IS IT TRUE THAT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST?

An empty claim was made by the Roman Catholic Church when they advertised lately on CNN, in conjunction with the Pope’s visit here in the United States, that it was Jesus Christ himself who established their church. Devoid of biblical evidences to prove this contention, the Catholic Church had to use biblical citations which when examined thoroughly, are going beyond what is written, reading things that are not there in the text. Tradition, instead of the Bible, is their source to highlight their claim.

An example of such claim is the concept that Peter was made Pope by Jesus Christ when he (Peter) was told that “upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). After even reading that verse a thousand times, still you could not find anything in this verse that would tell you Peter is being made a Pope.

In another instance, Jesus told Peter three times to feed his sheep (John 21:15-17). Catholic apologists would go beyond what is written by claiming that Jesus Christ is directly installing Apostle Peter as the Pope! Again, you may read the verses a million times but nothing there in these verses that would make us say that Peter was the first Pope!

There is no question when it comes to the Church built by Christ since the Bible tells us that Christ really established a Church. Was it called the Catholic Church when it was built? No. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests it was called the Catholic Church. In fact, even Catholic authorities themselves admit that it was called the Church of Christ. Let me quote what a Jesuit priest wrote in his book:

5. Did Jesus Christ establish a Church?
Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the Bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after Him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ (Cassily, Francis B., S.J., Religion: Doctrine and Practice for use in Catholic High Schools. 12th and Revised edition, Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1934, p. 442-443.).

Francis Cassily points out that this name is from the Bible. Is he correct? Does the Bible really mention of the term Church of Christ? Apostle Paul said:

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28 LAMSA Translation).

Take note that Apostle Paul mentioned the term “Church of Christ” in this verse. Also the verse says that the Church is the “flock” to be fed with the spiritual food which is the word of God (Matthew 4:4). The same Church was purchased or redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.

WHEN DID THE CHURCH START?

The Church started during Christ’s ministry here on earth. Contrary to what some Catholic and Protestant theologians claim that the Church started only during the day of Pentecost, there was already a “flock” during the time of Christ. He says to them: “fear not, little flock” (Luke 12:32). These are the people who were baptized into the Church as reported by John in his Gospel:

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John” —although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized (John 4:1-2 NRSV).

Even before the day of Pentecost, around one hundred twenty of them were gathered and they devote themselves to prayer (Acts 1:13-15). This is a proof that there were already disciples or members of the Church even before that day. Luke reported that about three thousand souls were added to the Church during the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 41-42, 47). He likewise reported that the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). The Church encountered a great persecution (Acts 8:1) so they were scattered (vv. 4-5). However, those who were scattered traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch spread the gospel so a great number who believed turned to the Lord (Acts 11:19-21). In Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians (v. 26).

Through the ministry of Apostle Paul and his companions, churches or congregations were established in the Gentile world (Romans 16:4, 16). However, there is no report of Apostle Peter being in Rome to give credence to the tradition concocted by Catholic apologists that he went there in Rome and established the Church. It was Apostle Paul who went to Rome since he is an apostle to the Gentiles while Apostle Peter was the apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:8-9).

DID THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST CONTINUE TO EXIST AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT UPHOLDS THE TEACHINGS OF GOD?

When Jesus Christ was still here on earth, He warned His disciples that they should be careful not be deceived by the false prophets (Matthew 24:11). Apostle Paul mentioned of those who will not spare the flock after his death (Acts 20:29). He likewise warned the bishops that there will be those who shall arise and speak perverse things to draw away the disciples after them (vv. 17, 30 ASV).

What are these perverse things that the false prophets shall speak in order to draw away the disciples after them? These are the doctrines of the devils mentioned by Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy wherein he says:

Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils, Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared, Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth (1st Timothy 4:1-3, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition).

Do we find these two (2) doctrines of the devil in the world today? If we do, then the prediction concerning the falling away or the apostasy of the first century Church of Christ indeed came to pass or fulfilled. In my previous public debates with the representatives from the Roman Catholic Church, I asked them a tough question about the doctrines of the devils that Apostle Paul mentioned in 1st Timothy 4:3: “do you have any of these two doctrines?” Although Catholic defenders tried to wiggle out from answering the question, it is quite obvious that these two demonic teachings are found in the Roman Catholic Church. Written below are their acceptance that they are indeed promoting these two doctrines:

“Although celibacy is not expressly enforced by our Savior, it is, however, commended so strongly by Himself and His apostles, both by word and example, that the Church felt it her duty to lay it down as a law. The discipline of the Church has been exerted from the beginning in prohibiting Priests to marry after their ordination.” (Gibbons, James Cardinal. The Faith of our Fathers. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1917, p. 328)

“What does the second commandment of the Church order us to do?
It orders us to fast and abstain from flesh meat on certain days of the year.” (A Seminary Professor. Manual of Christian Doctrine: Comprising Dogma, Moral, and Worship. New York: Lassale Bureau, 1949, p. 317)

The Roman Catholic Church prohibits its priests and nuns to marry. There is also a command to her members to abstain from flesh meat in certain days of the year. So, even if they would deny that they are not in custody of the doctrines of the devils, the truth remains that they are upholding these two doctrines.

Even Apostle Peter predicted that:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2nd Peter 2:1-2 DR).

Hence, both Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter explicitly predicted that “false teachers” or “false prophets” will appear to teach lies in order to lead the disciples astray, corroborating the pronouncement made by our Lord Jesus Christ. The true Church of Christ in its genuine form during the time of Christ and the apostles shall be transformed into a Church that upholds false doctrines or teachings after the demise of the apostles. When the apostles were gone, the turning away from the faith predicted by the apostles began to unfold.

You may recall that the disciples or the members of the Church of Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch. However, a bishop by the name of Ignatius in the year 110 invented the term “Catholic” as another name for the disciples in that city. From that time, the name “Catholic Church” became synonymous with the Christian group until the Council of Trent added the term “Roman” to the name, thereby producing the name Roman Catholic Church. Let us also remember that the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity as the religion of the empire in the fourth century and the bishop of Rome became the head of the Catholic Church. A Catholic book says that “The Church is called Roman Catholic because its chief ruler is the lawful bishop of Rome.” (Catholic Catechism. Part II. Catholic Trade School, Manila, 1961, p. 146a).

In 1870, at the First Vatican Council, the name Roman Catholic Church was proposed but it was rejected. The bishops who were assembled then unanimously decided upon this official name: THE HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC, ROMAN CHURCH.

How many Catholics know that the official name of their Church is a complete departure from the name mentioned in the Scripture? It is a name which is a far cry from the term mentioned in the Bible. Jesus Christ and His apostles have nothing to do with that name.

What is the importance of the name of Jesus Christ? Apostle Peter explained:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NKJV).

Now, tell me, is the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church established by Jesus Christ? If you answered NO, you have understood very well this article. I thank you for reading it and hopefully, it would change your mind to reconsider your position if you are still in accord with the Roman Catholic Church.

Do you want to know more about the true Church of Christ? Please visit iglesianicristo.net

Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptural quotations were taken from the New King James Version.

(c) joe vintelacion (2023)