The word "Creed" is from the Latin credo, "I believe"; so don't let anyone mislead you with the pious sounding "No Creed but the Bible"! A creed is a " system of belief", and the Bible is not written in systematic form as a systematic theology textbook, so "No Creed but the Bible" is somewhat contradictory in itself. Every man has a creed, self-consistent or not, and it is whether he will confess it or not. The Campbellite Church of Christ claims no creed, but they are hardcore Arminian and teach there is NO salvation without water baptism. Some of the independent, fundamentalist Baptists say no creed but the Bible, yet recommend a particular dispensationalist study Bible. Everyone has a creed, but is it a creed or confession of faith based solidly on orderly statements of Scripture. Merriam-Webster defines it "faith, 3 especially: a system of religious beliefs", in other words a confession of faith or creed. Of course some will quibble over wording that does not effect the main teaching of the creed, or going off on a tangent over the various editions of a creed. You'll always have nitpickers.
(Jud 1:3 NRSVue) "Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once and for all handed on to the saints." *What is "the faith" but the confession of faith handed on. Note, "saints" plural are to contend, it is not an individual's faith, but that given to the saints.
Eph 4:11-14 NRSVue He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; *Pastors and teachers build up "body of Christ" believers, to "the unity of the faith" to protect against every wind of doctrine by tricksters! What is the unity of the faith, but a confession of faith?
In the apostolic age, the immediate, in person teaching of the Apostles themselves was the confession, "the unity of the faith", which was authenticated by miracles. Paul warned of those teaching a gospel contrary to what he had delivered. He commended those maintaining the traditions, 1 Cor. 11:2; stand fast and hold to the traditions taught, 2 Thess. 2:15, etc. Some examples of "confession" used in a way of a confession of faith:
"Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others," (2Cor 9:13 NRSV)
"Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession." (Heb 3:1 RSV)
"Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you" (1Tim 6:12-13 NRSV)
In Jude 3 it was clear the faith once for all delivered, was to the "saints" plural. Paul warned about splitting up the faith into factions led by individuals, 1 Cor. 4:6. Individuals by name are said to have wrecked their faith: Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Tim. 1:19; and Philetus in 2 Tim. 2:17-18 where false eschatology is listed as undermining the faith.
Gal 1:23 NRSVue they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.”
1Ti 4:1-2 NRSVue Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
1Ti 6:20-21 NRSVue Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.
2Ti 3:8 NRSVue As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.
Tit 1:10-14 NRSVue There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.
The very purpose of the creeds was to formulate and declare true biblical doctrine, the faith, to provide defense against heresies.
The Council of Nicea in 325 was called to bring unity to the faith in the Roman Empire, which faith was being attacked by the heretic Arius, and his teaching that the Son of God was a created being. The Nicene usually used today is the 381 version.
