Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Church
(4,753 words)

1. Theological, confessional, and historical aspects

1.1. Preliminary Remarks

Reflection on the nature of the church (ecclesiology, from Lat. ecclesia, Greek ekklesía, “assembly”) was an element of Christian theology from the very outset. Already the early church but especially the Middle Ages witnesssed debates over the relationship between spiritual and secular authority as well as the priority of popes and councils. Neverthel…

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Laube, Martin and Schlinker, Steffen, “Church”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_022144>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160907



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