The Athanasian Creed: Christianity’s Most Controversial Statement of Faith
Gavin Ortlund
45.00
25 August 2025
25 November 2025
In this video, Gavin Ortlund explains the Athanasian Creed, tracing its history, theology, and lasting importance for how Christians understand their faith.
Sam Storms' Understanding Worship: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Worship-Biblical-Foundations-Delighting/dp/0310171148
Videos I mentioned:
The Apostles' Creed: EVERY Word Explained: https://youtu.be/VJvzSEElvj4?si=IcmNqfpXJug-qrAx
The Nicene Creed: Every Word Explained: https://youtu.be/2KuLiL0Am78?si=798zfIelpna5h4bO
Protestant and Mormon Discuss the Trinity (Jacob Hansen and Gavin Ortlund): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y9_unCe__M&t=3182s&ab_channel=GavinOrtlund
Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?: https://youtu.be/orp9uwwhnAY?si=chXnPcCu7GBaweCt
My Defense of Divine Simplicity: https://youtu.be/wlpdpAnVwgI?si=2kQxqjaaht9vEw9S
Why Believe in Divine Simplicity?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0zdB_xYwDw
DEBATE: Is Divine Simplicity True? Gavin Ortlund vs. Ryan Mullins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVUI-Wy67eo&ab_channel=GavinOrtlund
The Doctrine that Divided the Church (With Fred Sanders): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVPXYS4Mkgw&ab_channel=GavinOrtlund
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: https://truthunites.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
https://truthunites.org/mypublications/
PODCAST:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: https://discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
https://www.amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunites-20
https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunites-20
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunites-20
https://www.amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunites-20
00:00 - Coming Up
00:20 - Introduction
01:32 - Book Recommendation
02:49 - General Introduction to the Creed
06:34 - Historical Reception
06:45 - 1) Early Medieval Reception
13:01 - 2) Protestant Reception
14:16 - 3) 17th Century Decline
16:13 - 4) Eastern Reception
18:33 - Commentary
19:18 - 1) Damnatory Clauses
24:16 - 2) The Trinity in the Athanasian Creed
35:42 - 3) Christology in the Athanasian Creed
43:46 - Outro
