Christian Church
[16] Christian churches were sometimes called κυριακόν kuriakon (adjective meaning "of the Lord") in Greek starting in the 4th century, but ekklēsia and βασιλική basilikē were more common.[citation needed] The Christian Church originated in Roman Judea in the first century AD/CE, founded on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who first gathered disciples.For most Christians, the holiday of Pentecost (an event that occurred after Jesus' ascension to Heaven) represents the birthday of the Church,[18][19][20] signified by the descent of the Holy Spirit on gathered disciples.[25] The Church gradually spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, gaining major establishments in cities such as Jerusalem, Antioch, and Edessa.Ignatius of Antioch at the beginning of that century and Irenaeus at the end saw union with the bishops as the test of correct Christian faith.[30][31] In using the word ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), early Christians were employing a term that, while it designated the assembly of a Greek city-state, in which only citizens could participate, was traditionally used by Greek-speaking Jews to speak of Israel, the people of God,[32] and that appeared in the Septuagint in the sense of an assembly gathered for religious reasons, often for a liturgy; in that translation ἐκκλησία stood for the Hebrew word קהל (qahal), which however it also rendered as συναγωγή (synagōgē, "synagogue"), the two Greek words being largely synonymous until Christians distinguished them more clearly.[38] In 385, this new legal situation resulted, in the first case of many to come, in the capital punishment of a heretic, namely Priscillian, condemned to death, with several of his followers, by a civil tribunal for the crime of magic.The Church within the Roman Empire was organized under metropolitan sees, with five rising to particular prominence and forming the basis for the Pentarchy proposed by Justinian I.[46] Excepting North Africa and most of Spain, northern and western Europe escaped largely unscathed by Islamic expansion, in great part because richer Constantinople and its empire acted as a magnet for the onslaught.There is only one See founded on Peter by the word of the Lord [...] Outside of the Church, no one can hope for life or salvation unless he is excused through ignorance beyond his control."The papal encyclical Mystici corporis (Pope Pius XII, 1943), expresses the dogmatic ecclesiology of the Catholic Church thus: "If we would define and describe this true Church of Jesus Christ—which is the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church–we shall find no expression more noble, more sublime, or more divine, than the phrase which calls it 'the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ'."[62] The Reformed confessions of faith emphasize "the pure teaching of the gospel (pura doctrina evangelii) and the right administration of the sacraments (recta administratio sacramentorum)" as "the two most necessary signs of the true visible church".[72] In Pentecostalism, "ecclesiology as seen through his concept of networks, where the Holy Spirit creates an openness in mission which allows for coordinated effort towards church planting and growth."Denomination" is a generic term for a distinct Christian body identified by traits such as a common name, structure, leadership, or doctrine.Groups of denominations often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties are known as branches of Christianity.Several claim to be the direct and sole authentic successor the church founded by Jesus Christ in the 1st century AD.[citation needed] Many Baptist and Congregationalist theologians accept the local sense as the only valid application of the term church.[citation needed] Reformed Christians hold that every person justified by faith in the Gospel committed to the Apostles is a member of "One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church".
Predominantly Christian region by AD 325
Predominantly Christian region by AD 600
Church (building)Church (congregation)Christian denominationChristian Church (disambiguation)ChristianityChristNativityBaptismMinistryCrucifixionResurrectionAscensionOld TestamentNew TestamentGospelNew CovenantTheologyTrinityFatherHoly SpiritApologeticsChristologyHistory of theologyMissionSalvationUniversalismHistoryTraditionApostlesEarly ChristianityChurch FathersConstantineCouncilsAugustineIgnatiusEast–West SchismCrusadesAquinasReformationLutherDenominations(full list)NiceneCatholicEasternOld CatholicPalmarian CatholicIndependent CatholicSedevacantismEastern OrthodoxOriental OrthodoxChurch of the EastProtestantAdventistAnabaptistAnglicanBaptistFree EvangelicalLutheranMethodistMoravian [Hussite]PentecostalPlymouth BrethrenQuakerReformedUnited ProtestantWaldensianNondenominational ChristianityRestorationistChristadelphiansIglesia ni CristoIrvingiansJehovah's WitnessesLatter Day SaintsMembers Church of God InternationalThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe New Church (Swedenborgian)Unitarians and UniversalistsCivilizationCriticismCultureEcumenismGlossaryLiturgyOther religionsPrayerSermonSymbolismWorshipOutlineHortus deliciarumHerrad of LandsbergecclesiologyChristian denominationsChristiansJesus Christacademiaone true churchchurch visibleWord of Godsacramentschurch invisiblebranch theoryAnglicansapostolic successionCatholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchOriental Orthodox churchesAssyrian Church of the EastAncient Church of the EastEnglish translationsAncient Greekromanizedoriginal Greek textsGospel of MatthewActs of the ApostlesPauline epistlesLetter to the HebrewsEpistle of JamesThird Epistle of JohnBook of RevelationIgnatius of AntiochFour Marks of the ChurchNicene Creedapostoliclocal group