# The Four Marks of the Church Of all the epistles of Paul, none speaks more eloquently or extensively of the Church than Ephesians. This unique letter outlines the essential characteristics of the Church, which the ancient creeds summarized as \"one, holy, catholic, and apostolic\". The Church is *one* because she has one source, the Blessed Trinity, and is unified in her faith, worship, and leadership. The Church is *holy* because Christ has separated her from sin and consecrated her to the Father. The Church is *catholic* because she bears within herself the fullness of grace and she embraces all nations. The Church is *apostolic* because she was founded upon the apostles, she preserves their apostolic doctrine, and she perpetuates a direct line of apostolic succession that stretches back to those first appointed by Christ. Paul touches directly or indirectly upon each of these marks in Ephesians. The Church is **one** \"one Lord, one faith, one baptism\" (Eph 4:5) The Church is **holy** \"that she might be holy and\ without blemish\" (Eph 5:27) The Church is **catholic** \"you *Gentiles* are fellow citizens with the\ saints and members of the household of God\" (Eph 2:19) The Church is **apostolic** \"built upon the foundation of the apostles\ and prophets\" (Eph 2:20) --- > Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, *The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament*, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010).