Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church is an influential global religion that traces its origins to the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The Catholic Church proclaims itself to be the church established by Christ and built by the apostles. However, the link between Jesus and the church as we know it today is not entirely clear. While Jesus founded a community sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit, the bureaucratic institution of the Catholic Church is quite different from the early Jesus movement, which was composed mostly of Jewish followers of little social importance who met in homes. Additionally, the term Catholic was not used until later when St. Ignatius of Antioch first applied it in his writings around 110 AD.
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What You'll Learn
Jesus was born and died Jewish
Jesus was a Jew by blood, but a Catholic Christian by faith. The early Christian community was predominantly Jewish, and Christianity was initially seen as a movement within Judaism. The followers of Jesus were Jewish Christians or Christian Jews, who believed in Jesus as the Messiah while continuing to practice Judaism and honour their Jewish heritage.
The term "Catholic" was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in his letters while he was being taken to Rome to be martyred in 110 AD. The term then appeared frequently in the writings of other Early Church Fathers.
The Catholic Church contends that its origin is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The Church is viewed as an institution founded by Jesus, with primacy given to Peter among all the apostles. However, this understanding has evolved, and the church is now seen as more than just an institution.
While Jesus founded a community, it was not a bureaucratic institution but a life-giving community sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus proclaimed the Good News of God's kingdom, and the Christian community, or the church, was born. This community was guided by the Holy Spirit of Jesus, which remains the connection between Jesus and his church today.
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The Church of Christ is named after Jesus
The Catholic Church contends that its origin is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The Church of Christ is named after Jesus because he was the founder and said that he would build his Church on Peter's confession of faith that Jesus was the Son of God. In Matthew's gospel (16:18), Jesus says, "You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church." He establishes his church and gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles.
However, it is important to note that the word "Catholic" or "protestant" was not used during the time of Jesus. Jesus was born and died a Jew, and the early followers of Jesus were mostly Jewish as well. They often met in homes, which is quite different from the grand cathedrals associated with the Catholic Church today.
The term "Catholic" was first used in writing by St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, in his letters while being taken to Rome to be martyred around 110 AD. The term then appeared frequently in the writings of other Early Church Fathers.
While the Catholic Church proclaims itself to be the church that Jesus Christ died for and was established by the apostles, some argue that a reading of the New Testament reveals that the Catholic Church's origins do not lie in the teachings of Jesus or his apostles. The Catholic Church, as it stands today, is the result of a mixture of true Christianity and Roman paganism, with many of its practices and beliefs regarding Mary, for example, being absent from the Bible.
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Jesus promoted discipleship, followers of Christ and not his Mother Mary
Jesus was born and died a Jew. The Catholic faith, or any denomination, did not exist during his lifetime. The word "Catholic" was not used until later, when St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, used it in his writings around 110 A.D. The term then appeared frequently in the writings of other Early Church Fathers.
The Catholic Church, or the Church of Christ, believes that it was instituted by Christ and that he promoted followers of Christ, not followers of his mother, Mary. This is based on Matthew's gospel (16:18) where Jesus says to Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Jesus gave primacy to Peter among all the apostles, and the Church has traditionally been understood as an institution under Peter's successor.
Jesus founded a life-giving community sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. He began proclaiming the Good News of God's kingdom, as recorded in Luke's gospel, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (Luke 4:18). The Holy Spirit plays a leading role in founding and sustaining the church, and it is the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth.
While Jesus did not establish a bureaucratic institution, he emphasized that being his disciple would be costly. Discipleship, in the ancient biblical world, involved actively imitating the life and teachings of the master. It was a deliberate apprenticeship that transformed the disciple into a living copy of the master. Paul the Apostle stressed that disciples must not conform to the world but be transformed by renewing their minds to discern God's will.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is considered by some to be the first disciple. She accepted God's invitation to be the mother of Jesus and gave the first Gospel testimony to her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary was present at significant events in Jesus' life, including his Incarnation, Birth, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. She encountered God profoundly and surrendered to His will, prefiguring the mission of the Christian community.
In conclusion, Jesus promoted discipleship and followers of Christ, not followers of his mother, Mary. However, Mary herself was a disciple, faithfully following her Son and communicating the Good News to others. The Catholic Church, as an institution, came into being after Jesus' death, with the apostles building upon the foundation that Jesus established.
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The Catholic Church was established by the apostles
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church in the world, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptised members worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission. The New Testament, specifically Matthew's gospel (16:18), records Jesus' appointment of the twelve apostles and his instructions for them to continue his work: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Here, Jesus not only establishes his church but also gives primacy to Peter among all the apostles.
The Catholic Church maintains that its public ministry began on Pentecost, occurring fifty days after Christ's resurrection. At Pentecost, the apostles are believed to have received the Holy Spirit, preparing them for their mission in leading the church. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles signalled the beginning of the church's public ministry.
The Catholic Church considers its bishops to be the successors to Jesus's apostles. The church's leader, the Bishop of Rome (also known as the Pope), is regarded as the sole successor to St. Peter, who ministered in Rome in the first century AD after his appointment by Jesus as head of the Church. The Pope, as the bishop of Rome, is the chief pastor of the church and is considered to hold primacy among all bishops.
While the Catholic Church traces its origins to Jesus Christ and the apostles, some have questioned this link. The term "Catholic" was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, in his letters while being taken to Rome to be martyred in 110 AD. The New Testament, which records Jesus' activities and teachings, does not mention certain Catholic doctrines and practices, leading some to argue that the true origin of the Catholic Church lies in a compromise between Christianity and the pagan religions of the Roman Empire.
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Jesus founded a community, not an institution
Jesus was born and died a Jew. He was not Catholic or associated with any denomination. The word "Catholic" was not even used at the time. However, Jesus is considered to have founded the Church of Christ, as he said he would build his church on Peter's confession of faith that he was the Son of God.
The Catholic Church contends that its origin is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30. The Church sees itself as the institution established by Christ, based on Matthew's gospel (16:18) where Jesus says, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Jesus gave primacy to Peter among all the apostles, and the Roman Catholics understand the church as an institution under the primacy of Peter's successor, synonymous with the "kingdom of God."
However, this view is no longer dominant because the church is understood to be more than just an institution. Jesus founded a community, not a bureaucratic institution. As Luke's gospel shows, Jesus began proclaiming the Good News of God's kingdom by reading Isaiah's words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (Luke 4:18). In John's gospel, the Holy Spirit takes a leading role in founding and sustaining the church. The Spirit is the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth and guides the church. While the church today may look very different from its early beginnings, the Spirit remains the connection between Jesus and his church.
The early Jesus movement was a group of mostly Jewish followers of little social importance who often met in homes, a far cry from the grand cathedrals of today. The term "Catholic" was first used in writing by St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, while being taken to Rome to be martyred in 110 AD. The term then shows up frequently in other Early Church Father writings.
The Roman Catholic Church became the dominant religion in the Roman world for centuries, but it has been argued that it is a mixture of true Christianity and Roman paganism.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Jesus was Jewish. He was born and died a Jew, and the word "Catholic" did not exist at the time.
Jesus was Jewish by blood.
Jesus founded a community that is sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This community, called the Church, is based on Peter's confession of faith that Jesus was the Son of God.
The Catholic Church proclaims itself to be the church established and built by the apostles following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately AD 30.
There are considerable differences between the original Jesus movement and the 21st-century Catholic Church. The original Jesus movement was a group of mostly Jewish followers of little social importance who often met in homes, whereas the Catholic Church is a global institution with the Pope as its head.
