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Summary
- The filioque is a Latin word meaning “and from the Son,” which Western Christians added to the Nicene Creed’s line about the Holy Spirit.
- The creed of 381 says only that the Spirit “proceeds from the Father,” and the word first turned up in a profession of faith at Toledo in Spain in 589.
- Pope Leo III agreed with the teaching and still refused to add it to the creed, and Rome did not sing it at a papal Mass until 1014.
- Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians say “from the Father,” while Catholics and most Protestant confessions say “from the Father and the Son.”
- Greek and Latin use different verbs for “proceeds,” and the Vatican said in 1995 that the Latin word is the wider of the two.
- Many churches, among them the Nazarenes and Seventh-day Adventists, have never ruled on this exact question.
- Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew recited the creed together without the word at Iznik in November 2025.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- King James Version: John 15:26; 16:7; 16:14–15; 20:22; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:3.
- North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, The Filioque: A Church-Dividing Issue? An Agreed Statement (2003).
- Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, The Greek and Latin Traditions Regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit (1995).
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 246–248.
- Council of Florence, decree of union (1439).
- Pope Leo XIV, In Unitate Fidei (2025), and USCCB news report on Iznik (2025).
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dominus Iesus (2000).
- Pope Leo XIII, Praeclara Gratulationis Publicae (1894).
- Patriarchal Encyclical of 1895 and Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs of 1848.
- Catholic Encyclopedia, Filioque.
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, The Creed: the Symbol of Faith according to the Byzantine Rite tradition (text of 1981).
- Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States, Questions and Answers.
- Anglican–Oriental Orthodox International Commission, Agreed Statement 2017: The Procession and Work of the Holy Spirit, as printed in Koinonia 70, with Lambeth 1978 Resolution 35.3 in its notes.
- The Episcopal Church, General Convention Resolution 1994-A028.
- Thirty-nine Articles, Article V (Church of England); Methodist Articles of Religion, Article IV.
- St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Portland, The Filioque and 1800 Years of History in 800 Words (2024), on the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
- Book of Concord: Nicene Creed and Smalcald Articles, Part I.
- Westminster Confession of Faith, 2.3 (Orthodox Presbyterian Church text); Second London Baptist Confession, 2.3; Baptist Faith and Message (2000).
- Assemblies of God, Statement of Fundamental Truths; Evangelical Friends Mid-America, Faith and Practice; United Church of Christ, Nicene Creed.
- Church of the Nazarene, Manual 2023; The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine; Mennonite Confession of Faith (1963); Adventist Fundamental Belief 5; Cape Town Commitment.
- Who Are the Churches of Christ and What Do They Believe In?; Disciples of Christ Identity Statement.
- United Pentecostal Church International, Our Beliefs; Latter-day Saints, Gospel Topics: Godhead; Jehovah’s Witnesses, What Is the Holy Spirit?
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