The Christian Church is a term generally used by Protestants and some others to refer to the whole group of people belonging to the Christian religious tradition throughout history. In this understanding, the "Christian Church" does not refer to a particular Christian denomination but to the body of all believers; but most Christians follow the traditional Christian understanding of the term, and believe that the term "Christian Church" or "Church" applies only to a specific historic Christian body or institution, namely their own (e.g., the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, the Non-Chalcedonian Churches of Oriental Orthodoxy, or the Assyrian Church of the East). The Four Marks of the Church first expressed in the Nicene Creed are that the Church is One (a unified Body of Particular Churches in full Communion of doctrines and faith with each other), Holy (a sanctified and deified Body), Catholic (Universal and containing the fullness of Truth in itself), and Apostolic (its hierarchy, doctrines, and faith can be traced back to the Apostles).

Thus, the majority of Christians globally (particularly of the apostolic churches listed above, as well as some Anglo-Catholics) consider the Christian Church as a visible and institutional "societas perfecta" enlivened with supernatural grace, while Protestants generally understand the Church to be an invisible reality not identifiable with any specific earthly institution, denomination, or network of affiliated churches. Others equate the Church with particular groups that share certain essential elements of doctrine and practice, though divided on other points of doctrine and government (such as the branch theory as taught by some Anglicans).

Answer this series of questions:

1. What do the majority of Christians consider the Christian Church?
2. What do others equate the church with?
3. Who is the term Christian Church usually used by to refer to the whole group?
4. What do most Christians believe about the term "Christian Church"?
5. Can you name a couple of these churches?
6. Name two?
7. Where were the Four Marks of the Church 1st expressed?
8. What is the first one of these Marks?
9. Can you name another?
10. What can the Apostolic Mark hierarchy, doctrines and faith be traced back to?
11. Who thinks the the church is an invisible reality?

Numbered answers:
1. a visible and institutional "societas perfecta" enlivened with supernatural grace
2. an invisible reality not identifiable with any specific earthly institution, denomination, or network of affiliated churches
3. Protestants
4. it applies only to a specific historic Christian body or institution
5. yes
6. the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
7. in the Nicene Creed
8. the Church is One
9. the Church is Holy
10. the Apostles
11. Protestants