Old Roman Symbol

Earlier and shorter version of Apostles' Creed
The Old Roman Symbol (Latin: vetus symbolum romanum), or Old Roman Creed, is an earlier and shorter version of the Apostles’ Creed. It was based on the 2nd century Rule of Faith and the interrogatory declaration of faith for those receiving Baptism (3rd century or earlier),), which is part of the Great Commission. According to the Church historian John Norman Davidson Kelly, 2nd century church fathers Tertullian and Irenaeus cite it in their works.

According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, the first text attesting it is a letter to Pope Julius I in 340 or 341, and it has recently been argued that it developed in the context of the Arian controversy. About at the same time also Nicetas of Remesiana wrote an Explanatio Symboli (P. L. Lii. 865 874B) based on the Old Roman Symbol, but including also the communion of saints. Though the name "Apostles’ Creed" appears in a letter of Saint Ambrose (c. 390), what is now known as the Apostles’ Creed is first quoted in its present form in the early 8th century. It developed from the Old Roman Symbol, and seems to be of Hispano Gallic origin, being accepted in Rome some time after Charlemagne imposed it throughout his dominions.

The Latin (Rufinus) and the Greek (Marcellus) versions are faithful, literal, verbatim translations of each other. The only outstanding difference is the concluding clause in the Greek text, ζωὴν αἰώνιον ("life everlasting"), which has no equivalent in the Latin text. This clause is present in the Apostles’ Creed. The Latin version of Nicetas of Remesiana also follows quite closely the version of Rufinus (usually verbatim) but also includes the vitam eternam, as Marcellus, and the communionem sanctorum, omitted by the other two.