Invisible Church

(noun)

The invisible church or church invisible is a theological concept of an "invisible" body of the elect who are known only to God, in contrast to the "visible church"—that is, the institutional body on earth which preaches the gospel and administers the sacraments.

Related Terms

Examples of Invisible Church in the following topics:

  • The Christian Church

    • The Christian Church is the assembly of followers of Jesus Christ; in Christianity, a church is the building where its members meet.
    • The Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy each claim to be the original Christian Church.
    • The Eastern Orthodox Church bases its claim primarily on its traditions and beliefs of the original Christian Church.
    • By contrast, the Catholic Church teaches in its doctrine that it is the original Church founded by Christ on the Apostles in the 1st century AD.
    • Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian churches associated with one another through common beliefs and practices.

  • The Ecclesia

    • A slight modification of the church type is that of ecclesia.
    • The state churches of some European nations would fit this type.
    • The Anglican Church of England, for example, is a state church that does not have the adherence of all English citizens.
    • Although the word "ecclesial" itself stems from the Greek word for "church" or "gathering," ecclesias are not necessarily churches.
    • The Catholic Church applies the word "Church" only to Christian communities that, in the view of the Catholic Church, "have true sacraments in light of Apostolic succession" and that possess a priesthood and the Eucharist.

  • Witchcraft in New England

    • Title page of Wonders of the Invisible World (London, 1693) by Cotton Mather

  • Gender

  • The Holy Roman Empire and the Church

  • The Anglican Class

    • The Church of England controlled Virginian society and government during the colonial era.
    • According to the ministers, the colonists were typically inattentive, disinterested, and bored during church services.
    • Baptists, German Lutherans, and Presbyterians funded their own ministers and favored disestablishment of the Anglican Church.
    • The Patriots, led by Thomas Jefferson, disestablished the Anglican Church in 1786.
    • Government and college officials in the capital at Williamsburg were required to attend services at this Anglican church.

  • Norse Timber Architecture in the Early European Middle Ages

    • A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing.
    • Archaeological excavations have shown that stave churches descend from palisade constructions and later churches with earth-bound posts.
    • These churches gave an impression of a basilica.
    • Bull of the main portal in Hedalen stave church (c. 1853).
    • Example of a Norwegian wooden stave church: Stave church in Lom.

  • The Revolution and Churches

    • This was because the English monarch was the head of the church.
    • As a result, Church of England priests swore allegiance to the British crown at their ordination.
    • Furthermore, loyalty to the church and to its head could be construed as treason to the American cause.
    • The Anglican Communion was created, allowing a separated Episcopal Church of the United States that would still be in communion with the Church of England.
    • Jonathan Mayhew was a noted American minister at Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts.

  • The Chora Church in Constantinople

    • The Chora Church's full name is the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora.
    • The church was first built in Constantinople the early fifth century.
    • Mosaics extensively decorate the narthices of the Chora Church.
    • Inner Narthex, Chora Church, Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey.
    • Parecclesion, Chora Church, Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey.

  • Pilgrimage Churches

    • The Crusades resulted in the growth and rising wealth of pilgrimage churches, many of which were built in the Romanesque style.
    • The result of the considerable number of new churches being built and the rising wealth of the pilgrimage churches, was the growth of Romanesque architecture.
    • Many castles were built during this period, but they are greatly outnumbered by churches.
    • Many churches were built along this route and reflect the Romanesque architectural style.
    • Analyze the religious fervor of the Crusades with the extensive creation of pilgramage churches.