We recite the Nicene Creed together at every Mass, but it’s not exactly a prayer. So presumably we’re not saying it to God. To whom, then, are we speaking, and why is it so important to keep saying it?

In this online course, we will examine every line of the Creed, an early edition of which was drafted at the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, then finalized and adopted in full at the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. As we pursue our investigation, we’ll consider the following kinds of questions: 1) What does each belief-claim actually mean?; 2) What was going on historically in the Church and in the world that motivated this particular belief-claim and made it so important?; 3) What truth(s) about God was this particular belief-claim written to protect?

Join us as we consider these matters together in a week-long trek through history, Scripture, and our common confession about the truths of our faith.

This Emmaus Short Course will take place M-F, June 22-26, with the live virtual classes being 9-11am CT every day. Links to the live classes will be posted within Thinkific and recordings of the lectures will be posted and available to watch after class. If you have any questions, please email the teacher at [email protected].

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to The Nicene Creed: What Christians Believe and Why It Matters

    • Course Description

    • About the Instructor
  • 2

    Session 1

    • Creed Syllabus

    • Creed Session 1 Handout

    • Creed Session 1 Video
  • 3

    Session 2

    • Creed Session 2 Handout

    • Creed Session 2 Video
  • 4

    Session 3

    • Creed Session 3 Handout

    • Creed Session 3 Video
  • 5

    Session 4

    • Creed Session 4 Handout

    • Creed Session 4 Video
  • 6

    Session 5

    • Creed Session 5 Handout

    • Creed Session 5 Video

Instructor

Associate Teacher

Chad Steiner

Chad completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while studying the biblical languages and biblical introduction and interpretation on the side. Following graduation, he taught with his father at a small Bible institute in Lincoln for a number of years before moving to England with his wife Kacy to begin graduate work in biblical studies. Upon their return to Lincoln in 2005, Chad resumed teaching and writing full time with the institute where he remained until its closure in 2013. His interests lie especially in cultivating Christian unity, and in sharing the task of interpreting Sacred Scripture with Christians across denominational lines. He and his family were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil at St. Peter in 2011. Since then he has enjoyed singing in the choir and helping as an occasional catechist for the RCIA program at the parish. He and Kacy have eight children, two dogs, two guinea pigs, a rabbit, and many Legos.