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When saying the Apostles’ Creed, which is an historical, concise, and biblical summary of the Christian faith, we state that we believe in “the holy catholic church.” What does this mean?
The word “catholic” in the Apostles’ Creed refers to God’s people, including all believers throughout all of history from all around the world.
For Christians who are unfamiliar with the Apostles’ Creed, what often comes to mind is the Roman Catholic Church, but this would be an incorrect interpretation of of the meaning of the word “catholic.”
The Heidelberg Catechism, first published in 1563, is a highly regarded summary of the Christian faith. A portion of the Heidelberg Catechism is an explanation of the Apostles’ Creed, which begins each section with the words, “I believe.” In question and answer 54, the Heidelberg Catechism asks what we believe concerning “the holy catholic church”:
“Q. What do you believe concerning “the holy catholic church”?
A. I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.” — The Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 54.
Although the word “catholic” is not often used outside the context of the Roman Catholic Church, its meaning in the Creed is “universal.” In other words, “catholic” simply means the universal church of Christ Jesus, which consists of all believers in him from every time and place. All people throughout the ages who have placed their faith in Christ Jesus for salvation from sin and death are members of his universal (that is, catholic) church. This is the meaning of “catholic” in the Apostles’ Creed.
In the Old Testament, believers looked forward to the promised savior who is Christ, while today believers look back at the work Christ accomplished to save his people.
In Matthew 16, Christ said he is building his church which is his body consisting of all the people of God. We can rejoice that Christ Jesus draws his people to himself in every time and place. Even in the Old Testament, believers looked forward to the promised savior who is Christ, while today we look back at the work he accomplished to save his people. This is the universal catholic and everlasting church.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:9-10)
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