The Old Roman Symbol, or Old Roman Creed, is an earlier and shorter version of the Apostles’ Creed. It was based on the 2nd-century Rules of Faith and the interrogatory declaration of faith for those receiving Baptism (3rd century or earlier), which by the 4th century was everywhere tripartite in structure, following Matthew 28:19 ("baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"), which is part of the Great Commission.
Contents
According to Bible scholar John Norman Davidson Kelly, 2nd-century church fathers Tertullian and Irenaeus cite it in their works. According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, the first text attesting it is a letter to Pope Julius I in 340 or 341, and it has recently been argued that it developed in the context of the Arian controversy. Bettenson and Maunder further comment on this that Marcellus had been exiled from his diocese through Arian influence, thus spending two years at Rome, and finally left his creed with Julius, Bishop of Rome. Additionally, Rufinus, a priest of Aquileia, Exposito in Symbolum, c. 400 (P.L. xxi. 335B), believed this to be the Roman creed as the "rule of faith" written by the Apostles at Jerusalem.
Though the name "Apostles’ Creed" appears in a letter of Saint Ambrose (c. 390), what is now known as the Apostles’ Creed is first quoted in its present form in the early 8th century. It developed from the Old Roman Symbol, and seems to be of Hispano-Gallic origin, being accepted in Rome some time after Charlemagne imposed it throughout his dominions.
Latin and Greek versions
The Latin text of Tyrannius Rufinus:
The Greek text of Marcellus of Ancyra:
Differences between the Latin and the Greek text
The Latin (Rufinus) and the Greek (Marcellus) versions are faithful, literal, verbatim translations of each other. The only outstanding difference is the concluding clause in the Greek text, ζωὴν αἰώνιον ("life everlasting"), which has no equivalent in the Latin text. This clause is present in the Apostles’ Creed.