apostles' creed

2 definitions found

apostles' creed - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Creed \Creed\ (kr[=e]d), n. [OE. credo, crede, AS. creda, fr. L.
     credo I believe, at the beginning of the Apostles' creed, fr.
     credere to believe; akin to OIr. cretim I believe, and Skr.
     [,c]raddadh[=a]mi; [,c]rat trust + dh[=a] to put. See Do,
     v. t., and cf. Credo, Grant.]
     1. A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of
        the articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for
        public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive.
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              In the Protestant system the creed is not coordinate
              with, but always subordinate to, the Bible.
                                                    --Schaff-Herzog
                                                    Encyc.
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     2. Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered
        to.
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              I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed.
                                                    --Shak.
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     Apostles' creed, Athanasian creed, Nicene creed. See
        under Apostle, Athanasian, Nicene.
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  Apostle \A*pos"tle\, n. [OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS.
     apostol, L. apostolus, fr. Gr. ? messenger, one sent forth or
     away, fr. ? to send off or away; ? from + ? to send; akin to
     G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. ap[^o]tre, Of. apostre,
     apostle, apostele, apostole.]
     1. Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One
        of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his
        companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the
        gospel.
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              He called unto him his disciples, and of them he
              chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. --Luke
                                                    vi. 13.
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     Note: The title of apostle is also applied to others, who,
           though not of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal
           with them in office and dignity; as, "Paul, called to
           be an apostle of Jesus Christ." --1 Cor. i. 1. In
           --Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ himself, as
           having been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In
           the primitive church, other ministers were called
           apostles --(Rom. xvi. 7).
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     2. The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any
        part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral
        reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who
        has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as,
        Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John
        Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the
        apostle of temperance.
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     3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law) A brief letter dimissory sent by a
        court appealed from to the superior court, stating the
        case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty
        courts. --Wharton. Burrill.
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     Apostles' creed, a creed of unknown origin, which was
        formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back
        to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert
        that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the
        fourth century.
  
     Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle
        terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were
        offered by sponsors at baptism as a present to the
        godchild. --B. Jonson.
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