The different churches across the country then made lists of basic statements regarding the Christian faith. Many of the points on these lists were similar, since they could all trace their traditions back to the apostles. After church leaders discussed the lists, the differences were eliminated and a more or less standard statement was created. In the fourth century, Christianity became legal, and it was easier to hold meetings regarding the basic statements of faith and the books to include in the New Testament. It was during this century that the Apostles' Creed appeared in its standardized form.

Relevance for United Methodist Church

United Methodist Christians today face similar challenges that the early church did, regarding identifying the truth among a myriad of different teachings. The matter is complicated by the many different church denominations existing today. The function of the Apostles' Creed in the United Methodist Church today can...
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