Lecture 9: The Doctrine of the Church, contd.

Question 1

Give the four “marks” of the church from the Apostle’s Creed.

Answer 1

one, holy, catholic, apostolic

Question 2

According to the lecture notes about the church’s oneness, we must not equate unity with what?

Answer 2

Uniformity

Question 3

Why is the definition of the church as the community of elect rejected as too narrow in the class notes?

Answer 3

Calvin’s definition of the church reflected a Platonic viewpoint, where the true church is an invisible and perfect gathering of those elect already in God’s presence.

Question 4

What does ‘de facto’ mean?

Answer 4

In reality

Question 5

Who compared the church to Christ’s bride and Noah’s ark, and in what context?

Answer 5

Cyprian of Carthage, in the context of addressing the Novatian Schism

Question 6

Give the meaning of the Greek word that gives us the word apostle.

Answer 6

“To send”

Question 7

Give the meaning of the Greek word that gives us the word catholic.

Answer 7

“According to its wholeness”

Question 8

Summarize the Novatian Schism.

Answer 8

Novatian believed that those who renounced their faith under the threat of death should not be allowed back as full members of the church.

Question 9

What is the basis for confessing the church’s holiness?

Answer 9

Christ has called the church out of the world, demonstrating the santification of the church, even as it is called to minister to the world. Paul also says that we are called to be God’s holy people in Corinthians.

Question 10

What does ‘de jure’ mean?

Answer 10

In principle

Question 11

What makes a church apostolic?

Answer 11

Faithfulness to the teachings of Christ that were first passed on by the apostles.

Question 12

Does the church equal the kingdom of God? Why or why not?

Answer 12

No. The kingdom of God refers to God’s reign, wherever His power is active. The church is a part (and a product) of this kingdom.

Question 13

What third mark of the church did the Puritans add (and Calvin affirm) as the last of the three new marks?

Answer 13

“Discipline” to the word and sacrament

Question 14

What is the basis for confessing the church’s oneness?

Answer 14

Christ’s prayer for his believers to be one as He and the Father are one, and Paul calling the Ephesian believers to unity.

Question 15

What two additional marks of the church did the Reformers add?

Answer 15

• “Pure” preaching of the word

- Right administration of the sacraments

Question 16

Define catholicity.

Answer 16

The idea that the church is universal in time and space, and inclusive to all Christians.

Question 17

Who wrote On the Unity of the Church?

Answer 17

Cyprian of Carthage

Question 18

Explain the difference between the kingdom of God de jure and de facto.

Answer 18

The kingdom of God de jure refers to God’s right to reign over all creation. However, de facto, sin still persists on Earth and God has not chosen to fully conquer it yet.