Note: The Athanasian Creed was written in the fourth century (probably before 325 A.D.) At that time, the word "catholic" which appears in the text does not mean "Roman Catholic" but instead means "Universal". The "Roman Catholic" church did not come into being until after 1054 A.D. when the Eastern and Western churches had a doctrinal disagreement.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he
hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole
and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity,
and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing
the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the
Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the
majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is
the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy
Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible,
and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son
eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three
Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three
Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible. So
likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost
almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So
the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet
they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord,
the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but
one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to
acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we
forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or
three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is
of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy
Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor
begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers;
one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in
this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less
than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and
coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity
and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will
be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also
believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the
right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God of the Substance of the
Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His
mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a
reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as
touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His
manhood; Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one
Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by
taking the manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of
Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and
flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our
salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the
dead; He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the
Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and
the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies,
and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done
good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil,
into everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and
firmly, he cannot be saved.