What is the visible church?
The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion,1 and of their children.2
Scripture proofs
The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.
1 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 15:9–12; Rev. 7:9; Ps. 2:8; Ps. 22:27–31; Ps. 45:17; Matt. 28:19–20; Isa. 59:21
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Rom. 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Rom. 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
Rom. 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Rom. 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Ps. 22:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Ps. 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.
Ps. 22:29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
Ps. 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Ps. 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
2 1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:39; Rom. 11:16; Gen. 17:7
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
This doctrine across the Standards
Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.
In the Westminster Confession
XXV.1 The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have …
The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
→ XXV.1 · Of the ChurchXXV.2 The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as …
The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law) consists of all those, throughout the world, that profess the true religion, and of their children; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.
→ XXV.2 · Of the ChurchXXV.3 Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering …
Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.
→ XXV.3 · Of the ChurchXXV.4 This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are …
This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.
→ XXV.4 · Of the ChurchXXV.5 The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as …
The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth to worship God according to his will.
→ XXV.5 · Of the ChurchXXV.6 There is no other Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of …
There is no other Head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome, in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the Church against Christ, and all that is called God.
→ XXV.6 · Of the ChurchXXVI.1 All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship …
All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
→ XXVI.1 · Of the Communion of SaintsXXVI.2 Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and …
Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
→ XXVI.2 · Of the Communion of SaintsXXVI.3 This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the …
This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous. Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
→ XXVI.3 · Of the Communion of Saints