{"product_id":"we-believe-in-one-god-9780830825318","title":"We Believe in One God","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\"We believe in one God, the Father.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e The opening clause of the Nicene Creed can be summed up in a single word--\u003cem\u003emonotheism.\u003c\/em\u003e In the early centuries of the church, this striking doctrine stood starkly against a cultural background of multiple deities and spiritual powers. While it clearly builds on its Jewish heritage, calling God \"Father\" anticipates the Father-Son relationship in the Godhead that early Christians knew and robustly upheld.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first article of the Nicene Creed also presupposes that there is an objective body of teaching that Christians are expected to confess as their faith. This idea seems normal and natural to us, but it was a novelty in the ancient world. Neither Judaism nor any pagan religion or philosophy could claim to have a closely defined set of beliefs that everyone adhering to it was expected to profess publicly and defend against all comers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile this article on God the Father is the shortest and arguably oldest portion of the Creed, it fully sets forth the fundamental understanding of God as creator and originator of all that is. This commentary in its selection of texts from the early church highlights the common understanding of the One God in three Persons, elucidating the church's understanding of divine attributes and trinitarian relations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe five-volume Ancient Christian Doctrine series follows up on the acclaimed Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture to provide patristic commentary on the Nicene Creed, translating source material from the church fathers into English for unparalleled insight into early church history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e IVP Academic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/18\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780830825318\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 159\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 7.10w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/2009\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Gerald L. Bray","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43132849488053,"sku":"9780830825318","price":53.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_5e34bfc3-3cec-4e0b-8433-fcb7516a6dc3.jpg?v=1695134806","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/we-believe-in-one-god-9780830825318","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}