What does 'catholic' mean in the Creed?

In the Nicene Creed, 'one holy catholic and apostolic Church', 'catholic' means universal or whole, the entire worldwide family of Christians. It is not, in that phrase, a reference to the Roman Catholic Church specifically.

What is the difference between Catholic and Christian?

'Christian' is the whole family of those who follow Jesus. 'Catholic', when capitalised, usually names one large tradition within that family, the Roman Catholic Church. All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic.

Christian Traditions

Are All Christians Catholic?

No, not all Christians are Catholic, though the answer depends on what the word means. With a small 'c', 'catholic' means 'universal', and in the ancient Creed all Christians confess 'one holy catholic and apostolic Church', the whole worldwide family of believers. With a capital 'C', 'Catholic' usually means the Roman Catholic Church, the largest single tradition. Roman Catholics are Christians, but so are the Eastern Orthodox and the many Protestants, and they are not Roman Catholic. All of them, however, belong to the one universal Church that Christ is building.

Two meanings of one word

The confusion is understandable, because 'catholic' carries two senses. When the Nicene Creed says the Church is 'catholic', it uses the old Greek meaning, universal or whole. In that sense every Christian, of every tradition, belongs to the one catholic Church, the whole people of God across time and place.

When most people today say 'Catholic', they mean the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope, the largest of the Christian traditions with more than a billion members. That is one branch of Christianity, alongside the Eastern Orthodox churches and the many Protestant churches, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and more.

What they share with all Christians

Whatever their tradition, all Christians are held together by one confession. They worship the one God and hold to Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, as Lord.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

1 Corinthians 8:6

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 10:9

These are the words of the one faith the Nicene Creed puts on the lips of every Christian: one God, one Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. On this the whole family stands together.

So how do the traditions relate?

Think of Christianity as one family with three main branches: the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the Protestant churches born of the Reformation. They share the Nicene Creed and faith in Christ, yet differ on questions such as authority, the sacraments, and the place of the Pope, Mary, and the saints. A Baptist or a Methodist is a Christian but not a Roman Catholic; an Orthodox believer is a Christian but not a Roman Catholic either.

None of this need be a cause of anxiety. Christians hold different convictions here in good conscience, and the differences, real as they are, sit within a shared love for the same Lord.

Finding your place in the family

If you are exploring, you do not have to settle every question first. The heart of the matter is not a denomination but a Person. Read the Gospels, pray honestly, and visit a few churches of different traditions; you will begin to sense where you can grow, worship, and belong. Every faithful church, whatever its name, will point you to the same Jesus.

Find a congregation near you

Wherever you land in the Christian family, a nearby church can help you take the next step. The surest way to understand any tradition is to go and see, to sit with the people, hear the Scriptures read, and meet the Christ they gather around. You are welcome.

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Come and see

Behind every tradition is the same living Person. Denominations are the many rooms of one house; the door into all of them is Jesus Christ himself, and he still draws near to everyone who comes with an open heart. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.

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Jesus Christ is Lord.

Frequently asked questions

Are all Christians Catholic?: No. Roman Catholics are the largest group of Christians, but the Eastern Orthodox and the many Protestants (Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and more) are also Christians and are not Roman Catholic. With a small 'c', though, 'catholic' means 'universal', and in that sense all Christians belong to the one catholic Church.
What does 'catholic' mean in the Creed?: In the Nicene Creed, 'one holy catholic and apostolic Church', 'catholic' means universal or whole, the entire worldwide family of Christians. It is not, in that phrase, a reference to the Roman Catholic Church specifically.
What is the difference between Catholic and Christian?: 'Christian' is the whole family of those who follow Jesus. 'Catholic', when capitalised, usually names one large tradition within that family, the Roman Catholic Church. All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic.

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