Marks of the Church
One, holy, catholic, apostolic — the Church the Creed confesses
The Marks of the Church are the four attributes confessed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. All Christian traditions affirm these marks as belonging to the Church. What they dispute is which body fully embodies them — Catholic, Orthodox, and various others each understand the marks in relation to themselves — so the marks unite Christians in confession even as they figure in debates over the Church's identity.
How it traveled
- The Epistles of Cyprian.Carthage · 258explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339applies
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- A Commentary on the Apostles' CreedAquileia · 411explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the DonatistHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Baptism, Against the DonatistsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604applies
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604applies
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Prefatory MaterialGeneva · 1564applies
- Inquiry Concerning Qualification for CommunionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View · Georges Florovsky
A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia
39. We come next in the order of belief to the Holy Church. We have mentioned above why the Creed does not say here, as in the preceding article, “In the Holy Church.” They, therefore, who were taught
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
OF THE TRUE CHURCH. DUTY OF CULTIVATING UNITY WITH HER, AS THE MOTHER OF ALL THE GODLY. The three divisions of this chapter are,—I. The article of the Creed concerning the Holy Catholic Church and th
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
8. Accordingly, inasmuch as it was of importance to us to recognise it, the Lord has distinguished it by certain marks, and as it were symbols. It is, indeed, the special prerogative of God to know th
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
11. Wherefore let these marks be carefully impressed upon our minds, and let us estimate them as in the sight of the Lord. There is nothing on which Satan is more intent than to destroy and efface one
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
24. And it is rightly named (Ecclesia) because it calls forthAnd make an assembly for all the congregation at the door of the tabernacle of witnessassemble, is used for the first time in the Scripture
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 4.—Proofs of the Catholic Faith. 5. For in the Catholic Church, not to speak of the purest wisdom, to the knowledge of which a few spiritual men attain in this life, so as to know it, in the
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
In the former Books an exposition has been given of the three parts of the Apostles’ Creed concerning God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier. It now remains to treat, in this last Book, of
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
25. With how much greater force, moreover, may we say to you what we are accustomed to say to all the Donatists: If any can have good grounds (which indeed none can have) for separating themselves fro
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Prefatory Material · John Calvin
The hinges on which the controversy turns are these: first, in their contending that the form of the Church is always visible and apparent; and, secondly, in their placing this form in the see of the
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FALSE CHURCH AND THE TRUE. The divisions of the chapter are,—I. Description of a spurious Church, resembling the Papacy vaunting of personal succession, of which a refutation i
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
3. In the present day, therefore, the presence of the Romanists is just the same as that which appears to have been formerly used by the Jews, when the Prophets of the Lord charged them with blindness
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A Treatise on Faith and the Creed · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 10.—Of the Catholic Church, the Remission of Sins, and the Resurrection of the Flesh. —Inasmuch, I repeat, as this is the case, we believe also in The Holy Church, [intending thereby] assured
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A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 27 [XII.]—The Eighth Item in the Accusation. Pelagius was charged with having said: “That the Church here is without spot or wrinkle.” It was on this point that the Donatists also were consta
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
17. Since they also argue that there is good reason for the Church being called holy, it is necessary to consider what the holiness is in which it excels, lest by refusing to acknowledge any church, s
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
5. As to their charge of heresy and schism, because we preach a different doctrine, and submit not to their laws, and meet apart from them for Prayer, Baptism, the administration of the Supper, and ot
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Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
Psalm CXLIX. Lat. CXLIX. Sermon to the people. 1. Let us praise the Lord both in voice, and in understanding, and in good works; and, as this Psalm exhorteth, let us sing unto Him a new song. It beg
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Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Letter CCVIII. (a.d. 423.) To the Lady Felicia, His Daughter in the Faith, and Worthy of Honour Among the Members of Christ, Augustin Sends Greeting in the Lord. 1. I do not doubt, when I consider
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Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo
Sermon LXXXVIII. [CXXXVIII. Ben.] On the words of the Gospel, John x. 14, “I am the good shepherd,” etc. Against the Donatists. 1. We have heard the Lord Jesus setting forth to us the office of a g
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Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
Be ready to distribute, willing to communicate, and do good; consider it as part of your office thus to do, to which you are called and anointed, and as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God; pity others i
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Marks of the Church. These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- Georges FlorovskyBible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View(1972)View on Amazon→