Who Started the Catholic Church?
1. The Meaning of “Catholic” in the Early Church
The first step in answering Who started the Catholic Church? is clarifying the word “catholic.” In the earliest centuries, “catholic” did not mean “Roman Catholic.” It meant “universal” or “according to the whole.”
Ignatius of Antioch, writing around A.D. 110, used the phrase “the catholic church” to describe the body of Christ in all places. He contrasted this “whole church” with local congregations. For Ignatius and the early church fathers:
Catholic = universal, not local.
Catholic = complete, not partial.
Catholic = orthodox, not heretical.
Thus, in its original usage, “catholic” pointed to the universality of the Christian faith, not to a particular denomination.
2. The Apostolic Foundations of the Church
Before there was a “Roman Catholic Church,” there was the apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ. According to Scripture, the church began when Jesus declared to Peter: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The church was born in power at Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and three thousand were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. From that day onward:
The church was one – united in the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42).
The church was holy – marked by the Spirit’s presence.
The church was catholic – spreading to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The church was apostolic – founded on the eyewitness testimony of those commissioned by Christ.
This biblical foundation shows that the universal (catholic) church began not with Rome but with Christ and His apostles.
3. The Emergence of the Roman Catholic Church
So, Who started the Roman Catholic Church? As an institution, it developed gradually. The city of Rome, where both Peter and Paul were martyred, became an important center of Christian authority. Over time, the bishop of Rome gained influence, especially after Christianity was legalized under Constantine in the 4th century.
Important developments include:
2nd Century – “Catholic” is used to describe the whole church.
3rd–4th Centuries – Rome’s bishop begins to claim primacy based on Peter’s authority.
Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) – Affirmed the catholic (universal) faith against heresies.
Medieval Era – The Roman church consolidated power, distinguishing itself from Eastern churches.
By this point, “Catholic” often meant “Roman Catholic,” though originally the word had a broader sense.
4. The Bible’s Vision of the Universal Church
The Bible itself never speaks of the “Roman Catholic Church.” Instead, it describes the universal body of believers united in Christ. Paul writes: “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4–5).
The New Testament vision of the catholic (universal) church emphasizes:
Unity in Christ – Jew and Gentile together (Galatians 3:28).
Global Mission – Disciples made from all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Spiritual Temple – Built on Christ the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20–21).
The true catholicity of the church is found in its global scope and its faithfulness to Christ, not in a single human institution.
5. The Gospel and the Catholic Church
Understanding Who started the Catholic Church? requires us to connect the question to the gospel. Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). He is the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6). The apostles are the foundation (Ephesians 2:20).
Therefore:
The church is catholic because Jesus reigns as King over all nations.
The church is universal because the gospel is for “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
The church is enduring because Christ promised the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
The Roman Catholic Church is one branch of this history, but the true catholic church is the kingdom community of all believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
6. The Catholic Church and the Last Days
The Bible also teaches that the church’s catholicity is eschatological—it points forward to the last days. In the new creation, the church will be gathered as a single people, worshiping Christ as King (Revelation 7:9–10).
In this sense, the catholic church already exists wherever believers are united in Christ, and it will be perfected when Christ returns. The universality of the church is not only past and present but future.
Conclusion
So, Who started the Catholic Church? In its original sense, “catholic” described the whole body of Christ, universal and united. The Roman Catholic Church as an institution developed centuries later, centered in Rome, drawing on apostolic tradition but increasingly distinct from other Christian communities.
The Bible’s answer is simpler: Jesus Christ started the church, and the apostles carried forward His mission. The gospel shows that the church is catholic not because of Rome, but because it belongs to Christ, is built on His word, and extends to all nations.
The true catholic church is not limited to one denomination but is the universal body of Christ’s people, gathered under His kingship until He returns.
Bible Verses About the Church
Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build my church.”
Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship.”
Acts 9:31 – “The church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.”
Ephesians 1:22–23 – “The church… is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 2:20–21 – “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
Ephesians 4:4–5 – “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
Colossians 1:18 – “He is the head of the body, the church.”
1 Timothy 3:15 – “The church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
Revelation 5:9 – “You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Revelation 7:9 – “A great multitude… from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
