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The Four Marks of the Church, sometimes referred to as the Marks of the Church or the Marks of the True Church, are a group of four characteristics describing the Universal or Catholic Church as established by Jesus Christ. They were constantly reiterated by the Church Fathers
Church Fathers

The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theology and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history....
, and they are also acknowledged by several Protestant denominations, as they are included in the creeds. The marks are often listed as follows: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.






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The Four Marks of the Church, sometimes referred to as the Marks of the Church or the Marks of the True Church, are a group of four characteristics describing the Universal or Catholic Church as established by Jesus Christ. They were constantly reiterated by the Church Fathers
Church Fathers

The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theology and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history....
, and they are also acknowledged by several Protestant denominations, as they are included in the creeds. The marks are often listed as follows: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. They refer to four aspects that are intrinsic to the true Church: unity
Oneness

Oneness may refer to:* Divine oneness, the belief that God is without parts* Oneness Pentecostalism , a particular belief about the Godhead held largely by Oneness Pentecostalism...
, sanctity, catholicity (or universality), and apostolicity.

History

The ideas behind the Four Marks had been in the Church since early times, and allusions to them can be found in the writings of the early Church Father and bishop, St. Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius of Antioch was among the Apostolic Fathers, was the third Bishop and Patriarch of Antioch, and was possibly a student of John the Apostle....
, but were not established in doctrine until the First Council of Constantinople
First Council of Constantinople

The First Council of Constantinople is believed to be the Second Ecumenical Council by the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, the Old Catholics, and a number of other Western Christian groups....
 in 381
381

Events...
. There the Council elaborated on the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christianity liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Iznik by the first ecumenical council, which met there in 325....
, established by the First Council of Nicea 56 years before. They added a section to the end including the following, translated in Schaff's , "[We believe] In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church". The phrase has remained in most versions of the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christianity liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Iznik by the first ecumenical council, which met there in 325....
 to this day, with the exception of its use by Protestant groups, which tend to remove the word "Catholic" and insert "Christian" or "Universal" in its place. One notable change of the creed is that of the Lutheran Service Book
Lutheran Service Book

Lutheran Service Book is the newest official hymnal of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church - Canada . It was prepared by the LCMS Commission on Worship and published by Concordia Publishing House, the official publisher of the LCMS....
, published in 2006, which changes the phrase to "one holy Christian and apostolic Church".

The Marks of the Church


One

The unity of Christ's Church refers to the need for the Church to be undivided. There are to be no divisions among the members of the Church. For the Church to be one with Christ it must first maintain unity with itself. This aspect stems from Christ's remarks to the same point:"I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

Holy

The sanctity of Christ's Church is derived from the fact that it is Christ's Church. "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church," Matthew 16:18 (NAB
New American Bible

In 1970, the New American Bible was first published. It is an English language Bible translations that was produced by members of the Catholic Church biblical scholars in cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops....
) Since the Church was established by Christ, it is said to be holy. This does not mean that the members of the Church are free from sin, neither than that the institution of the Church cannot sin. However Christ loves, supports and guides the Church. The word "holy" connotes the idea that it is set apart for a special purpose by and for God. In the case of the Church, its purpose is to be the worldly vehicle through which spiritual grace is delivered -- the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Catholic

The universality of Christ's Church establishes the Church as being open to all: all classes, both sexes, all nationalities. The Church maintains that Christ refuses no one from Grace
Divine grace

In theology, grace may be described as 'enabling power sufficient for progression'. In Christianity, grace divine is an "unmerited favour" of God, indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion, and without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults mankind cannot...
; therefore, the Church cannot refuse anyone as long as they accept Christ's teachings and Church. "Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

The catholicity of the Church also refers to the fact that the Church is the same everywhere, in every time. In every land, with every people, the Church maintains the same rituals and beliefs.

Apostolic

The Church is apostolic, handed down from Christ through the Apostles to the bishops, to mankind. The Church must have come directly from Christ and can be traced back through history to show that those who lead the Church were commissioned to do so by the Apostles, who were in turn commissioned by Christ. "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone."

See also

  • Nicene Creed
    Nicene Creed

    The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christianity liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Iznik by the first ecumenical council, which met there in 325....
  • First Council of Constantinople
    First Council of Constantinople

    The First Council of Constantinople is believed to be the Second Ecumenical Council by the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, the Old Catholics, and a number of other Western Christian groups....


Further reading

  • by Kenneth D. Whitehead
  • by Fr. William Saunders