Rule of Faith

Definition and Meaning

The rule of faith (Latin regula fidei) is a summary of the content of the faith that the early church regarded as having been handed down from the apostles. The word "rule" derives from the Greek kanōn, a measuring rod used to determine whether something is straight and true. The term thus conveys the idea of a standard for judging whether teaching is sound. Its content is generally structured as a confession, in sequence, of the one God who is Creator, of Jesus Christ who became incarnate, suffered, and rose again, and of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical and Historical Background

The New Testament already contains exhortations to hold fast to core confessions that had been received. Paul says that he delivered to the Corinthians "that which I also received," namely, that Christ died, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He wrote to Timothy, "Hold fast the form of sound words" (2 Timothy 1:13). The word "rule" in Galatians 6:16 is likewise kanōn in Greek.

In the late second century, Irenaeus used the expression "rule of truth" in Against Heresies to oppose Gnosticism. Tertullian used the term "rule of faith." The rule in this period was not a document with fixed wording. It was a framework of content transmitted through baptismal instruction and preaching, and its wording varied somewhat from one church father to another. This framework later became the foundation for creeds such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. It is also said to have served as one of the criteria for determining which books were to be received into the canon.

After the Reformation, Protestantism took Scripture alone as the final norm (Five Solas). Creeds and confessions of faith were regarded as secondary norms, to be judged in the light of Scripture. Lutheran theology distinguishes these as the "norming norm" (norma normans, Scripture) and the "normed norm" (norma normata, the confessions). The Westminster Confession of Faith defines Scripture as "the rule of faith and life."

Other traditions understand the matter differently. The Catholic Church regards Scripture and Sacred Tradition (the tradition handed on by the church) together as sources of revelation and teaches that the church's teaching authority (the Magisterium) interprets them. The Orthodox Church reads Scripture within Holy Tradition.

Practice in the Korean Church

The term "rule of faith" is used mainly in lectures on patristics and the history of doctrine and in theological literature. In local churches, the expression "the only rule of faith and life" is more familiar. The understanding of the various denominations is as follows:

• Presbyterian: The Twelve Articles of Faith, adopted by the Independent Presbytery in 1907, confess in Article 1 that Scripture is "the only infallible rule of faith and duty." Many Presbyterian denominations also include the Westminster Standards in their church constitutions.
• Methodist: The Korean Methodist Church has a Doctrinal Statement. It follows the Wesleyan tradition, which places Scripture at the center while also giving consideration to tradition, reason, and experience.
• Baptist: Baptists are wary of any document outside Scripture binding the conscience of believers. Even where they have confessions of faith, these are regarded as explanatory statements subordinate to Scripture.
• Anglican: The Anglican Church of Korea accepts the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, together with Scripture, as standards of faith.

Most Korean churches recite the Apostles' Creed together in Sunday worship, a practice regarded as a leading example of how the rule of faith of the early church is carried on today. Some churches, however, do not recite a creed during worship.