Doctor of the Church

Definition and Meaning

Doctor of the Church is a title, rendered in Latin as Doctor Ecclesiae, meaning "teacher of the Church." Used chiefly by the Catholic Church, it is formally conferred by the pope on saints who meet three conditions: eminent teaching, holiness of life, and an official declaration by the Church. The concept is distinct from that of the "Church Fathers," a term for the orthodox Christian writers of the early Church. The designation "Father" is tied to a historical period, whereas the title of Doctor is conferred without regard to era. For this reason, medieval and modern figures may also be named Doctors of the Church.

Biblical and Historical Background

The New Testament lists "teachers" among the offices given to the Church (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28). In the Western Church, Pope Boniface VIII is known to have formally recognized four men as Doctors of the Church in 1298: Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory I. The number of those declared Doctors has since grown to more than thirty. In 1970 Teresa of Ávila and Catherine of Siena became the first women to receive the title.

The Eastern Orthodox Church has no such formal system of conferral. It does, however, maintain a tradition of jointly honoring Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom as the "Three Holy Hierarchs."

Practice in Protestant and Korean Churches

Protestantism has no corresponding official title. The Reformation tradition inherited and highly valued the theology of figures such as Augustine, but the basis for honoring them is not an official declaration by the Church but the content of their teaching as measured against Scripture.

John Calvin divided the offices of the church in Geneva into four, one of which was that of "teacher" (doctor). This office was responsible for interpreting and teaching Scripture. In the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions, this teaching office is sometimes associated with the role of present-day seminary professors.

In the Catholic Church in Korea, "Doctor of the Church" is an official term, and the Doctors of the Church are commemorated in the liturgical calendar. In Korean Protestantism, the term is generally used when introducing the Catholic concept, though it is also sometimes used more broadly to describe theologians who serve the church. The Anglican Church of Korea has retained part of the tradition of commemorating saints and honors a number of teachers of the Church with feast days.