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…