THE APOSTLES' CREED FOR EVERYMAN

After a historical sketch, tracing the development of the so-called ""Apostles' Creed"" from the second century Roman baptismal formula to its full form in the eighth century, the author, widely known for his popular exposition of religious subjects, takes up the creed phrase by phrase. His method is largely that of expanding the phrases by the use of biblical texts and more or less traditional religious ideas. The contemporary reader may feel that the argument often seems dated, as, for example, in the resort to traditional arguments for the existence of God. Today, not only these arguments, but this way of approaching religious truth is becoming highly suspect. The whole exposition would seem to require a certain attitude of belief on the part of the reader as the ground for appropriating what the author is saying. The book, therefore, may serve to re-enforce and clarify the belief of those who already accept the creed. It will not be likely to help those for whom such ways of thinking seem to be obsolete today.