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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 (East and West) as established by Jesus Christ. They are commonly acknowledged by several Christian 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, sanctity, catholicism (or universality), and apostolicity.

History

The ideas behind the Four Marks have been in the Orthodox (East) and Catholic (West) Churches since the foundation, but were not established in doctrine until the First Council of Constantinople in 381. There the Council revised the Nicene Creed, established by the First Council of Nicea 56 years before. They added a section to the end including the following, translated in Schaff's Creeds of Christendom, " In one holy catholic and apostolic Church". The phrase has remained in most versions of the Nicene Creed to this day. One notable change of the creed is that of the Lutheran Service Book, 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."(John 10:16)

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) 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. (Matthew 16:19)

Catholic

The universality of Christ's Church establishes the Church as being open to all: all races, both sexes, all nationalities. Christ refuses no one from His Grace; 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." (Matthew 28:18–20) Christ sent His apostles to preach to the whole world - to all mankind.

The catholicity of the Church also refers to the fact that the Church is the same everywhere, in every time. In the past, present, and future. 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 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." (Ephesians 2:19–20)

References

1. Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (2006). Lutheran Service Book. Saint Louis, USA: Concordia Publishing House. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5.

See also

• Nicene Creed
• First Council of Constantinople

Further Reading

• Four Marks of the Church by Kenneth D. Whitehead
• The Four Marks of the Church by Fr. William Saunders

• Catholic theology and doctrine
• Ecclesiology