In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1–5, 14 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11 (ESV)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:13–20 (ESV)

• We, along with all congregations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, subscribe unconditionally to the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions in the Book of Concord because they are a true and unadulterated statements and exposition of God's inerrant Word.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. 

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian* Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Christian: the ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine.

Athanasian Creed

Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith. Whoever does not  keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.

  And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither  confusing the persons nor dividing the substance. For the Father is one person, the Son is  another, and the Holy Spirit is another. But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of  the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is  the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit: the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit  uncreated; the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal,  the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet there are not three Eternals, but one  Eternal, just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one  Infinite. In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;  and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is  God, the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So the Father is  Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.  Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God  and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods  or Lords.  

The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone. The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son,  neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding. Thus, there is one Father, not three  Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity  none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another; but the whole three  persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped. Therefore, whoever  desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.

  But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of  our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our  Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man. He is God,  begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the  substance of His mother in this age: perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational  soul and human flesh; equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father  with respect to His humanity. Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:  one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the  humanity into God; one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.  For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ, who suffered for  our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead, ascended into  heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will  come to judge the living and the dead. At His coming all people will rise again with their  bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds. And those who have done good will  enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.