before leaving the places they were in pointed out the chief truths that
all should know and believe before receiving Baptism, that Christian
teachers who should come after them might neglect nothing--just as we
use catechisms containing the truths of religion, for fear the teachers
might forget to speak of some of them. There are "twelve articles" or
parts in the Apostles' Creed, and each part is meant to refute some
false doctrine taught before the time of the Apostles or while they
lived. Thus there were those--as the Romans--who said there were many
gods; others said not God, but the devil created the earth; others
taught that Our Lord was not the Son of God: and so on for the rest. All
these false doctrines are denied and the truth professed when we say the
Apostles' Creed.

Just as in the Lord's Prayer we do not see all its meaning at first, so
in the Apostles' Creed we find many beautiful things only after thinking
carefully over every word it contains.

"I believe," without the slightest doubt or suspicion that I might be
wrong.

"In God" by the grace that He gives me to believe and have full
confidence in Him.

"God," to show that there is only one.

"The Father," because He brought everything into existence and keeps it
so (see Explanation of the Lord's Prayer).

"Almighty," i.e., having all might or power; because He can do whatever
He wishes. He can make or destroy by merely wishing.