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The Communion of Saints: What the Apostles' Creed Teaches About the Church

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

June 13, 2026

2 min read

apostles creed
Oil painting of the communion of saints as the church across all ages gathered together in one golden divine light

Sandwiched between 'the holy catholic Church' and 'the forgiveness of sins,' the phrase 'the communion of saints' might seem like a detail. In reality it is a profound statement about what the church is and who belongs to it.

Sanctorum Communio: Two Possible Meanings

The Latin sanctorum communio is grammatically ambiguous—sanctorum could be the genitive of sancti (holy persons) or sancta (holy things). The first reading gives us communion among the saints: believers sharing spiritual life together. The second gives us communion in holy things: participation in the sacraments. Most traditions hold both meanings, since fellowship among believers is inseparable from shared participation in word and sacrament.

The Church Across Time

One of the most striking implications of this clause is its temporal scope. The communion of saints is not limited to living members of a local congregation. It includes those who have died in Christ—the church triumphant—alongside the church militant still engaged in earthly life. When Christians gather for worship, they join an assembly that stretches from Abel to the last believer who will ever live.

A Counter to Individualism

In an age when religion is often treated as a personal, private matter, the Apostles' Creed pushes back with communal insistence. You cannot confess 'I believe' and then live as if the church is optional. The creed's very structure connects belief in the Holy Spirit with belief in the community He creates and inhabits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Apostles' Creed mean by 'the communion of saints'?

The phrase 'communion of saints' (communio sanctorum) refers to the spiritual fellowship shared by all believers, both living and dead, who are united to Christ. It affirms that the church transcends time and geography, encompassing all who have trusted in Christ across every age and nation. Some theologians also interpret 'saints' (sancta) as referring to the holy things of the church, particularly the sacraments shared in common.

When did the phrase 'communion of saints' enter the Apostles' Creed?

The phrase 'communion of saints' does not appear in the earliest forms of the Apostles' Creed but was added gradually in the Western church, with clear evidence of its inclusion by the late fourth and fifth centuries. It appears in the commentary of Nicetas of Remesiana around 400 AD and became standard in the creed's Western text by the sixth and seventh centuries. The phrase was thus a development of the early medieval period, though it reflects genuinely apostolic teaching.

How does the communion of saints relate to the visible and invisible church?

The communion of saints points primarily to the invisible church — the full company of the redeemed known to God alone — while the visible church is its outward expression in history. Reformed theology distinguishes these two aspects: the visible church contains both true believers and nominal members, while the invisible church comprises all who are truly united to Christ. Affirming the communion of saints reminds believers that their fellowship extends beyond any single congregation or denomination.

Do Protestants pray to the saints as part of the communion of saints?

Protestant theology rejects the invocation of departed saints, understanding that prayer is to be directed to God alone through the mediation of Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). The Reformation critique of saint veneration was that it obscured Christ's unique priestly role and had no warrant in Scripture. Protestants affirm the communion of saints as a shared bond among all believers but deny that the departed saints function as mediators between believers and God.

What is the significance of the communion of saints for Christian community life today?

The doctrine of the communion of saints grounds Christian community in something far greater than shared preferences or demographics — it is a spiritual union created by the Holy Spirit and purchased by Christ's blood. This means local church membership carries eternal weight, connecting each believer to the whole body of Christ across history. It also encourages believers to draw strength and example from the faithful witness of Christians throughout the centuries, as Hebrews 12:1 describes.

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