In Greek, what does the word Catholic mean?

In Greek, what does the word Catholic mean?

• A. Universal
• B. Sacred
• C. Local
• D. Hidden

Answer: (A)

Catholic comes from the Greek word katholikos, meaning universal or pertaining to the whole. This sense of universality explains why it describes the church as existing throughout the entire world and across all time, not confined to one place. So the Greek meaning is best understood as universal. Sacred would point to holiness, local would mean limited to a place, and hidden has no connection to the term’s sense here.

Catholic comes from the Greek word katholikos, meaning universal or pertaining to the whole. This sense of universality explains why it describes the church as existing throughout the entire world and across all time, not confined to one place. So the Greek meaning is best understood as universal. Sacred would point to holiness, local would mean limited to a place, and hidden has no connection to the term’s sense here.