What we believe: Apostles' Creed
The Christian writers of the first three centuries make it plain that from the beginning the candidates for Baptism were required to confess their faith. This same confession of faith was also used as the starting point for Christian instruction, and as a touchstone for discerning false doctrine. First and second century writers, such as Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Irenaeus mentioned the earliest form of this creed. By 500 the creed was quoted in its present form by Caesarius of Arles in France.