''On the Councils and the Church'' (1539) is a treatise on
ecclesiology
In Christian theology, ecclesiology is the study of the Church, the origins of Christianity, its relationship to Jesus, its role in salvation, its polity, its discipline, its eschatology, and its leadership.
In its early history, one of the ...
written by Protestant reformer
Martin Luther
Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Reformation, Protestant Refo ...
late in life.
''On the Councils and the Church'' is best known for its teaching, in the third part of the book, of the "seven
marks of the Church Marks of the Church may refer to:
* Marks of the Church (Protestantism)
* Four Marks of the Church
The Four Marks of the Church, also known as the Attributes of the Church, describes four distinctive adjectives of traditional Christian ecclesiolo ...
", of which the
One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
The Four Marks of the Church, also known as the Attributes of the Church, describes four distinctive adjectives of traditional Christian ecclesiology as expressed in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed completed at the First Council of Constanti ...
can be recognized. These marks are:
#''holy word of God'', effective
means of grace
The means of grace in Christian theology are those things (the ''means'') 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 emp ...
#''holy sacrament of baptism'',
regeneration
Regeneration may refer to:
Science and technology
* Regeneration (biology), the ability to recreate lost or damaged cells, tissues, organs and limbs
* Regeneration (ecology), the ability of ecosystems to regenerate biomass, using photosynthesis
...
#''holy sacrament of the altar''
#''office of keys exercised publicly'', although not the office of
pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
. Includes also private
confession
A confession is a statement – made by a person or by a group of persons – acknowledging some personal fact that the person (or the group) would ostensibly prefer to keep hidden. The term presumes that the speaker is providing information th ...
as a means of grace.
#''it consecrates or calls ministers, or has offices, that is, to administer'', bishops, pastors, and preachers.
#''prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving to God'', the liturgy
#''holy possession of the sacred cross'', suffering and carrying the cross as followers of Christ.
English translation
Luther's Works: vol. 41
See also
*
Four Marks of the Church
The Four Marks of the Church, also known as the Attributes of the Church, describes four distinctive adjectives of traditional Christian ecclesiology as expressed in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed completed at the First Council of Constantinop ...
External links
*
Authority of Councils and Churches'. tr. by C.B. Smyth. London: William Edward Painter, 1847.
Works by Martin Luther
Ecclesiology
1539 books
16th-century Christian texts
{{Lutheranism-book-stub