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The Four Marks of the Church is a term describing four specific adjectives — ''one'', ''holy'', ''catholic'' and ''apostolic'' — indicating four major distinctive marks or distinguishing characteristics of the Christian Church. The belief that the Church is characterized by these four particular "marks" was first expressed by the First Council of Constantinople in the year 381 in its revision of the Nicene Creed, in which it included the statement: "''(believe ) in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.''" In Protestant theology these are sometimes called the attributes of the Church.〔Louis Berkhof, ''Systematic Theology'' (London: Banner of Truth, 1949), 572.〕 They are still professed today in the Nicene Creed, recited in the liturgy of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and many Protestant churches' worship services. While specific ''doctrines'', based on both tradition and different interpretations of the Bible, distinguish one Church or denomination from another, largely explaining why there are so many different ones, the Four Marks, when defined the same way, represent a summary of what historically have been considered the most important affirmations of the Christian faith. == History == The ideas behind the Four Marks have been in the Church since early Christianity. Allusions to them can be found in the writings of 2nd century early Church Father and bishop, Ignatius of Antioch. They were not established in doctrine until the First Council of Constantinople in 381 as an antidote to certain heresies that had crept into the Church in its early history. There the Council elaborated on the Nicene Creed, established by the First Council of Nicea 56 years before by adding to the end a section that included the affirmation: "(believe ) in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."〔(Creeds of Christendom )〕 The phrase has remained in versions of the Nicene Creed to this day. In some languages, for example, German, the Latin "catholica" was substituted by "Christian" before the Reformation, though this was an anomaly〔See footnote 12 in ''The Book of Concord,'' Translators Kolb, R. and Wengert, T. Augsburg Fortress, 2000,p. 22. ISBN 978-0-8006-2740-9〕 and continues in use by some Protestant churches today. Hence, "holy ''catholic''" becomes "holy ''Christian''."〔For example, see Lutheran Service Book. Concordia Publishing House, 2006, p. 158. ISBN 978-0-7586-1217-5〕 Roman Catholics believe the description "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" to be applicable only to the Catholic Church. They hold that "Christ established here on earth only one Church" and they believe in "the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church". While "there are numerous elements of sanctification and of truth which are found outside her structure", these, "as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic Unity". The eastern Churches not in full communion with the Catholic Church thereby "lack something in their condition as particular Churches". The communities born out of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation "do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constituent element of the Church."〔(Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ''Responses to some questions regarding certain aspects of the doctrine of the Church'' )〕 The Eastern Orthodox Church, in disagreement with the Roman Catholic, regards itself as the historical and organic continuation of the original Church founded by Christ and his apostles.〔Bishop Kallistos (Ware). ''The Orthodox Church.'' Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-014656-3. p. 307〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Four Marks of the Church」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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