It is impossible for the church to exist without a creed. This is so because the church has the duty to confess the truth. This article defines what a creed is, and gives the origin and necessity of creeds.

What is the relationship between theological expression and the creedal character of the gospel? In what sense is the gospel a creed? This essay defends the thesis that the theology of Paul is given a structure as a creed. This creed remained constant and unchanging. The author illustrates it from the way Paul defends the gospel in Colossians, in particular Colossians 1 and Colossians 2.

Throughout the history of the church, heretics often protested against orthodox confessions on the ground of the so-called "non-scriptural language" of the orthodox creed. They pointed out that phrases such as “of one essence with the Father,” and “one substance with the Father” were not to be found in Scripture. Heretics often used the argument “no creed but the Bible” precisely so that they could use biblical language to evade biblical truth.