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)
A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Prefatory Material · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
A Treatise on Faith and the Creed · Augustine of Hippo
A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius · Augustine of Hippo
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Expositions on the Book of Psalms · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo
Seventeen Occasional Sermons · Jonathan Edwards
Against Heresies: Book V · Irenaeus of Lyons