In this paper, I will examine some early sources that hint at the Nicene Creed. Two such sources include amulets from the fifth and sixth centuries. First is P. Haun. III 51. SM 1.23:63-66 (5th cent.) “Christ was begotten, Amen; Christ was crucified, Amen; Christ was buried, Amen; Christ arose, Amen. He was awakened to judge [the] living and [the] dead. You too, fever with shivering, flee from Kalē, who wears this phylactery” Second is P. Batav.20. SM 1.35 (6th cent.) “Christ was proclaimed in advance. Christ appeared. Christ suffered. Christ died. Christ was raised. Christ was taken up. Christ reigns. Christ saves Vibius, whom Gennaia bore, from all fever and from all shivering, daily, quotidian, now now, quickly quickly.” It appears that the Nicene Creed was used to ward off evil. Ambrose in his sermons to catechumens exhorted the memorization of the creed for the same purpose. Similar exhortations regarding the creed are also found in the writings of Eusebius, Jerome, and Augustine.
The study will include other intimations of the Nicene Creed in line with the theme of the 2025 ETS meeting: Creedal Christianity: Celebrating Nicaea: 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.