Christianity’s Forgotten First Creed

Chapter 1 offers a close reading of Galatians 3:26–28 to reveal an ancient creed resting within its folds. It also offers en route an introduction to Paul, the author of Galatians; how he came to join the Jesus movement; the basic ideas he brought to the movement; why he wrote this letter to the Galatians; and how he came to include this creed in it. Galatians 3:26–28 contains many additions to the original creed, which come from Paul’s own hand. But when Paul’s adaptations and alterations are peeled away, we can see the original creed, more or less as it would have been used in an ancient Christian baptismal ceremony. Since the creed itself predates its inclusion in Paul’s letter, we can suppose it to have been one of the earliest—if not the earliest—statement of Christian commitment and belief.