Calvin and the Athanasian Creed

[Hanseng]

He [Calvin] professed with all his heart the doctrine enunciated in the early creeds,
the Nicene and the so-called Athanasian, which set forth, perhaps with
superfluity of words, but nevertheless with much force, a faith which is
dear to Christian men. But he felt that these writings were wanting in
evangelical simplicity. The phrases ‘God of God, Light of Light’ (Qeo<v ejk
Qeou~) used in the Nicene creed, appeared to him less apostolic than
Oriental in their character. It shocked him that the Quicunque, better
known under the name of the Athanasian creed, just at the time when it is
going to make subtle distinctions, such as the faith of a simple Christian
man cannot comprehend, should begin by asserting — .’Whosoever will be
saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith (that
of the creed). Which faith, except everyone do keep whole and undefiled,
without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.’ *Caroli’s ignorance as to this
profession of faith was so great that he believed it was drawn up at Nicaea
in A.D. 325, and by Athanasius. This was startling to Calvin. The creed
appears, in fact, to have been formed gradually in the African church, some
of its formula being met with towards the close of the seventh century; but
it did not exist as a whole until the age of Charlemagne, nearly five
centuries after the council of Nicaea.

*Caroli was a doctor of the Sorbonne. He had accused Calvin of Arianism.

D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation in the Time of Calvin, vol. 6, 262, 263

book 11 chapter 5