One true church

Some Christian churches claim to be the one true church. The exact meaning of this term varies.

This claim is distinct from belief in Apostolic Succession, a belief that is compatible with the idea that more than one church have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that Jesus Christ gave to the Apostles. The Eastern Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox churches, parts of the Anglican Communion, and Lutheran churches are the predominant proponents of the doctrine of Apostolic Succession, though the Catholic Church does make a claim to primacy while the Orthodox support the Pentarchy. It is related to the Four Marks of the Church which is the claim by the State church of the Roman Empire to be "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic" still found today in the Nicene Creed.

A variety of churches, of both early and recent date, including many that do not have an episcopal polity, have claimed to be the one true church, the only one faithful to the teaching of Christ.