What is the "New Testament Church"?

First, consider the phrase, "church of the New Testament". What exactly does this mean? Does it mean the church at the time the canon of the New Testament was decided? If so, it is a historical fact that it was the Catholic Church who was enabled, under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to determine which books would make up what we now call the New Testament; in fact, “a church” had been around for some 400 years before the canon of the Bible was determined. Was this church the 1st Baptist Church of Corinth? Of course not - the fact that the Catholic Church gave us the New Testament is acknowledged by Protestant scholars and even Martin Luther himself. There seems to be confusion regarding the use of the word "church" in the New Testament, where Protestants claim that the word "church" refers only to an "assembly of believers". The Catholic Church believes that this is partially true; however, there is a visible, structured church with leaders that was put in place by Jesus Christ and promised the guidance of the holy Spirit "for all generations" (Mt 28:20). Protestants appear to forget that there was a "church" present for 400 years before the Bible as we know even existed; in other words, the Catholic Church is the church of the New Testament.

The Greek for "church" is ekklesia. It is used over 100 times in the New Testament, but rarely, if ever, does it merely refer to a spiritual or invisible assembly of believers. On the contrary, Jesus tells His disciples that they are called to be a "light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid" (Mt 5:14) In fact, in the two times ekklesia is used in Matthew's Gospel, not once does it refer to some vague assembly of believers - rather, it refers to an organized, structured church with bishops, priests, and deacons, as well as Peter as the head of Christ's church on earth. The first is Matthew 16:19, where Jesus promises that the gates of hell will never prevail against the church. He promised this immediately after giving the Keys of the kingdom to Peter. Doesn't it seem odd that Jesus would make Peter the leader of a mere "invisible collection of believers"? (I plan to show the biblical and historical evidence for Peter's primacy later). The second incidence of ekklesia is Matthew 18:17, where people are instructed to take disagreements to the church (ekklesia). Doesn't it strain the passage to suggest the people are to take their disputes to some "invisible collection of believers", or even the Bible (since it didn't exist yet)? It was for this very reason the St. Paul advised Timothy that it is the church that is the "pillar & foundation of truth", not the Bible as some suggest (1 Tim 3:15) It is for this reason that the church is supposed to be a very visible "light for the world" (Mt 5:14). Peter's primacy, well documented from Scripture, takes absolutely nothing away from Christ's ultimate leadership. We are all one body, unified in Christ (1 Cor 12:27-29)

The Bible is quite clear that Peter was first among the Apostles. Jesus changed his name and gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven (see below). Matthew even calls Peter "the first" in Mt 10:2. The Greek word is "protos" does not necessarily mean first chronologically; for example, we know that Andrew was chronologically the first Apostle (Jn 1:41), so the reference to Peter as "the first" clearly implies a position of importance among them. Scripture has many, many other references to Peter as leader; for example, Peter alone is supernaturally enabled by Christ to walk on water (Mt 15), and when his faith wavers, Jesus does not allow him to sink. Peter leads the Apostles in fishing (Jn 23:2-11), and, Jesus preaches from Peter's boat with the resultant miraculous catch of fish (Lk 5:1-11), making Peter and others "fishers of men" (Mt 4:19). Immediately after receiving the Keys to the kingdom, the tax collectors immediately go to Peter to ask the question about paying taxes, and it is Peter who miraculously pays the tax from the fish's mouth, empowered again by Jesus (Mt 17:24-27) Invariably, Peter is always listed first when the Apostles are listed (Mt 10:2, Mk 3:16, Lk 6:14, Acts 1:13), while Judas is listed last. Jesus specifically prays that Peter's faith may not fail (quote) and He instructed Peter to "feed my sheep" (Jn 21:15-17) and to "strengthen your brethren" (Lk 22:32) Peter performs the first miracle after Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 3:6-12) and utters the first anathema (Acts 5:2-11). He was even the first after Christ to raise the dead (Acts 9:40). Peter is clearly regarded as leader by the Jews (Acts 4:1-13), other people (Acts 2:37-41, 5:15), as well as the Apostles and presbyters and the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). He was the first to speak in the Upper Room before Pentecost (Acts 1:15-22) and after Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36). Peter is the first one sent for, and to enter, the empty tomb of Jesus (Lk 24:12). He was the one to initiate a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:22), and is identified by one of God's angels as leader and representative of the Apostles (Lk 16:7), and there are many, many more references....

The above context must be considered when approaching Mt 16:16-19. Brash, outspoken, fallible Peter (at that time known as Simon) was the first to receive a revelation from God that Jesus is the Messiah:

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

To this Jesus replies:

"Blessed are YOU, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to YOU, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell YOU, YOU are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give YOUthe keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever YOUbind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever YOU loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

So, Jesus blesses him, changes his name to Peter which means rock, gives him the Keys of the Kingdom (the kingdom here is the earthly church, as seen from the parables that the kingdom of heaven is a changing entity) and gives him the authority to bind and loose. First, note that when Nathanael identified Jesus as the Messiah in John 1:52, Jesus did not give him the same response he gave Peter. Second, note that a name change in Scripture always indicates a radical change in the person's life, and the name always is a descriptor of that new role. For example, Abram ( father in Hebrew) had his name changed to Abraham by God (father of the multitudes in Hebrew). Later we see that Abraham was considered a spiritual father by the Christians, not to mention Jews. So, Simon's name is changed to Peter which in Greek is rock (petros), and it was this rock upon which Christ was to build his church.

Some try to claim that the word for Peter used in the Greek is petra instead of petros, possibly meaning the difference between "large rock" (petra) and "small stone (Peter) - this is simply untrue. Petros and petra are merely the masculine and feminine forms of the same noun. Besides, the Greek for "small stone" is lithos, not petros.

Third, Peter is singularly handed the Keys of the Kingdom, which is the church on earth. We know this because of the parables Jesus describes about the changing nature of kingdom of heaven in the parables of the sower (Mt 13:18-23), the parable of the weeds among the wheat (Mt 13:24-30), the parable of the mustard seed (Mt 13:31-32), the parable of the yeast (Mt 13:33). Since in heaven there is no need for improvement, we know that the kingdom Jesus is referring to is the church (which is an extension of heaven, of course). Matthew is reminding his Jewish readers of the Old Testament story in Isaiah 22, where Eliakim fills the empty prime minister position, which proves that there is a need for a successive leadership role, even in the Old Testament (Is 36:1-3). Since Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, we have no reason to claim this successive leadership does not apply now. Peter alone is given the power to bind and loose, which refers to rabbinical authority. In this verse, Matthew is reminding his Jewish audience, who knew the Old Testament by heart, of Isaiah 22 where Eliakim is given the Keys of the House of David and the authority that goes with it (quote). Fourth, binding and loosing applies to the rabbinical authority to forgive sins. Clearly, this is an important passage in the development of the New Testament church.

After Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Peter quickly becomes prominent in Scripture. In fact, Peter is mentioned some 190 times in the New Testament, far more than any other apostle. It was Peter who initiated a replacement for Judas by infallibly interpreting the Old Testament Scripture (quote). Thus, Peter is acting in his leadership role, and the replacement of Judas is a clear indication that the office of leader was to have successors. Peter is listed first when the apostles are listed in scripture except once, and for comparison, Judas was mentioned last (Mt 10:2). In Matthew's Gospel, it goes so far as to name him the first, even though we know James was the first apostle called by Jesus - clearly the word first applies to a position of primacy, not chronological order. Sometimes Peter is the only person listed when the apostles are mentioned. It was Peter who gave the first sermon at Pentecost , it was Peter who performed the first miracle after Christ, it was Peter who was the first to raise the dead after Christ (quote), it was Peter who received the vision to allow Gentiles into the church (quote), it was Peter who rendered the infallible decision at the first Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)

One good example of an organized, structured church is in Acts 15, at the first Council of Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas could not convince the Judaizers that the Gentiles did not have to follow all of the Mosaic Law to be Christians, so they traveled to Jerusalem to the "church and (quote). After much discussion, Peter stood up and spoke, interpreting scripture, and the assembly fell silent (quote) After that, a pastoral letter is written and delivered to the various churches instructing them on the guidelines (Acts 16:4-5). This was Catholic Church in action!

Recall the passage from Matthew 18:

But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. - Mt 18:16-18

Note that here Jesus does not tell His disciples to try to settle their disputes with the Bible, but rather to take it to the church - the church that has the authority to bind and loose on earth. To suggest that the "church" here refers to some vague assembly of believers makes the passage nonsensical; in other words if the assembly of believers has a disagreement, they are to take it to the same assembly of believers? I don't think so. When the Judaizers refused to listen to Paul and Barnabas, they took it to the church (Acts 15), not the Bible, in keeping with Jesus' clear command!

Paul also refers to a structured church.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all propherts? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? - 1 Cor 12:27-29

In his letter to the Ephesians (Eph 3:2,7-11), Paul simultaneously tells us that his ministry was an appointment and that through the church is how we are to know God

"assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you... Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it - similarly, the New Testament does not abolish the Old Testament, but is its fulfillment There was a magisterium in the Old Testament, and there is a magisterium in the New Testament. We are called to accept this leadership, instituted by God, for our own benefit.

Thess 5:12-13 But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you

Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

Heb 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.

1 Tim 6:2-4 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions

Similarly, these leaders are aware of their role:

1 Tim 4:11-16 Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Lk 10:16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you

Acts 20:28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (episkipous), to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.

Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Titus 1:13-14 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth.

1 Tim 3:2 Now a bishop (episkipous) must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher,

Titus 1:7 For a bishop (episkipous), as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain...

The organizational structure is seen clearly in Scripture:

Bishops (episkopos): Acts 1:20, 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-2, Titus 1:7, and 1 Peter 2:25.
Priests Presbyteros (usually elder): Acts 15:2-6, 21:18, Hebrews 11:2, 1 Peter 5:1, and 1 Timothy 5:17.
Deacons (diakonos): 1 Corinthians 3:5, Philippians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:8-13).

The functions of each are also seen in Scripture:

The priest
1) Sent and Commissioned by Jesus (the notion of being called): Mark 6:7, John 15:5, 20:21, Romans 10:15, 2 Corinthians 5:20.
2) Representatives of Jesus: Luke 10:16, John 13:20.
3) Authority to "Bind" and "Loose" (Penance and Absolution): Matthew 18:18 (compare Matthew 16:19).
4) Power to Forgive Sins in Jesus' Name: Luke 24:47, John 20:21-23, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, James 5:15.
5) Authority to Administer Penance: Acts 5:2-11, 1 Corinthians 5:3-13, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 1 Timothy 1:18-20, Titus 3:10.
6) Power to Conduct the Eucharist: Luke 22:19, Acts 2:42 (compare Luke 24:35, Acts 2:46, 20:7, 1 Corinthians 10:16).
7) Dispense Sacraments: 1 Corinthians 4:1, James 5:13-15.
8) Perform Baptisms: Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38,41.
9) Ordained: Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:23.
10) Pastors (Shepherds): Acts 20:17,28, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 5:1-4.
11) Preach and Teach: 1 Timothy 3:1-2, 5:17.
12) Evangelize: Matthew 16:15, 28:19-20, Mark 3:14, Luke 9:2,6, 24:47, Acts 1:8.
13) Heal: Matthew 10:1, Luke 9:1-2,6.
14) Cast Out Demons: Matthew 10:1, Mark 3:15, Luke 9:1.
15) Hear Confessions: Acts 19:18 (compare Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:5, James 5:16, 1 John 1:8-9; presupposed in John 20:23).
16) Celibacy for Those Called to it: Matthew 19:12, 1 Corinthians 7:7-9,20,25-38 (especially 7:35).
17) Enjoy Christ's Perpetual Presence and Assistance in a Special Way: Matthew 28:20.

Bishops
1) Jurisdiction over Priests and Local Churches, and the Power to Ordain Priests: Acts 14:22, 1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 1:6, Titus 1:5.
2) Special Responsibility to Defend the Faith: Acts 20:28-31, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Titus 1:9-10, 2 Peter 3:15-16.
3) Power to Rebuke False Doctrine and Excommunicate: Acts 8:14-24, 1 Corinthians 16:22, 1 Timothy 5:20, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:10-11.
4) Power to Bestow Confirmation (the Receiving of the Indwelling Holy Spirit): Acts 8:14-17, 19:5-6.
5) Management of Church Finances: 1 Timothy 3:3-4, 1 Peter 5:2.
(adapted from Armstrong, D.)

The authority of the Church comes not from themselves, but from divine issue from Jesus, the son of God:

Lk 6:13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles

Mk 3:13 And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons...

Mt 10:1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.

Lk 10:16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.

Acts 14:22-23 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

This leadership is successive, as seen in Acts 1:5,20-26 with the replacement of Judas. Just as priestly duties in the Old Testament were initiated by casting lots (1 Chron 24:5, 1 Chron 25:8, 1 Chron 24:31), the same occurred in the New Testament. "Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense." (Luke 1:8-9). The early church replaced Judas by the same method: "And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26).

With regard to the threefold ministry of bishop, priest (elder/presbyteros), and deacon, St. Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, offers testimony, around A.D. 110 (Letter to the Magnesians, 2, 6:1, 13:1-2, Letter to the Trallians, 2:1-3, 3:1-2, 7:2, Letter to the Philadelphians, 7:1-2, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8:1-2 - the last also being the first reference to the "Catholic Church"). St. Clement of Rome refers to the "high priest" and "priests" of Christians around 96 (1 Clement, 40). Other prominent early witnesses include St. Hippolytus (Apostolic Tradition, 9) and St. Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis, 6:13:107:2), both in the early third century.

The office of priest or elder is instituted by the laying on of hands. Even Paul underwent this before going off to spread the Gospel (Acts 6:6).

Acts 6:6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.

1 Tim 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins; keep yourself pure.

Acts 13:3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you.

2 Tim 1:6 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands

Catholic bishops to this very day can trace their ordination back all the way to the laying on of hands of the apostles.

Paul ackowledged that he was appointed a minister in this magisterium (Col 1:24-26) and calls upon his successors to continue the oral teaching of the apostles. Just as Jesus never commanded anyone to write anything down, Paul never told anyone to preach using only the Bible - on the contrary, he frequently encouraged them to use the entire deposit of faith from God, which includes both Scripture and Tradition:

2 Tim 2:2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Tim 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it...

1 Cor 11:2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.

2 Tim 1:13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus;

Just as Jesus appointed the apostles:
Lk 24:49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Mt 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..."

Jn 20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."

This process continued - recall that there was no "Bible" to follow, just an authoritative magisterium:
Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you

Acts 14:22-23 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

So, we see that not only did Jesus not write anything Himself, never did He instruct His followers to go out and write the books of the Bible. No, instead, He established a living, visible, organized, teaching church built on Peter the "rock". Again, Peter's "rockness" takes absolutely nothing away from Jesus Christ the rock - rather, Peter's authority is derived from Christ, not usurping it.

Referring back to Acts 15, after the decision was reached, a letter was sent out to the various churches, which was received with rejoicing (Acts 16:31):

Acts 16:4-5 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Note that their letter begins with this phrase:

"Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions..." Acts 16:24

In other words, the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 was reminding the various churches that they had been acting without any mandate, because they had received "no instructions" up to that point with this matter. How many Christians today are acting without a mandate, choosing only to rely upon their own interpration of Scripture? This is in opposition to Scripture, which says:

Rev 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

1 Cor 12:27-29 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all propherts? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

Much has been made about Paul's ministry. I remind you that his was just one of many ministries, and even Paul acknowledges the structure of the early Church as well as his role in it:

1 Cor 3:10-11 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ

Eph 2:19-20 but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone...

Paul reaffirms that nowhere in Scripture does it say to rely upon one's own interpretations, and nowhere does Scripture make the claim that it is the sole rule of faith. It is not Scripture which is the pillar and bullwark of truth - it is the church, founded by and rooted in Jesus Christ our Savior:

1 Tim 3:15 you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Eph 1:22-23 and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

It is the church which is given authority through Christ Jesus, and the Bible even warns those who would presume to become their own magisterium:

Jude 1:8,10-11 Yet in like manner these men in their dreamings defile the flesh, reject authority, and revile the glorious ones.... But these men revile whatever they do not understand, and by those things that they know by instinct as irrational animals do, they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error, and perish in Korah's rebellion. (cf Numbers 16)

Indeed, Paul asserts that the gospel is not restricted to the written word, but is part of an overall deposit of faith, given to the Apostles and handed down:

1 Thess 1:5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Consider the word "Catholic". It is a combined Greek word "kath-holan", meaning "of the whole", or colloquially, "universal". This word was first used by Ignatius of Antioch around 110 A.D.:

"Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains [i.e., a presbyter]. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 110]).

This quote is notable for several reasons: a) it was written by a disciple of Polycarp, who knew the Apostle John and b) by the year 200, the word "Catholic" was accepted throughout - we know this because it appears in the Muratorian Fragment (177 A.D.), the Apostle's Creed, as well as many other Church Fathers' writings (Cyril of Jerusalem, Augustine, Cyprian of Carthage, and many, many more).

By way of comparison, consider the doctrine of the Trinity for a different perspective. It was not until the Athanasian Creed that there was a classic formulation of the trinitarian concept in 5th or 6th Century., some four hundred years after Christ, and over three hundred years after the word Catholic was used. For example, one of the earliest references to the word Trinity is by Theophilus of Antioch:

"It is the attribute of God, of the most high and almighty and of the living God, not only to be everywhere, but also to see and hear all; for he can in no way be contained in a place. . . . The three days before the luminaries were created are types of the Trinity: God, his Word, and his Wisdom" (To Autolycus 2:15 [A.D. 181]).

So we see that while the concept of the Trinity is accepted today by the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians, the term Catholic appeared even before this. Similarly, even though it can be argued that the concept of the Trinity existed earlier, so too did the concept of the "universal" or catholic church. In fact, it was this very Catholic Church that struggled against heresy after heresy to give us much of the theology that today we tend to take for granted.

Jesus never instructed his Apostles to write anything down, rather, he gave them the power to transmit His teachings through oral Tradition. It was this Tradition that was passed down for 400 years before the Bible even existed, making appeals to the sole authority of Scripture unbiblical and unhistorical. It was the Catholic Church, with Peter as the foundation (Mt 16:15-19) that “the task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church” (CCC 84) The Catholic Church follows the same teachings in the New Testament, which is verified by reading the early writings of Church Fathers; for example, Clement, the Bishop of Rome, further teaches apostolic succession in his Letter to the Corinthians, and these doctrines have continued for 2000 years under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13, 14:16). No one else can claim with any sincerity the same unity of faith, continuity and soundness of doctrine, and historicity as supported by the Bible and the annals of history as the Catholic Church. For this reason, it was the Catholic Church that Paul referred to as the “pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Tim 3:15), and I challenge you to give evidence to the contrary I will finish with a quote from a Protestant:

""The society was well known and unmistakable. Its doctrine was everywhere the SAME; its worship, with rich diversity of forms, centered around one Eucharistic memorial. It had an ORGANIZED HIERARCHY for worship and for the pastorate of souls. This hierarchy maintained union between the local branches, and did so in the name and by the authority of Christ. However far back the history is traced, no date can be assigned, however roughly, for the appearance of Catholicism in the Church. The Church was Catholic from the outset." ( A.J. Mason, The Church and Infallibility [1954] by B.C. Butler, page 37-38)

St. Clement, bishop of Rome (d.c.101), teaches apostolic succession, around 80 A.D. (Epistle to Corinthians, 42:4-5, 44:1-3), and St. Irenaeus is a strong witness to, and advocate of this tradition in the last two decades of the 2nd century (Against Heresies, 3:3:1,4, 4:26:2, 5:20:1, 33:8). Eusebius, the first historian of the Church, in his History of the Church, c.325, begins by saying that one of the "chief matters" to be dealt with in his work is "the lines of succession from the holy apostles . . ." {tr. G.A. Williamson, Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1965, p.31}

So, the point was never that there would be such a splintering of the Body of Christ into 26,000 Protestant denominations, not to mention those who claim no denomination at all. Rather, it was the prayer of Jesus (and Paul) that there would be no divisions:

Jn 17:20-23 "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me."

Jn 10:16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

Rom 16:17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them.

Phil 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind

1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.