--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But Christ could certainly not have…" description: "\"But Christ could certainly not have established the Church. That is, the institution we now call by that name, for nothing resembling our present conce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/leo-tolstoy-55_christ_but-christ-could-certainly-not-have-esta_2842294.jpg" --- # But Christ could certainly not have established the… ![“But Christ could certainly not have established the Church. That is, the institution we now call by that name, for nothing resembling our present conception of the Church-with its sacraments, its hierarchy, and especially its claim to infallibility-is to be found in Christ's words or in the…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/leo-tolstoy-55_christ_but-christ-could-certainly-not-have-esta_2842294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/leo-tolstoy-55_christ_but-christ-could-certainly-not-have-esta_2842294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/leo-tolstoy-55_christ_but-christ-could-certainly-not-have-esta_2842294.jpg) > “But Christ could certainly not have established the Church. That is, the institution we now call by that name, for nothing resembling our present conception of the Church-with its sacraments, its hierarchy, and especially its claim to infallibility-is to be found in Christ's words or in the conception of the men of his time.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christ did not create the organized institution known as the Church; its modern form developed after his time. **In simple terms:** Christ didn't found the modern Church. Key Takeaway Recognize the difference between original teachings and later institutions. Themes religion history institution authority Mood reflective critical Type theological historical When to use this quote - church leadership - doctrine formation - historical analysis - faith practice Key Concepts ecclesiology historical development theology Questions to Reflect On - How do we separate original teachings from later traditions? - What responsibilities do believers have toward institutional authority? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook early Christian structures that predate later doctrines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Certainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-certainly-1211356/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-institution-384964/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Established Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/established-church-1074451/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility/) [Infallibility Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility-christ-3733152/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sacraments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacraments/) ## Related quotes > [Christ certainly did come to destroy the law and the prophets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/christ-certainly-did-come-to-destroy-the-law-and-the-prophets/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Look, they ridiculed Jesus Christ, so I'm certainly no exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/look-they-ridiculed-jesus-christ-so-i-m-certainly-no-exception/) [Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/) > [“9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/9-and-since-we-have-been-made-right-in-god-s-sight-by-the-blood-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Any established church is an established crime, an established slave pen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/any-established-church-is-an-established-crime-an-established-slave/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think here is the irony of American history. We don't have an established church. When you have an established church nobody takes religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/i-think-here-is-the-irony-of-american-history-we-don-t-have-an/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [I'd signed up not just for Christianity but the established Church of England. That has a particular history and I think we rather lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-green/i-d-signed-up-not-just-for-christianity-but-the-established-church-of/) [Alan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-green/) > [Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has established His Church once again among men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/through-the-prophet-joseph-smith-the-lord-has-established-his-church/) [Joseph B. 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And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! 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