The Apostles Creed: The Quick and the Dead

I know that there are times when we need to update the language of our faith. However, so often, the updates don’t bring greater clarity or deeper understanding. This is why so many modern translations are so vanilla. The translators tend to soften as much as possible, thereby keeping the Bible from saying what needs to be said.

The same is true with the Apostles’ Creed and the earlier translations (yes, our Apostles’ Creed is translated from Latin into English.) And yes, one part of the newer version of the Apostles’ Creed bothers me. It is when they translate or modernize “the quick and the dead” into “the living and the dead.”

Now, I need to admit that I have been mistaken about the idea of the meaning of the word “quick.” I took it for the idea of made alive, or born again, which is found in the KJV’s translation of Ephesians 2:5.

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)… Ephesians 2:5.

My mistake was thinking that “quickened” in Ephesians was the same as in the Apostles’ Creed. But it’s not. Here is Strong’s on the word used in Ephesians:

συζωοποιέω syzōopoiéō, sood-zo-op-oy-eh’-o; from G4862 and G2227; to reanimate conjointly with (figuratively):—quicken together with.

This word is very unique to the Christian faith. It only belongs to those who are born again, made alive in Christ. The key is “in Christ.” The word is only used in other other place in the New Testament: Colossians 2:13.

¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Quick and The Dead is Focused on Judgment

The two times the Greek word for being made alive in Christ, are both in the context of who the believer is in Christ. Yet, this is not what is being spoken of in the Apostles’ Creed.

The Creed is speaking of judgment when it uses the phrase “the quick and the dead.” Here is the context:

He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

This is drawn from Acts 10:42.

⁴² And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

It seems like this would be a slam dunk for my earlier position. But the Greek word for “quick” in this instances is not the same Greek word that Paul is speaking of. It is actually the word for “alive” or “animated.” Here is Strong’s:

ζάω záō, dzah’-o; a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):—life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.

We have two different Greek words, and two different contexts. In Paul’s writing, he is speaking directly to Christians, those in Christ. In Acts, Peter is stating what is to come through the risen Savior. He is to judge both the living, all those who are animaled with life, and those who are already dead. His focus is on the final coming of Christ, when the seas will give up their dead, and the graves will give up their dead, and all those who are living at that time, will stand before the great throne room of Judgment.

I’m Keeping It

Does this mean, that I prefer the new version of the Apostles’ Creed? Absolutely not. The newer version is far too vanilla.

I like the poetic nature of the older version. Yes, it is archaic, but it does remind us that “quick” once gave us the idea of vitality… not just among the breathing… as “living” can do.

And all those who are among the quick, will be judged by the same One who judges the dead. The phrase then, is eschatological in nature, not soteriological in nature, as I assumed.

The Apostles’ Creed

We 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.