hier word die belydenis Christelik in die ware sin: ons glo in Jesus, wat nie net ‘n profeet of leraar was nie, maar die Christus (Messias), die eniggebore Seun van God (Joh. 3:16). Hy is een in wese met die Vader (Joh. 10:30). Dat Hy “ons Here” is, beteken Hy het gesag oor ons lewens; ons behoort aan Hom (Rom. 10:9; 1 Kor. 6:19-20).
3. Wat ontvang is van die Heilige Gees, gebore is uit die maagd Maria
Jesus was nie bloot ‘n menslike kind nie. Hy is op bonatuurlike wyse ontvang deur die Heilige Gees, sonder ‘n aardse vader, en tog werklik gebore uit die maagd Maria (Luk. 1:35). Hy is dus ten volle God én ten volle mens – ‘n misterie wat ons nie volkome verstaan nie, maar wat fundamenteel is vir ons verlossing (Jes. 7:14; Heb. 2:14-17).
4. Wat gely het onder Pontius Pilatus, gekruisig is, gesterf het en begrawe is, en neergedaal het na die hel
Hier bely ons Jesus se werklike lyding en dood. Pontius Pilatus word genoem om die historiese werklikheid van Jesus se kruisdood te bevestig (Matt. 27). Sy kruisiging was ‘n vervulling van die Skrif (Jes. 53), en Hy sterf werklik – nie skynbaar nie – vir ons sondes. “Neergedaal na die hel” beteken Hy het die volle gewig van die goddelike oordeel gedra (Ps. 88; Ef. 4:9). Hy het daardie uiterste Godverlatenheid ervaar sodat ons dit nooit hoef te doen nie (Matt. 27:46).
5. Wat op die derde dag weer opgestaan het uit die dood
Die opstanding is die hart van die evangelie (1 Kor. 15:3-4). Dit bevestig Jesus se Godheid, Sy oorwinning oor sonde en dood, en dit is die waarborg van ons eie opstanding (Rom. 6:5; 1 Kor. 15:20). Op die derde dag het Hy liggaamlik uit die graf opgestaan, en verskyn aan baie getuies (Luk. 24).
6. Wat opgevaar het na die hemel, en sit aan die regterhand van God, die almagtige Vader
Na sy opstanding het Jesus opgevaar na die hemel (Hand. 1:9-11), waar Hy nou sit aan die regterhand van God – ‘n posisie van eer, mag en middelaarskap (Ef. 1:20-23; Heb. 7:25). Hy regeer nou oor alles en pleit vir ons voor die Vader.
7. Van waar Hy sal kom om te oordeel die lewendes en die dooies
Jesus sal terugkeer – nie meer in nederigheid nie, maar in heerlikheid – om die wêreld te oordeel (Matt. 25:31-46; Hand. 17:31). Almal – lewende en dooies – sal rekenskap gee (2 Kor. 5:10). Vir gelowiges is dit ‘n dag van hoop en verlossing; vir die onbekeerde, ‘n dag van oordeel (Openb. 20:11-15).
8. Ek glo in die Heilige Gees
Die Heilige Gees is die derde Persoon van die Drie-eenheid – volkome God. Hy werk geloof in ons harte, lei ons in waarheid, troos ons, en heilig ons (Joh. 14:26; Joh. 16:13; Rom. 8). Sonder Hom sou ons nie God kan ken of liefhê nie.
9. Ek glo aan ‘n heilige, algemene, Christelike kerk – die gemeenskap van die heiliges
Hier erken ons dat ons geloof nie iets persoonlik en geïsoleerd is nie. Ons is deel van die algemene (katolieke = universele) kerk van Christus, die heiliges wat deur die Gees afgesonder is. Hierdie gemeenskap strek oor alle nasies, tale en eeue heen (Ef. 2:19-22; 1 Kor. 12:13).
10. Die vergewing van sondes
Ons glo dat God – op grond van Christus se offer – ons sondes werklik vergewe (1 Joh. 1:9; Ps. 103:12). Sonder vergifnis sou geen mens gered kon word nie. Hierdie vergifnis is nie iets wat ons verdien nie, maar wat ons uit genade ontvang.
11. Die opstanding van die vlees
Christene glo nie net in ‘n siel wat na die dood voortleef nie, maar in die opstanding van die liggaam – ons vlees sal verheerlik word soos Christus s’n (1 Kor. 15:42-44; Fil. 3:21). Die dood het nie die laaste woord nie.
12. En ‘n ewige lewe
Ons hoop eindig nie by die graf nie. Ons glo in ‘n ewige lewe – in volle gemeenskap met God, sonder sonde, pyn of dood (Joh. 3:16; Openb. 21:3-4). Hierdie lewe begin reeds nou in Christus, maar bereik sy volheid in die nuwe hemel en nuwe aarde.
Slotgedagte
Om hierdie geloof te bely, is om jouself te verbind tot ‘n lewe van vertroue, aanbidding en gehoorsaamheid aan God. Die Apostoliese Geloofsbelydenis is nie net ‘n lys idees nie – dis ‘n lewende getuienis van die hart van die Christelike boodskap.
The Apostles’ Creed, also known as The Twelve Articles of the Universal Undoubted Christian Faith, is an early and widely accepted confession of faith in the Christian church. It was not written by the apostles themselves, but it summarises the core truths of the apostolic teaching. It serves as an overview of the fundamental Christian convictions and is commonly used in the liturgy of many churches, including Reformed, Catholic, and Anglican traditions.
The Twelve Articles of Faith:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
- And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;
- Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary;
- Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;
- The third day he rose again from the dead;
- He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
- From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead;
- I believe in the Holy Spirit;
- I believe a holy, catholic church, the communion of saints;
- The forgiveness of sins;
- The resurrection of the body;
- And the life everlasting. Amen.
This creed is often used as a liturgical declaration during baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and catechetical instruction, and it serves as a confession of what all true Christians believe.
Expanded
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
Here we confess that God does not merely exist, but that he is our Father — a personal, loving God who enters into relationship with us. As the Almighty he has absolute power, and as Maker he created all things from nothing (Gen. 1:1). Everything that exists — visible and invisible — was made by him and is sustained by him (Col. 1:16-17). The word “Father” also emphasises his care and grace toward his children (Matt. 6:9).
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
Here the confession becomes Christian in the truest sense: we believe in Jesus, who was not merely a prophet or teacher, but the Christ (Messiah), the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16). He is one in being with the Father (John 10:30). That he is “our Lord” means he has authority over our lives; we belong to him (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:19-20).
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary
Jesus was not merely a human child. He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, without an earthly father, and yet truly born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). He is therefore fully God and fully man — a mystery we do not fully comprehend, but which is fundamental to our salvation (Isa. 7:14; Heb. 2:14-17).
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell
Here we confess Jesus’ real suffering and death. Pontius Pilate is named to confirm the historical reality of Jesus’ crucifixion (Matt. 27). His crucifixion was a fulfilment of Scripture (Isa. 53), and he truly died — not in appearance only — for our sins. “Descended into hell” means he bore the full weight of divine judgement (Ps. 88; Eph. 4:9). He experienced that uttermost God-forsakenness so that we would never have to (Matt. 27:46).
5. The third day he rose again from the dead
The resurrection is the heart of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4). It confirms Jesus’ deity, his victory over sin and death, and it is the guarantee of our own resurrection (Rom. 6:5; 1 Cor. 15:20). On the third day he bodily rose from the grave, and appeared to many witnesses (Luke 24).
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
After his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), where he now sits at the right hand of God — a position of honour, power, and intercession (Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 7:25). He now reigns over all things and pleads for us before the Father.
7. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead
Jesus will return — no longer in humility, but in glory — to judge the world (Matt. 25:31-46; Acts 17:31). All — living and dead — will give an account (2 Cor. 5:10). For believers it is a day of hope and deliverance; for the unrepentant, a day of judgement (Rev. 20:11-15).
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity — fully God. He works faith in our hearts, leads us into truth, comforts us, and sanctifies us (John 14:26; John 16:13; Rom. 8). Without him we could neither know nor love God.
9. I believe a holy, catholic church, the communion of saints
Here we acknowledge that our faith is not something personal and isolated. We are part of the catholic (= universal) church of Christ, the saints set apart by the Spirit. This communion extends across all nations, languages, and centuries (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Cor. 12:13).
10. The forgiveness of sins
We believe that God — on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice — truly forgives our sins (1 John 1:9; Ps. 103:12). Without forgiveness no one could be saved. This forgiveness is not something we deserve, but something we receive by grace.
11. The resurrection of the body
Christians believe not merely in a soul that lives on after death, but in the resurrection of the body — our flesh will be glorified like Christ’s (1 Cor. 15:42-44; Phil. 3:21). Death does not have the last word.
12. And the life everlasting
Our hope does not end at the grave. We believe in life everlasting — in full communion with God, without sin, pain, or death (John 3:16; Rev. 21:3-4). This life already begins now in Christ, but reaches its fullness in the new heaven and new earth.
Closing thought
To confess this faith is to commit yourself to a life of trust, worship, and obedience to God. The Apostles’ Creed is not merely a list of ideas — it is a living testimony to the heart of the Christian message.