When did the Roman Catholic Church begin?

When did the Roman Catholic Church begin? From one of our live events, W. Robert Godfrey and Derek Thomas consider the origins and development of this institution as it exists today.
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[@epsyuma]

I was raised as a Catholic, and I was a very good practicing Catholic. I was the head altar boy when I was 16, and I even led the Rosary on many occasions. My parish priest asked my parents to allow me to attend a Catholic seminary after I graduated HS on a scholarship. I loved my Catholicism and my Catholic church. But I did something that most Catholics don't bother to do. I read and studied the Bible, and I read it every chance I got, and I started doing this at the age of 14. But I was tormented inside. I never knew if I was genuinely pleasing God. I was afraid that he was going to strike me down at any moment because of my sins. But I kept reading the Bible in the hope of pleasing God and perhaps making him happy with me. I struggled throughout High School with guilt, never feeling that I was doing enough for God, always falling short. After HS, I went into the military, and my guilt trip really took off. At one point, I was so distraught at the idea that God was angry with me that I went to see the base Chaplin, a Catholic priest. I told him how I was feeling - that I was tormented with guilt because I knew the sin in my life was not pleasing to God. The Chaplin said that he could help me. He said there was a way to have my sins forgiven. He gave me a little book and told me to read it. The title of the book was; "How to Pray to Mary." In that moment, the very second I had that book in my hand, God opened my eyes, and I knew that the Catholic system that I grew up with and loved was false. God saved me out of that false system and brought me into the true light of the revelation of His Son. I was born from above. I have never looked back. 45 years later, I have no regrets. In John 3:3, Jesus answered and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Thank you, Jesus, for my new birth. I pray for my Catholic family every day that God would open their eyes too.

[@Savedbygrace22]

What a great story and witness. God bless you🙏

[@robmarshall956]

Praise the Lord for your salvation 👍🙏✝️

[@foodieqt4258]

I had a very similar experience. Praise the God of salvation! Who called us out of the strongholds of the Catholic Church.

[@spreadingthelightofchristj9081]

So happy to hear your testimony, praise the Lord!

[@rosemarymorin6702]

Yes once I started reading and studying the Bible I felt like that but then my eyes were open and Jesus Christ was revealed to me and I haven't looked back. I know that was very pleasing to God that I got to know him. Yes just pray that other people in the religion see and hear the word. Amen

[@marybrewer2203]

The Catholicism of my childhood impressed me with its pageantry and grand displays that drew my heart to the Triune Holiness of God, and it taught me week by week, and even day by day, about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and His constant presence. A time came when a shift in their theology caused me to research and question much of the church’s teachings. Now, I am a 60+ years old woman, happily walking with Christ as an independent Christian. The Roman church has changed, and not for the better, imo.

[@The_Lord_has_it]

I'm 56 and had a very similar experience. Looking back, I knew something didn't feel right in my heart even back then. God bless you sister.

[@rosemarymorin6702]

I had the same experience I am 67 and now so happily in peace with Jesus Christ. Amen

[@rosemarymorin6702]

@@The_Lord_has_it I can't understand why others have not seen it yet. I actually took the Bible and started reading and studying it myself.

[@bornagain2641]

its a fact.

[@mariarooney6262]

There was still a purpose, when I look back , of what I received from the Roman Catholic Church, even though I did not stay there. It was part of God’s plan, and he can allow anything to come into our lives and be used for good. ❤️

[@jessyjonas4988]

The problem of traditions being placed before Holy Scriptures is not just a problem in the Catholic Church

[@jessyjonas4988]

@@bosse641 God be praised for those of us who will not allow the woolly 🐑 to be pulled over our 👀

[@BirchKST]

@@jessyjonas4988praise God who pulled the wool off our eyes

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

After my mother got saved, she stayed in the Catholic church for two years because that was how she was raised. It took her two years to see through the lies. Finally, one day, she was confronted by some important church leader guy who wore his fancy regalia and stated to her, matter of factly, that the authority of the Catholic church trumps biblical authority. That was all my mother needed to hear. She left that cult and never returned, and that was in 1966. She's still saved, still loves Jesus, and has no regrets or doubts about leaving.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

Beautiful testimony!

[@rosemarymorin6702]

💖✌🙏

[@foodieqt4258]

So happy for your mother! 🤍

[@colinsmith5957]

I am so sorry to hear that someone who was supposed to represent the Catholic Church said something like they. They were clearly very poorly taught about what Catholicism teaches. Catholics absolutely deny that the Church's traditions are higher than the Bible. Rather, it teaches that the sacred tradition and the sacred Scriptures are both the Word of God. The traditions of the Church help guide you when interpreting the scriptures is difficult. For example, it is difficult for most people to reconcile Ephesians 2 teaching "you have been saved by grace through faith... not by your works" and James 2 teaching that "you are saved by works and not by faith alone." Issues like this is why there are so many denominations. That is what happens when try to only use your own interpretation of the Bible without Tradition to guide you. Paul tells the Thessalonians in the Bible to "stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle."

[@jzak5723]

I'm quite sure you are misunderstanding your own story about your mothers experience, because no Catholic church leader would say that the Bible has no authority. What he likely meant is that the Church leadership itself (Pope, Bishops/Magisterium) has the authority to interpret Scripture, not reject Scripture as authoritative.

[@rhondae8222]

This problem continues, today, with the Roman Catholic church and all other Catholic churches putting their teachings before the Word of God (Christ).

[@kevinclint7588]

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART , AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTAND . PROVERBS 3 : 5 KJV ❤

[@jessyjonas4988]

Wherever man can create a niche for himself to spout his ideas - local congregations are at his mercy

[@Bibliotechno]

I was going to state something similar, that there is something in man that desires him to be the boss. The glorious 'me'.

[@Savedbygrace22]

Well said Dr Godfrey, Augustine went the route of grace and the R Cath church went the route of their traditions.

[@colinsmith5957]

Augustine was a Catholic bishop.... His full title is "Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo." Also, the Catholic Church's traditions teach that you are saved by grace alone. Catholics would only reject that you are saved by faith alone, since James chapter 2 says that "you are saved by works and not by faith alone." Paul tells the Thessalonians to "hold fast to their traditions." Earlier Christians than Augustine taught about tradition. All the early Christians were Catholics. If you do not believe me, look up what Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, or Clement of Rome taught about communion, the Church in Rome, tradition, etc.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

@@colinsmith5957 Who cares what Ignatius has to say. Not one apostle mentioned the word “catholic,” eucharist, or mass. And, never practiced or taught what is practiced and taught in Roman Catholicism.

[@karenbeardwilson]

All ears, listening. Learn all your teaching Ligonier. ♥️♥️♥️✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏

[@Jerusalem-lx1ql]

Just Like How The Vatican Changed The Day Of Rest , From SATURDAY To SUNDAY..And That The Pope And Catholic Priest Have The Authority To FORGIVE SINS..Oh PRAY UNTO FATHER GOD FOR FORGIVENESS...

[@denonjoka8848]

Hawayu Ligonier Ministries *While I Appreciate Both Pst. W. Robert Geodfrey & Pst. Derek Thomas 4 Answering This Powerful, Blessful, Deep Question on "When Did The Roman Catholic Church Begin ?"Where I Say That What Both Pst. W. Robert Geodfrey & Pst. Derek Thomas Have Said Is One 💯% Ryt Where Roman Catholic Church Began In The 5th Century Thru Saint Augustine & Althu I'm a Presbyterian, I Say That What Matters Is Not When Roman Catholic Church Began But Whether The Gospel of Jesus Christ Is Being Preached In The Catholic Church or Not Where The Gospel of Jesus Christ Isn't Preached In The Roman Catholic Church & Even Sadly The Worshipping of The Image of Virgin Mary Statue In The Roman Catholic Church Because Where Two or Three are Gathered, God Is There In Our Midsts & On This Rock I Will Build My Church & The Gates of Hades Shall Not Prevail Against It Written In Matthew 18:20 & Matthew 16:18* & God Bless Yu Ligonier Ministries Together With Pst. W. Robert Geodfrey & Pst. Derek Thomas So Veryyyyyy, Veryyyyyy Much.🙏🙏🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@robbingcars9140]

Watching this as a Catholic: hmm 🤔 interesting

[@robbingcars9140]

I also like how it just turned into discourse on the pronunciation of (cough cough SAINT) Augustine

[@SterlingsOpinion]

I thought it was a cheap shot and beneath the topic. The pronunciation means little to me. As long as the content was conveyed. It was distracting and unnecessary.

[@eyotachenoa3132]

I have seen videos that showed how catholics were cruel to not members before that church became more organized. Sometimes killing those who refused to join. It was awful!

[@colinsmith5957]

Those videos were wrong. Sometimes, Catholics killed heretics who left the Church, and that was not good. However, protestants killed Catholics just as much. There were entire wars between Catholics and protestants. It was a different time, and both sides were to blame.

[@purebloodstevetungate5418]

The creation of the Holy See and the dogma of Catholicism bagan at the First Council of Nicaea also it marks the beginning of its fallen nature from the very onset by making the concept that Peter was the foundational principle of The Church instead of what Scripture teaches us that Christ Jesus is The Rock in which His Church shall be built upon.

[@ELishaJesus1980]

Have you heard of the Peter's bones being found in the catacombs in Rome? What do you make of that?

[@purebloodstevetungate5418]

@@ELishaJesus1980 More pagan symbols that the the Vatican can worship and venerate.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

@@ELishaJesus1980 Nothing. The RCC creates “facts” with air.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

@@bosse641 However, Revelation is future. In the OT, God is referred to as the ROCK repeatedly, and Christ as the ROCK in the NT. I concur with your lovely explanation, though.

[@purebloodstevetungate5418]

@@bosse641 I Corinthians 3:11" For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 10:4 "and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ" 1 Peter 2:4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

[@justfromcatholic]

Jesus said that He will be with the Church until end of age (Mat. 28:20) and He will send the Holy Spirit to guide them in truth (John 16:12). He did not give us empty promise. He did not say His promises are valid only the first few hundred years and then did not keep them for the next one thousand years until Reformation. He would and is able to keep what He promised.

[@wfqsfg]

A big mistake I see catholics make is Jesus did not found/establish an organization. He founded/established an ekklesia. A congregation, people called out for God, an assembly. Church is translated from the Greek work ekklesdia which simply means an assembly or to call out. It was used in ancient Greece for the voting age males in each city who discussed civic issues and voted on them, Acts 19. But what Aramaic word did Jesus use? He most likely used the word lodoth (Aramaic) which means to assemble. Everyone who believes in the gospel and follows Jesus commands is THE church.

[@TheProtoclete]

You could at least quote Luther correctly if you're going to use him as a source. He does not claim the Church starts with Gregory, but that the claims of Roman primacy only really begin in Gregory's time - obviously, even Luther acknowledges the existence of the Church back to the apostles!

[@JohnMoog-ug6bk]

“tradition fed off tradition” = infinite regress?

[@jdwagman]

The Roman Catholic Church officially began in 380 AD by legal decree when it was established as the one and only state region of Rome. This is also when the Trinity doctrine was forced upon their church. " According to the apostolic teaching and the doctrine of the Gospel, let us believe in the one deity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in equal majesty and in a holy Trinity. WE ORDER THE FOLLOWERS OF THIS LAW TO EMBRACE THE NAME OF CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS; but as for the others, since, in our judgment they are foolish madmen, we decree that they shall be branded with the ignominious name of heretics, and shall not presume to give to their conventicles the name of churches." ~ Edict of Thessalonica (380 AD)

[@fc872e1]

As someone who’s spent a major part of their life in both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, I can say both get a lot right, and both get a lot wrong. I love the liturgy and Eucharist of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as their migration to sola Cristos and a lot of what follows that, including embracing the Bible. In fact, over the course of my lifetime, Catholicism has become Lutheranism, while Lutheran churches have gone far left, for the most part. I disagree with the veneration of Mary, praying to saints, a great deal of the church hierarchy, and other traditions. For the Protestant churches, I agree with those who have not bent to the direction to many have in the past generation or two, and who focus on the scriptures, and the intention of adherence to them over other matters. The energy spent parsing scripture to such a degree with the goal towards understanding is simply incredible. I also believe in sola Cristos as the guiding light. However, the incessant disagreement, arguments, splitting, and even feuding has led to something approaching chaos. Beyond that, the money situation in many if not most Evangelical mega churches is clearly and purely evil. And despite the profession of adherence to scripture over man’s traditions, if anyone believe that is the case they are either ignorant or brainwashed. In the end, I have wound up in where the Anglican Church labeled itself: Protestant (or Reformed), yet Catholic. Most unfortunately, it is the Anglican Church itself which has left that entirely as it shifted hard leftward

[@clivejames5058]

In my country (the UK) we had wonderful Celtic Christian communities until, you're right, Pope Gregory 1st sent over an aggressive mission team to enforce Papal authority. That was in AD 597 and it took us nearly 700 years to retrieve our Biblical faith.

[@mohamedbaridhwan3017]

They were the inventors of flat earth theory. Who/what was guiding their doctrine

[@ELishaJesus1980]

I'm very impressed by padre pio, however.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

He’s a fraud. Research him.

[@ELishaJesus1980]

@@suzannemcmaken4648 I did more than research him. I read ALL OF THE LITERATURE ON HIM. Did you? You ASSERT he is a fraud without giving any data to back it up. That won't do. I read the anti books and the pro books, and I came to a conclusion. Your conclusion, as an uninformed person that has not done all the research, aligns with the skeptics of the modern era who debunk their own arguments and have no real proof against their biases. For if you were to be consistent, you would not deny the supernatural in the Bible or in the modern age as well, but you are not consistent. That's a problem. I could go on, and your terse reply made me give a big rant.

[@MrJohnmartin2009]

So the Catholic church began with Pope Gregory, and the Protestant denominations began in the 1500's. What then was the church Jesus instituted in Matt 16:16-19, 18:18, Acts 2 when according to Godfrey and Thomas think the Catholic and Protest and churches emerged centuries later? The giant void in history and Jesus' failure to clearly provide for His church in history is yet another reason the reformed understanding of church history is always distorted. They simply cannot give an answer to the origins of the Papacy without making a botch job of church history.

[@gemmiefy]

Jesus said, Upon this rock I will build my church and not even the gates of hades can destroy this. Do we really think Jesus will only protect his Church for only 380 years then the church becomes rogue? then he will take or wait till 1500s to get this church reformed just for his church to become 44000+ denominations? we have to really pause and think. Will God really lie to us when he said he will be with this church and not even the gates of hell can destroy it. This is the reason why I remained a catholic! No other church can trace it’s lineage to the apostles except for Catholics and orthodox. the only problem then with orthodoxy is it’s very regionalistic and not Universal which that’s what Jesus wants in the bible.

[@edalbanese6310]

Wrong

[@MrJohnmartin2009]

@@edalbanese6310 The Protestants don't get much right. They botch the scriptures, tradition, church authority, the sacraments, the atonement, justification, Mariology, faith, grace and many other topics to sustain a false narrative. Church history is thoroughly Catholic until the reformation. All Protestant denominations began at least 1500 years after Christ making them all non salvific, human institutions.

[@w4in]

This is so ironic

[@ChristianCatholicMedia]

Christ founded the Catholic Church. Matthew 16:18-19. Christ said the gates of hell will not prevail. St. Peter was the first Pope. God Bless.

[@SterlingsOpinion]

But not 'roman'?

[@ChristianCatholicMedia]

@@SterlingsOpinion There is only One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, where the 2 greatest apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul established the Church in Rome.

[@marcyoliver3439]

@Christian Catholic Media if you were to stand before God today and He were to ask you ‘why should I let you into heaven’ what would you say?

[@ChristianCatholicMedia]

@@marcyoliver3439 Romans 2:5-6 - By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works:

[@marcyoliver3439]

@@ChristianCatholicMedia so that would be your response to God as to why He should let you into heaven? So your good works will get you into heaven? Why did Jesus have to die then? If it is your good works that gets you to heaven- that makes Jesus death useless and worthless.