The reason for the teaching of the Creed
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, etc. … [Col. 2:8] Vice mimics virtue, and the tares strive to be thought wheat, growing like the wheat in appearance, but being detected by good judges from the taste. … Many wolves are going about in sheep’s clothing. … This is the cause of the Church’s admonitions, the cause of the present instructions, and of the lessons which are read. … For the method of godliness consists of these two things, pious doctrines, and virtuous practice: and neither are the doctrines acceptable to God apart from good works, nor does God accept the works which are not perfected with pious doctrines. For what profit is it, to know well the doctrines concerning God, and yet to be a vile fornicator? And again, what profit is it, to be nobly temperate, and an impious blasphemer? A most precious possession therefore is the knowledge of doctrines; also there is need of a wakeful soul, since there are many that make spoil through philosophy and vain deceit. The Greeks on the one hand draw men away by their smooth tongue, for honey droppeth from a harlot’s lips; whereas they of the Circumcision deceive those who come to them by means of the Divine Scriptures, which they miserably misinterpret though studying them from childhood to old age, and growing old in ignorance. But the children of heretics, by their good words and smooth tongue, deceive the hearts of the innocent, disguising with the name of Christ as it were honey the poisoned arrows of their impious doctrines. … This is the reason for the teaching of the Creed an for expositions upon it. – Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (ed. Paul A. Böer, Sr.; Veritas Splendor Publications, 2014), 216-217.
I found this quote in: Forum Letter, Volume 45, Number 5; May 2016
Cyril of Jerusalem – 313-386
The word “Creed” in the title probably refers to the Nicene Creed
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor