Part One: The Profession of Faith › Section Two of Part One: The Profession of the Christian Faith: The Creeds ›› CHAPTER 1: I Believe in God the Father ››› Article 1: “I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth” ›››› §1: I Believe in God

› IN BRIEF

Questions and Answers

218. What is the first and most fundamental affirmation of the Apostles’ Creed? (CCC 199) The first and most fundamental affirmation of the Apostles’ Creed is: “I believe in God”.
The other articles of the Creed all depend on this affirmation.
219. To what does the oneness expressed in “I believe in one God” refer? (CCC 200) The oneness expressed in “I believe in one God” refers to God’s:
1. nature
2. substance
3. essence.
220. What is the locus classicus for the oneness of God in the Old Testament? (CCC 201) The locus classicus for the oneness of God in the Old Testament is Deut 6,4.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one.”
221. Why is Faith in three Divine Persons not contrary to belief in the One God? (CCC 202) Faith in three Divine Persons is not contrary to belief in the One God, because these Persons are united in one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.
222. What is the Old Testament locus classicus where God reveals His name? (CCC 204) The Old Testament locus classicus where God reveals His name is Ex 3,13-15.
God reveals His name to Moses during the theophany of the burning bush.
223. What name of His does God reveal to Moses from the burning bush? (CCC 205) The name of His that God reveals to Moses from the burning bush is: “I am who I am.”
224. Why is the name that God reveals in Ex 3 mysterious? (CCC 206) The name that God reveals in Ex 3 is mysterious, because it is at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name.
225. How is God commonly called in the Hebrew Bible? (CCC 209) In the Hebrew Bible God is commonly called Yhwh.
Yhwh is pronounced in Greek “Kyrios” and in English: “Lord”.
226. How does the Septuagint understand the divine name in Ex 3? (CCC 213) The Septuagint understands the divine name “I am who I am” in the sense that God is the fullness of Being and perfection, without beginning and end.
The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
227. What is God, “He who is” chiefly and essentially? (CCC 214) God, “He who is” is chiefly and essentially Truth and Love.
228. In what three ways does God’s truth particularly shine forth? (CCC 215-217) The three ways in which God’s truth particularly shines forth are:
1. His words
2. His wisdom in creation
3. His Son.
229. What is the locus classicus for the affirmation that “God is love”? (CCC 221) The locus classicus for the affirmation that “God is love” is 1 Jn 4.
230. What are the five implications of Faith in one God? (CCC 222-227) The five implications of Faith in one God are that through Faith we receive (1) knowledge of God. This causes in us an attitude of (2) thanksgiving through which we understand (3) men, (4) things and (5) circumstances.