On the Councils and the Church
Encyclopedia
On the Councils and the Church (1539) is a treatise by Protestant Reformer
Martin Luther
on ecclesiology
, on a later stage of his life.
On the Councils and the Church is known best for its teaching, dealt in the third part of the book, of the "seven marks of the Church
", of which the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church can be recognized. These marks are:
Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
on ecclesiology
Ecclesiology
Today, ecclesiology usually refers to the theological study of the Christian church. However when the word was coined in the late 1830s, it was defined as the science of the building and decoration of churches and it is still, though rarely, used in this sense.In its theological sense, ecclesiology...
, on a later stage of his life.
On the Councils and the Church is known best for its teaching, dealt in the third part of the book, of the "seven marks of the Church
Marks of the Church
In Protestant theology, the Marks of the Church are those things by which the true church may be recognized. Three marks are usually enumerated: the preaching of the Word the administration of the sacraments and church discipline...
", of which the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church can be recognized. These marks are:
- holy word of God, effective mean of graceMeans of GraceThe Means of Grace in Christian theology are those things through which God gives grace. Just what this grace entails is interpreted in various ways: generally speaking, some see it as God blessing humankind so as to sustain and empower the Christian life; others see it as forgiveness, life, and...
- holy sacrament of baptism, regenerationRegeneration (theology)Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis , is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of subjection to the decay of death...
- holy sacrament of the altar
- office of keys exercised publicly, although not the office of popePopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. Includes also private confessionConfessionThis article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
as a mean of grace. - it consecrates or calls ministers, or has offices that is to administer, bishops, pastors, preachers, but not womenOrdination of womenOrdination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
. - prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving to God, the liturgy
- holy possession of the sacred cross, suffering and carrying the cross as followers of Christ.
External links
- Authority of Councils and Churches. tr. by C.B. Smyth. London: William Edward Painter, 1847.