NOTES for Ti1 3:16
When appeared in the Church the first symbol of faith? And what should be considered such? Of course, in our current understanding, the symbol of faith is, first of all, a confession and the testimony of the orthodoxy of the one who proclaims this symbol. But was it always so? The initial sense of the word "orthodoxy" is connected to the notion of right view or, more exactly, the right opinions ("orthodoxy", indeed, mean exactly "right opinion").
It turns out that by proclaiming, for example, the Nicene Creed, we thereby declare that our opinions on certain fundamental things for Christians are true, that they do not distinguish themselves from opinions shared by all Christians, or at least the majority. But what God has to do of our opinions? On the way to the Kingdom, are important not the opinions or the theories, but the acts, orthopraxy on this way is more important than orthodoxy.
The differences of opinions according to most of the theological problems from the point of view of the Kingdom are only wrinkles on the water, and only one difference is essential for the Kingdom: between sin and righteousness. And what thus: the symbol of faith is no more necessary? Probably, it is still necessary: otherwise Paul would not proclaim his symbol so categorically. But his symbol has a practical meaning for the spiritual life: it contains a brief testimony of what makes the basis of the spiritual life of every Christian.
And his main question, as the main question of any other symbol of faith, is reduced to that to know Who is Jesus of Nazareth for the one who confesses. It is the same question Jesus asked to Peter: what people say about Me? And who do you say I am? It is already not here the opinions on abstract theological questions, but the expression of a relationship to one concrete Person. Relationship, which either opens to the one who confesses the way to the Kingdom, or closes it.