||    The Orthodox Faith (Dogma)    ||    Family and Youth    ||    Sermons    ||    Bible Study    ||    Devotional    ||    Spirituals    ||    Fasts & Feasts    ||    Coptics    ||    Religious Education    ||    Monasticism    ||    Seasons    ||    Missiology    ||    Ethics    ||    Ecumenical Relations    ||    Church Music    ||    Pentecost    ||    Miscellaneous    ||    Saints    ||    Church History    ||    Pope Shenouda    ||    Patrology    ||    Canon Law    ||    Lent    ||    Pastoral Theology    ||    Father Matta    ||    Bibles    ||    Iconography    ||    Liturgics    ||    Orthodox Biblical topics     ||    Orthodox articles    ||    St Chrysostom    ||   

The Four Marks of the Church

Of all the epistles of Paul, none speaks more eloquently or extensively of the Church than Ephesians. This unique letter outlines the essential characteristics of the Church, which the ancient creeds summarized as "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic". The Church is one because she has one source, the Blessed Trinity, and is unified in her faith, worship, and leadership. The Church is holy because Christ has separated her from sin and consecrated her to the Father. The Church is catholic because she bears within herself the fullness of grace and she embraces all nations. The Church is apostolic because she was founded upon the apostles, she preserves their apostolic doctrine, and she perpetuates a direct line of apostolic succession that stretches back to those first appointed by Christ. Paul touches directly or indirectly upon each of these marks in Ephesians.

The Church is one

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism"

(Eph 4:5)

The Church is holy

"that she might be holy and
without blemish"

(Eph 5:27)

The Church is catholic

"you [Gentiles] are fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of God"

(Eph 2:19)

The Church is apostolic

"built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets"

(Eph 2:20)