Calvin clearly defined two marks of the visible church: Word and sacraments. In his Institutes, Calvin argued, “The pure ministry of the Word and pure mode of celebrating the sacraments are, as we say, sufficient pledge and guarantee that we may safely embrace as church any society in which both these marks exist.” If any assembly has these two marks, we may call it a “church.” Even though an assembly claims for itself the name of church, if it does not rightly preserve these two marks, we cannot call it a true church. Because the Roman Church did not possess the two marks, according to Calvin, it was not a true church. A false church is one in which the Word no longer has the primacy, and the role of the sacraments is destroyed. For Calvin, this was the major reason for separation with Rome. In contrast, if any Christian assembly preserves the true ministry of the Word and the sacraments, we should not separate from it. Calvin said, “We must not reject it so long as it retains [the ministry of the Word and the sacraments] even if it otherwise swarms with many faults.” The evangelical churches must not divide from each other in spite of many nonessential differences among them. Rather they should keep the unity of faith for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel. The two marks of the visible church play an important role not only in Calvin’s ecclesiology but also in his whole theology. Thus, it is necessary to investigate in detail Calvin’s thought about the ministry of the Word and the sacraments in order to properly understand his position on church. God has established both the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments, which together constitute two marks of the church. If any assembly retains the true ministry of the Word and the sacraments, it is a true church of God.

Calvin clearly defined two marks of the visible church: Word and sacraments. In his Institutes, Calvin argued, “The pure ministry of the Word and pure mode of celebrating the sacraments are, as we say, sufficient pledge and guarantee that we may safely embrace as church any society in which both these marks exist.” If any assembly has these two marks, we may call it a “church.” Even though an assembly claims for itself the name of church, if it does not rightly preserve these two marks, we cannot call it a true church. Because the Roman Church did not possess the two marks, according to Calvin, it was not a true church. A false church is one in which the Word no longer has the primacy, and the role of the sacraments is destroyed. For Calvin, this was the major reason for separation with Rome. In contrast, if any Christian assembly preserves the true ministry of the Word and the sacraments, we should not separate from it. Calvin said, “We must not reject it so long as it retains [the ministry of the Word and the sacraments] even if it otherwise swarms with many faults.” The evangelical churches must not divide from each other in spite of many nonessential differences among them. Rather they should keep the unity of faith for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel. The two marks of the visible church play an important role not only in Calvin’s ecclesiology but also in his whole theology. Thus, it is necessary to investigate in detail Calvin’s thought about the ministry of the Word and the sacraments in order to properly understand his position on church. God has established both the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments, which together constitute two marks of the church. If any assembly retains the true ministry of the Word and the sacraments, it is a true church of God.

Calvin, marks of church, preaching, sacrament