The Nicene Creed by Kevin DeYoung, published by Crossway

This is an excellent explanation of the Nicene Creed. It would be ideal as an introdution for those who may not be familiar with it already, and certainly not superfluous for those who only need a refresher.

DeYoung outlines the historical background to how the Nicene Creed was formulated, going into enough detail on the principles and persons involved in the various controversies that the reader can grasp their importance, yet without overwhelming us with names, dates or obscurities.

With a light touch, this book brings in various topical issues. These include the vital place of creeds (pp.27-28), the need to use our own words to articulate what we believe the Bible teaches (pp.46-47), and the value of belonging to the church considered as a body that has a rich heritage extending back through the ages (pp.72-73).

However, the core of the book, and its major contribution, is to present the foundational truths of the Nicene Creed in a way that highlights both their doctrinal and their devotional significance. If we are Christians, who is the Christ we confess? If we are God’s people, who is the God we belong to? The Nicene Creed is a major milestone (in fact, according to the book’s subtitle, “the most important creed ever written”) for providing a scipturally safe way for all believers to talk about Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and about the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rather than working through each individual article of the creed, DeYoung picks out seven key phrases and gives a chapter to each. For example, Chapter 2 discusses the phrase “only begotten.” “We believe… in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God…” This chapter covers the profound truth of the Son’s eternal generation. This generation or begetting is eternal, infinite, and ineffable. In the unity of the Godhead, the Father is distinguished in that he is unbegotten, while the Son is distinguished in that he is begotten. “The Son is equal with the Father because he was eternally begotten of the Father. The Son is also distinct from the Father because he was eternally begotten of the Father” (p.41).

Chapter 3 discusses the phrase “one substance.” “We believe… in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God… being of one substance with the Father…” The Nicene Creed uses the Greek word homoousios, translated “of one substance,” or “nature,” or “essence.” (DeYoung helpfully tabulates the various technical terms used for “nature” and “persons” in Greek, Latin and English (p.45)). The essence of God belongs equally, and fully, to each of the three Persons. The term “one substance” rules out the possiblity that the divine substance is shared out, a part to each Person. It also ensures that the Persons are distinct from each other, because “nothing can be homoousios with itself” (p.50).

Chapter 5 discusses the phrase “who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” “We believe in the Holy Spirit… who proceeds from the Father and the Son…” This section of the Nicene Creed affirms the personality and full deity of the Holy Spirit. The Western version of the creed also explicitly teaches that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (the clause “and the Son” translates the Latin word filioque). Without dismissing the concerns of the Eastern church over the filioque, DeYoung nevertheless continues to affirm it as Scriptural. It explains the relationship between the Son and the Spirit (p.67), and “reinforces that Word and Spirit cannot be separated; it integrates the work of Christ and the work of the Spirit” (p.69).

Other phrases selected for discussion are to do with the work of Christ (Chapter 4) and the work of the Spirit in the church (Chapter 6) as well as baptism for the remission of sins (Chapter 7). The inclusion of these chapters means that, as well as the doctrine of God (in Chapters 2, 3 and 5), this small book also covers the redemptive work of God. The glorious three in one and one in three saves sinners. As sinners, to know him – Father, Son, and Spirit – our Father, in the Son, by the Spirit – is our most desperate need and our most exalted blessedness.

DeYoung’s “The Nicene Creed” is an enlightening and encouraging read, and if considered prayerfully should stir us up to greater adoration of our glorious God.

Reviewed by C. E. Hyde in the Sinner Saved Magazine, Spring 2025