See also: Church (disambiguation)

Christian Church and the word church are used to denote both a Christian association of people and a place of worship. A place of worship or house of worship is a building or other location where a group of people (a congregation) comes to perform acts of religious praise honour The word is church usually, but not exclusively, associated with Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings

The Christian Church is a religiously ambiguous and cultural-sociological term to refer to all religions based on the worship of Jesus of Nazareth as the son of God. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. It is not a single religious institution, neither a single faith. Today there is no single political entity recognized by the secular world as the unique Christian Church. ^[1]

The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches all claim to be the unique church established by Jesus in the Great Commission. The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to The Eastern Orthodox Church: the Eastern Christian churches of Byzantine The Great Commission, in Christian tradition is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings Protestants on the other hand would hold that the concept is justified by the notion that the Church is ultimately headed by Jesus Christ himself, who acts as the unifying figure for all who claim to follow him. Anglicans feel that they are but a branch of the Church. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Branch Theory is a theological concept within Anglicanism, holding that the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion The term means something quite different for each religious institution that sees itself as belonging to the Christian traditions.

The phrase The Church in its widest sense, as the Body of Christ has a similar breadth.

Etymology of church

The English language word "church" developed from Old English cirice, from West Germanic kirika, from Greek kyriake (oikia) "Lord's (house)", from kyrios "ruler, lord. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The West Germanic languages constitute the largest of the three traditional branches of the Germanic family of Languages and include languages such as English " ^[2] The Greek word kyriakon (an adjective meaning "of the Lord") was used of houses of Christian worship since c. 300, especially in the East, though it was less common in this sense than ekklesia or basilike. ^[3] An abbreviation of ekklesia kyriake used in the septuagint to mean congregation of the lord.

Terminology

Icon depicting the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea holding the Nicene Creed. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of

Through history there have been various terms that have been used to express the concept of a united Christian Church. This section discusses some of these.

The English word church derives from the Greek κυριακή (kyriake), "Lord's (house)". Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly ^[4][5] The term has expanded over time to the allow today's more general meanings.

The Greek/Latin word εκκλησια/ecclesia, literally "assembly" in Greek, is the traditional Roman Catholic/Orthodox term referring to the Christian Church. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Most Romance languages use derivations of this word. The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all This Latin word is sometimes used in English as well.

The phrase One, Holy, catholic and Apostolic Church appears in the Nicene Creed (μίαν, ἁγίαν, καθολικὴν καὶ ἀποστολικὴν Ἐκκλησίαν) and, in part, in the Apostles' Creed ("the holy catholic church", ἁγίαν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν). The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of ^[6][7] The phrase is intended to set forth the four marks, or identifying signs, of the Christian Church — unity, holiness, universality, and apostolicity — and is based on the premise that all true Christians form a single united group founded by the apostles. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e ^[8]

The terms orthodox Church and orthodox faith (not to be confused with the modern term "Eastern Orthodox" with a capital 'O') have been used to distinguish what is considered the true Church from groups considered heretical. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief The term became especially prominent in referring to the doctrine of the Nicene Creed and, in historical contexts, is often still used to distinguish this first "official" doctrine from others. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of ^[9]

The term body of Christ (cf. Body of Christ is a term of Christian Theology, implicitly traceable to Jesus 's statement at the Last Supper that "This is my body" 1 Cor 12:27), also known as the Bride of Christ, is used to refer to the total community of Christians seen as interdependent in a single entity headed by Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[10]

The phrase Church Militant and Church Triumphant (Ecclesia Militans, Ecclesia Triumphans) is used to express the concept of a united Church that extends beyond the earthly realm into Heaven. ^[11] The term Church Militant comprises all living Christians while Church Triumphant comprises those in Heaven. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond Within the Roman Catholic Church there is also the concept of Church Suffering, or Church Expectant, comprising those Christians in Purgatory.

The term Communion of Saints expresses the idea of a shared faith which, through prayer, binds all Christians regardless of the physical separation or separation by death. Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit In Roman Catholic theology this would be differentiated from the Church Militant and Church Triumphant alone because it also includes the Church Suffering. ^[12]

History

Main article: History of Christianity

The Sermon on the Mount, a painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch. In the Gospel of St Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of Jesus' sayings epitomizing his moral teaching. Carl Heinrich Bloch ( May 23, 1834 &ndash February 22, 1890) was a Danish painter The New Testament describes Jesus' regularly preaching to his disciples and large crowds. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry.

The Christian Church originated in Roman Judea in the first century AD, founded on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth believed by all Christians to be the Messiah, or deliverer king, of the Jewish people. Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Nazareth (ˈnæzərəθ (נָצְרַת Hebrew Natz'rat or Natzeret, الناصرة an-Nāṣira or an-Naseriyye) is the capital and largest This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The precise start of the Church is considered to be at Pentecost, but it is usually thought of as originating with Jesus' Apostles. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e According to scripture Jesus commanded the Apostles to spread his teachings to all the world. The Four Evangelists refers to the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following ancient titles Gospel according The Great Commission, in Christian tradition is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings

Although springing out of the first century Jewish faith, from its earliest days some sects of the Church accepted non-Jews without requiring them to adopt Jewish customs (e. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Pauline Christianity is a term used to refer to a branch of Early Christianity associated with the beliefs and doctrines espoused by Paul the Apostle through PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ g. circumcision), running counter to tradition. Male Circumcision, when practiced as a rite has its foundations in the Bible, in the Abrahamic covenant, such as, and is therefore practiced by Jews ^[13][14] Conflict with Jewish religious authorities quickly led to the expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues in Jerusalem,^[15] see also Council of Jamnia. A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of This article chronicles the history of Jerusalem. Antiquity (prehistory - 1000 BCE The earliest traces of human occupation in Jerusalem go back to the late Even before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai relocated to the city of Yavne / Jamnia and received permission

The Church gradually spread through the Roman Empire and outside it gaining major establishments in cities such as Jerusalem, Antioch, and Edessa. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial This article chronicles the history of Jerusalem. Antiquity (prehistory - 1000 BCE The earliest traces of human occupation in Jerusalem go back to the late Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also Edessa ( Greek:) is the historical name of a Syriac town in northern Mesopotamia, refounded on an ancient site by Seleucus I Nicator ^[16][17][18] Christianity became a widely persecuted religion, hated by the Jewish authorities as a heresy, and by the Roman authorities because, like Judaism, its monotheistic teachings were fundamentally foreign to the traditions of the ancient world, as well as a challenge to the imperial cult. See also Persecution of Christians Christianity began as a Jewish sect during the period of the Second Temple. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief In its first three centuries the Christian church endured periods of persecution at the hands of Roman authorities For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals An Imperial cult is a form of State religion in which an Emperor, or a Dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title are Worshiped as ^[19] Despite this the Church grew rapidly until finally legalized and then promoted by Emperors Galerius and Constantine in the fourth century. Galerius Maximianus ( ca. 260&ndashlate April or early May 311 formally Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311 Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine A major controversy as the Church was being formalized was the Arianism vs. This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. Trinitarianism debate which occupied the Church during the fourth century. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century ^[20][21][9]

After various Church councils (Nicaea, Tyre, Rimini, Seleucia, Constantinople, etc. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine Council of Seleucia|First Council of Constantinople (360 The Council of Rimini (also called the Council of Ariminum) was an early Christian church Synod Council of Rimini|First Council of Constantinople (360 The Council of Seleucia was an early Christian church Synod at Seleucia Isauria (now Silifke The Second Ecumenical Council the first held in Constantinople was called by Theodosius I in 381 which confirmed the Nicene Creed and dealt with other matters such ), the matter was effectively settled by the Trinitarian Emperor Theodosius I who made Christianity the state religion (some Germanic tribes, though, remained Arian well into the Middle Ages). Flavius Theodosius (January 11 347 – January 17 395 also called Theodosius I and Theodosius the Great ( Greek: Θεοδόσιος Α΄ A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or Creed officially The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic ^[22] This period would begin the long-term persecution of pagans and "heretical" Christians in the Empire and the kingdoms that followed. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world ^[23] See also Christendom. Christendom usually refers to Christianity as a territorial phenomenon

The Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, once the greatest cathedral in all of Christendom. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral

The Church of the Roman Empire was divided into Patriarchal Sees with five holding particular prominence, one in the West (Rome), and the rest in the East (Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria). The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS This article chronicles the history of Jerusalem. Antiquity (prehistory - 1000 BCE The earliest traces of human occupation in Jerusalem go back to the late Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια The bishops of these five would become the Patriarchs of the Church. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Pentarchy is a Greek -derived word meaning "rule by five" ^[24] Even after the split of the Roman Empire the Church remained a relatively united institution (excluding Oriental Orthodoxy and some other groups which separated from the rest of the Church earlier). The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the The Church came to be a central and defining institution of the Empire, especially in the East. In particular, Constantinople would come to be seen as the center of the Christian world, owing in great part to its economic and political power. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS ^[25][26]

Once the Western Empire fell to Germanic incursions in the 5th century, the (Roman) Church for centuries became the primary link to Roman civilization for Medieval Western Europe^[27] and an important channel of influence in the West for the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, emperors. The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire. The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic Endless such activities were also conducted in other cities under ancient Rome Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' While, in the West, Christianity struggled as the so-called orthodox (i. The word orthodox, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion" from orthos ("right true straight" + doxa ("opinion e. Roman) Church competed against the Arian Christian and pagan faiths of the Germanic rulers, the Eastern Romans spread Christianity to the pagan Slavs establishing the Church in what is now Russia, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. ^[28] The reign of Charlemagne in Western Europe is particularly noted for bringing the last major Western tribes outside of the Church into communion with Rome, in part through conquest and forced conversion. Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his

Starting in the 7th century the Islamic Caliphates rose and gradually began to conquer larger and larger areas of the Christian world. Christendom usually refers to Christianity as a territorial phenomenon ^[28] Excepting southern Spain and a few smaller areas, Northern and western Europe for centuries escaped largely unscathed by Islamic expansion in great part because Constantinople and its empire acted as a magnet for the onslaught. Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or ^[29] The challenge presented by the Muslims would help to solidify the religious identity of eastern Christians even as it gradually weakened the Eastern Empire. ^[30]

Even in the Muslim World, the Church survived (e. The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings g. the modern Copts, Maronites, and others) albeit at times with great difficulty. A Copt ( Coptic: ouRemenkīmi enEkhristianos, literally Egyptian Christian) is a native Egyptian Christian. Maronites ( الموارنة,, Syriac: ܡܪܘܢܝܐ, Latin: Ecclesia Maronitarum) are members of one of the Syriac ^[31][32]

Although there had long been frictions between the Bishop of Rome (i. The Bishop of Rome is the bishop of the Holy See, more often referred to in the Catholic tradition as the Pope. e. the Western Pope) and the other patriarchs, Rome's changing allegiance from Constantinople to the Frankish king Charlemagne set the Church on a course towards separation. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire (imperium Francorum Frankish Kingdom (Latin regnum Francorum, "Kingdom of the The political and theological divisions would grow until Rome excommunicated the East in the 11th century, ultimately leading to the division of the Church into the Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Eastern Orthodox) Churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world ^[28]

As a result of the redevelopment of Western Europe, and the gradual fall of the Eastern Roman Empire to the Arabs and Turks (helped by warfare against Eastern Christians). The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299 The decline and fall of the Byzantine empire was a process lasting many centuries The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The Turkish people (Türk Halkı also known as " Turks " ( Türkler) are defined mainly as being speakers of Turkish as a First language The Fourth Crusade (1202&ndash1204 was originally designed to conquer Muslim Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. With the final Fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD the period of the Western Renaissance began in the West, as the result of Eastern scholars bringing ancient manuscripts fleeing the Moslem hordes. The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine Empire's capital by the Ottoman Empire on Tuesday May 29, 1453 (Julian Calendar The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Rome came to be seen by the Western Church as Christianity's heartland. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 ^[33] Some Eastern churches even broke with Eastern Orthodoxy and entered into communion with Rome. The changes brought on by the Renaissance eventually led to the Protestant Reformation during which the Protestant Lutheran and the Reformed followers of Calvin, Hus, Zwingli, Melancthon, Knox, and others split from the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time At this time, a series of non-theological disputes also led to the English Reformation which led to the independence of the Anglican Communion. The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th century England by which the Church of England first broke away from the authority of the Pope See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Then during the Age of Exploration and the Age of Imperialism, Western Europe spread the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant and Reformed Churches around the world, especially in the Americas. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans explored Imperialism has two meanings one describing an action and the other describing an attitude The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America ^[34][35] These developments in turn have led to Christianity's being the largest religion in the world today. ^[36]

Origins

The Christian concept of a "Church" is used for the Greek (ecclesia, church, ekklesia), ref. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth [Strong's Concordance] 1577, Bauer's, Thayer's, and Moulton's and is introduced by Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. Of the 114 occurrences of the term in the New Testament, three are found in the Gospel of Matthew: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my ekklesia, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Mt 16:18); and "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the ekklesia; and if he refuses to listen even to the ekklesia, let him be to you as the Gentile and the tax-collector" (Mt 18:17).

The Greek term 'ekklesia', which literally means a "gathering" or "selection" or "called out assembly", was a governmental and political term used to denote a national assembly.

This concept in Christian terms has its direct antecedent in the Koine Greek translation of the Old Testament (see also Septuagint), where the noun ekklesia has been employed 96 times to denote the congregation of the Children of Israel, which Christians regard as a Type of the "Body of Christ", as they also call the Christian Church of Jesus Christ.

Each church may recognize some or all other Christian churches as legitimate. Mainstream denominations can be far apart ecumenically, but generally do not require members to be rebaptized when they switch from one denomination to another. They share common ground in that they believe and follow Jesus Christ as the savior, and seek to follow Jesus' teachings.

Related Concepts

Universal church

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in Rome, the largest church building in the world today. The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Sancti Petri officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City (Stato della Città del Vaticano is a Landlocked sovereign City-state whose territory Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 ^[37]

The term "catholic" is derived from the Greek adjective καθολικός pronounced katholikos, which means "general" or "universal". As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly ^[38]

Church is taken by some to refer to a single, universal community, although others contend that the doctrine of the universal church was established until later. The doctrine of the universal, visible church was made explicit in the Apostles' Creed, while the less common Protestant notion of the universal, invisible church was not stated explicitly until the Reformation. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time The universal church traditions generally accept that the Church includes all who are baptized into her common faith, including the doctrines of the trinity, forgiveness of sins through the sacrificial action of Christ, and the resurrection of the body. These teachings are expressed in liturgy with the celebration of sacraments, visible signs of grace. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions They are passed down as the deposit of faith.

Catholic and catholicism

This term appears in both the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed, statements of faith adhered to by almost all modern denominations. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of When the word "catholic" or "universal" is applied to the Church, it is generally intended to indicate that the institution is the uniquely legitimate Christian church intended for all of humanity.

In Christian theology the term is often used to imply a calling to spread the faith throughout the whole world and to all ages. Christian Theology is discourse concerning Christian faith Christian theologians use biblical Exegesis, rational analysis and argument It is also thought of as implying that the Church is endowed with all the means of salvation for its members. In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the earliest known writer to use the phrase "the Catholic church", excluded from it heterodox groups whose teaching and practice conflicted with those of the bishops of the Roman-Catholic church. Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (ca 35-110 was the third Bishop and Patriarch of Antioch and possibly a student of the Apostle John Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight In keeping with this idea, many churches and communions see groups that it judges to be in a state of heresy or schism with their church or communion as not part of the catholic Church. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief The word schism (ˈsɪzəm or /ˈskɪzəm/ from the Greek σχίσμα skhísma (from σχίζω skhízō, "to tear to split" E. g. the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches follow this doctrine. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

Others have, since the Protestant Reformation, used the word "catholic" to designate instead adherence to the doctrines and essential practices of the historical institutional Churches, in contrast to those propounded by the Reformers. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time In this sense indicated in this paragraph, "Catholic" tends to be written with an upper-case "C". The Roman-Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches all see themselves as fully "catholic" in all the foregoing senses. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the

Some Anglicans see their communion as a component part of the Catholic Church, albeit not subject to the Holy See of Rome, and maintain beliefs and practices akin to those of the Roman-Catholic church. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic They are however not recognised by Roman-Catholic or Orthodox tradition as being part of them.

Most other Protestant denominations interpret "catholic", especially in its creedal context, as referring to the concept of the eternal church of Christ and the Elect, referenced in the Bible in phrases such as "body of Christ"^[39] and "great cloud of witnesses. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Body of Christ is a term of Christian Theology, implicitly traceable to Jesus 's statement at the Last Supper that "This is my body" "^[40] Expressed in the language of traditional Roman Catholicism this Protestant interpretation of the words "one holy, catholic, and apostolic church" identifies the "one holy, catholic, and apostolic church" exclusively with the Church Triumphant - i. The Christian Church, or Church Universal, is traditionally divided into the Church Militant ( Ecclesia Militans) comprising Christians e. the church that exists "in heaven" or in eternity as opposed to the Church Militant which is the communion of the faithful here on Earth. The Christian Church, or Church Universal, is traditionally divided into the Church Militant ( Ecclesia Militans) comprising Christians They view this understanding of "catholic" as necessarily distinct from any concrete expression in an institutional Church. In this last sense, "catholic" tends to be written with a lower-case "c".

Orthodoxy

St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt. History of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Apostolic foundation Egypt is identified in the Bible as the place of refuge that the Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια

The term orthodox is generally used to distinguish the faith or beliefs of the "true Church" from other doctrines which disagree, traditionally referred to as heresy. The word orthodox, from Greek orthodoxos "having the right opinion" from orthos ("right true straight" + doxa ("opinion Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief

This distinction can be seen as originating with the biblical proscriptions against false prophets. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin In Religion, the term false prophet is a label given to a person who is viewed as illegitimately claiming Charismatic authority within a Religious group "Orthodoxy" means both "true glory" and "correct teaching" this theological term is explicitly used by Orthodox Christians to refer to themselves as a shorthand for "the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, Orthodox and Orthoprax, Church of Jesus Christ and His saints. " In the same manner, the Roman-Catholic church describes itself as orthodox, meaning having possession of the whole faith. Of course, other Christian denominations, who disbelieve the claims of the Orthodox Churches refer to her thus as the "Eastern Orthodox" churches.

This concept of "orthodoxy" began to take on particular significance during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, the first to actively promote Christianity. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Constantine convened the first Ecumenical Council, the Council of Nicea, which attempted to provide the first universal creed of the Christian faith. This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine

The major issue of this and other councils during the fourth century was the christological debate between arianism and trinitarianism. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century Christology (from Christ and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is a field of study within Christian theology which is concerned with Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных Trinitarianism is the official doctrine of the Catholic church and is strongly associated with the term "orthodoxy", although some modern non-trinitarian churches dispute this usage. Churches that subscribe to the Nicene Creed, the first official trinitarian creed, are sometimes referred to as "orthodox". The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service

Apostolic succession

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting Jesus with his twelve Apostles. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e

The doctrine of "apostolic succession" asserts that the bishops of the true Church enjoy the favor, or grace, of God as a result of legitimate and unbroken sacramental succession from Jesus' apostles. In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e ^[41] Modern bishops, therefore, must be viewed as an unbroken line of leadership from the original apostles. Note that this doctrine is distinct from that of Papal supremacy, which grants the Roman-Catholic bishop of Rome special powers in the Roman-Catholic church. Referring to the doctrine of papal supremacy the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes in paragraph 882 “the Roman Pontiff by reason of his office as Vicar The Bishop of Rome is the bishop of the Holy See, more often referred to in the Catholic tradition as the Pope.

The Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox churches, the Anglican Church Communion and others interpret the adjective "apostolic" as referring not only to the Church's origin from Christ's Apostles and their teachings, but also to the Church's structure around bishops who have succeeded the apostles by unbroken succession transmitted by episcopal consecration (laying on of hands), which is traceable to the Apostles themselves. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious

Spiritual authority

It is a widely held belief among Christians that the Christian church is guided by the Holy Spirit and given spiritual authority by Christ.

According to Christian tradition the "authority" of Jesus Christ to preach, to teach, and to do all the things that He had done while on Earth came from God. Before Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven He had given His apostles and disciples the authority to preach (that may include teaching, exhorting, rebuking, correcting) and to baptize. This "authority" was passed on by the apostles to the disciples, and was to be passed from one generation of disciples to the next until His second coming. In Christianity, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to earth an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic The passing on of this authority had been conducted solely by the church. This passing on of authority was sometimes called the anointing or appointing of pastors or leaders of a church. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races

(Membership in the Christian church has traditionally been defined by baptism. The church administers Christianity's sacred acts: baptism, the Lord's supper, worship, etc. )

The visible and the invisible church

Many believe that the Church, as described in the Bible, has a twofold character that can be described as the visible and invisible church. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin

The Church invisible consists of all those from every time and place who are vitally united to Christ through regeneration and salvation and who will be eternally united to Jesus Christ in eternal life. In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an Infinite length of Time. The Church visible consists of all those who visibly join themselves to a profession of faith and gathering together to know and serve the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.

The visible church exists globally in all who identify themselves as Christians and locally in particular places where believers gather for the worship of God. In Christianity, worship has been considered by most Christians to be the central act of Christian identity throughout history as the personal act of The visible church may also refer to an association of particular churches from multiple locations who unite themselves under a common charter and set of governmental principles. The church in the visible sense is often governed by office-bearers carrying titles such as minister, pastor, teacher, elder, and deacon. In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs A pastor is an official person within a Protestant group of people and related to the positions of Priest or Bishop within the Anglican, Roman Catholic An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions

Some say that no reference to the church is ever made in the Bible that is not referring to a local visible body, such as the church in someone's house or the church as Ephesis. They believe that the term is sometimes used in an institutional sense in which the term refers to all of a certain type, meaning all of the local visible churches.

Church government

Major forms of church government include hierarchical (Anglican, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic), presbyterian (rule by elders), and independent (Baptist, charismatic, other forms of independency). Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The term charismatic movement describes the adoption from the early twentieth century onwards of certain beliefs typical of those held by Pentecostal Christians — specifically Before the Protestant Reformation clergy were understood to gain their authority through apostolic succession, as still affirmed by the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches.

Metaphors

Christian scriptures use a wide range of metaphors to describe the Church. These include:

• Family of God the Father (Ephesians 3:14-15,2 Corinthians 6:18)
• Brothers and sisters with each other in God's family (Matthew 12:49-50)
• Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:31-32)
• Branches on a vine (John 15:5)
• Olive tree (Romans 11:17-24)
• Field of crops (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
• Building (1 Corinthians 3:9)
• Harvest (Matthew 13:1-30,John 4:35)
• New temple and new priesthood with a new cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-8)
• God's house (Hebrews 3:3-6)
• Pillar and foundation the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
• Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
• Temple of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Divisions and controversies

Today the churches that consider themselves to be Christian are numerous with a variety of different doctrines and traditions. There are many controversies between the denominations which persist today. Denominationalism|List of Christian denominations|Church (disambiguation A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name structure and doctrine within

Existence of the notion of single Christian church

A simplified chart of historical branches within the christian belief systems. The different width of the lines is without objective significance. Protestantism in general, and not just Restorationism, claims a direct connection with Early Christianity.

One significant controversy is simply the definition of the notion Christian church or Catholic church. To some degree this controversy is related to the Nicene Creed, to which virtually all modern denominations subscribe albeit in somewhat different forms, which specifically references a catholic, or universal, church. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of 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

Both the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church have each traditionally regarded itself as the one true and unique church of Christ, hence the names. The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to The Eastern Orthodox Church: the Eastern Christian churches of Byzantine Note that the formulation of this principle by the Roman Catholic Church in the document Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council was purpously made ambiguous. Subsistit in (subsists in is a Latin phrase which appears in the eighth paragraph of Lumen Gentium, a landmark document of the Second The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ^[42] This ambiguity proved so contentious that in 2007 the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a clarification document. [36]

Many other Christian groups take the view that all denominations are part of a symbolic and global Christian church which is a body bound by a common faith if not a common administration or tradition.

Note that in classical times the term Catholic Church came to be most widely used in reference to the official Roman Imperial church from which the Catholic church, and all of its split offs descend directly or indirectly. Classical antiquity (also the classical era or classical period) is a broad term for a long period of cultural History centered on the Mediterranean The term, however, dates back to the Apostles' Creed which predates the official sanction of the Church by the Empire.

Like the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and some others have always referred to themselves as the Catholic church. ^[43] Oriental Orthodoxy shares this view, seeing the Churches of the Oriental Orthodox communion as constituting the one true Church. Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the In the West the term Catholic has come to be most commonly associated with the Roman Catholic Church because of its size and influence in the West (although in formal contexts most other churches still reject this naming). The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings

These Churches believe that the term one in the Nicene Creed describes and prescribes a visible institutional unity, not only geographically, throughout the world, but also historically, throughout history. List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of They see unity as one of the four marks that the Creed attributes to the genuine Church, and the essence of a mark is that it be visible. A Church whose identity and belief varied from country to country and from age to age would not be "one".

In the New Testament, the word "Church" or "assembly" - ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) in the original language - normally refers to believers on earth, and they conclude that the Creed's description "one" must be applicable to the Church on earth and must not be reserved for some eschatological reality. Eschatology (from the Greek, Eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of" is a part of Theology The only exception to the normal New Testament use of the word "ἐκκλησία" is the mention of the "ἐκκλησία of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" in Hebrews 12:23; and even there the Christians to whom the letter is addressed are associated with that heavenly Church ("you have come to. . . "). In line with this passage, the ancient Churches mentioned see the saints too - that is, the holy dead - as part of the one Church and not as ex-members, so that Christians both in the present life and the afterlife form a single Church. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity

Many Anglicans, Lutherans, Old Catholics, and Independent Catholics view unity as a mark of catholicity, but see the institutional unity of the Catholic Church as manifested in the shared Apostolic Succession of their episcopacies, rather than a shared episcopal hierarchy or rites. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in Independent Catholic Churches are Christian denominations (or congregations) which claim apostolic succession

Reformed Christians hold that every person justified by faith in the Gospel committed to the Apostles is a member of "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church". From this perspective, the real unity and holiness of the whole church established through the Apostles is yet to be revealed; and meanwhile, the extent and peace of the church on earth is imperfectly realized in a visible way.

First church

The right to be considered the first or oldest Christian Church is claimed by the Roman Catholic Church, but also by the Orthodox Churches and Anglican Church. Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Christianity, of course, began with the birth of Jesus Christ in Roman Judea and gradually spread westward into Asia Minor, Egypt, Illyria, Rome and eventually the entire Empire. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Kingdom of Judea redirects here For the 10th-6th century BCE kingdom see Kingdom of Judah Iudaea ( Hebrew: יהודה Standard The Roman province of Asia, also called Phrygia was an administrative unit added to the late Republic. Ægyptus redirects here See Egypt Province for the province of the Ottoman Empire The Roman province of Illyricum replaced the formerly independent kingdom of Illyria. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial

The Roman Catholic Church is linked to an unbroken succession of Bishops of Rome, who trace their authority to Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome.

The Orthodox Churches have argued that the Scripture in no way designated Saint Peter as having unique authority over the Church and that all the patriarchs of the Roman Empire, including the bishop of Rome, as well as the local Churches in Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus and many other places, even outside the Roman Empire, trace their roots to the Twelve Apostles. A patriarchate is the Office or jurisdiction of a Patriarch. A patriarch as the term is used here is either one of the highest-ranking The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Corinth, or Korinth ( Greek Κόρινθος ( is a city in Greece. Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia Ephesus ( Hittite Apasa; Ancient Greek; Turkish Efes) was a city of ancient Anatolia. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e

Other debates

Other debates include the following:

• There are many opinions as to the ultimate fate of the souls of individuals who are not part of a particular institutional church, i. e. members of a particular church may or may not believe that the souls of those outside their church organisation can or will be saved.

• There have always been differing opinions as to the divinity of God, the Son and or his unity with God, the Father. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Although historically the most significant debate in this arena was the arianism and trinitarianism debate in the Roman Empire, debates in this realm have occurred throughout Christian history. Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. SSC RF "Troitsk Institute of Innovative and Termonuclear Research" or TRINITY for shprt Троицкий Институт инновационных и термоядерных

• It has been debated whether or not the Christian Church is in fact a unified heavenly institution with the earthly institutions relegated to secondary status. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond

Criticisms

Throughout its history the Christian church, both as a single abstract entity and as concrete institutional groups has been criticized both by outsiders and by its own members. For other uses see Abstract In Philosophy it is commonly considered that every object is either abstract or concrete (On criticisms of Christianity in general, see Criticism of Christianity. Throughout the History of Christianity, a wide range of Christians and non-Christians alike have offered criticisms of Christianity, the Church, and Christians )

One criticism is that the Church does not accept others and so does not follow the example of Jesus in accepting children, women, gentiles, and adulterers, whom the religious establishment and society of the time rejected. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[44] These critics often pass over in silence his recommendations to "sin no more". ^[45]

From early times some have seen the Church as intolerant of outsiders and prone to fierce internal disputes.

See also

• Jesus Christ
• Christendom
• Christianity
• History of Christianity
• List of Christian denominations
• Church militant and church triumphant
• Christian ecumenism
• Germanic Christianity
• Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral
• Body of Christ
• Bride of Christ
• Ecclesia (Church)
• Ecclesiology
• One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
• Churching of women
• High Church, such as Anglicanism
• Low Church, such as Evangelicalism
• Church architecture
• Stone-Campbell Movement
  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Instrumental)
  • Churches of Christ, (A Cappella)
  • Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (Independent)

Notes

References

• University of Virginia: Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Christianity in History, retrieved May 10, 2007[37]
• University of Virginia: Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Church as an Institution, retrieved May 10, 2007[38]
• Christianity and the Roman Empire, Ancient History Romans, BBC Home, retrieved May 10, 2007[39]
• Orthodox Church, MSN Encarta, retrieved May 10, 2007[40]
• Catechism of the Catholic Church[41]
• Robert G. Dr Rubel Shelly is a well-known and controversial leader in the Churches of Christ. Stephanopoulos. The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. [42]
• Mark Gstohl, Theological Perspectives of the Reformation, The Magisterial Reformation, retrived May 10, 2007[43]
• J. Faber, The Catholicity of the Belgic Confession, Spindle Works, The Canadian Reformed Magazine 18 (Sept. 20-27, Oct. 4-11, 18, Nov. 1, 8, 1969) - [44]
• Boise State University: History of the Crusades: The Fourth Crusade[45]
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: ARTICLE 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH": 830-831[46]: Provides Roman Catholic interpretations of the term catholic
• Kenneth D. Whitehead, Four Marks of the Church, EWTN Global Catholic Network[47]
• Unity (as a Mark of the Church), New Advent[48]
• Apostolic Succession, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05. [49]
• Gerd Ludemann, Heretics: The Other Side of Early Christianity, Westminster John Knox Press, 1st American ed edition (August 1996), ISBN-10: 0664220851, ISBN-13: 978-0664220853
• From Jesus to Christ: Maps, Archaeology, and Sources: Chronology, PBS, retrieved May 19, 2007[50]
• Anderson, Robert A. , Church of God? or the Temples of Satan: A reference book of Spiritual understanding and Gnosis, TGS Publishers, Texas, 2006. ISBN 0-9786249-6-3.
• Bannerman, James, The Church of Christ: A treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline and government of the Christian Church', Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, Reprint Edition May 1991, First Edition 1869.
• Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, 1994.
• Kuiper, R. B. , The Glorious Body of Christ, The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1967
• Mannion, Gerard and Mudge, Lewis (eds. ), The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church, 2007