The Apostolic Church – Were They Catholic?
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Recently, I heard a professed Catholic say that Christianity began with Catholicism. After all, Jesus told Peter, “On this rock [Peter], I will build my church,” (Matthew 16:18). And since Catholics see Peter as their first pope, then doesn’t that mean he was Catholic? And if Peter was Catholic, doesn’t that mean the rest of the Apostles were too?
This is what we’ll be discussing here. Were the members of the Apostolic Church Catholic? Let’s unravel that mystery together.
What is a Catholic? Was Peter Catholic?
According to Dictionary.com, Catholic means “universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.” The word is derived from the Greek word that means “universal.” As in, general or for everyone. However, we know that’s not what Jesus Christ or the Bible teaches.
John 3:16 says that God loved the world so much that He sent His only son to save it. But only those who believe in Him would be saved. It does NOT say everyone would be!
In Matthew 7, Jesus said that many will take the path to destruction but only a few will follow the One that leads to salvation and eternal life.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
In John 10, Jesus says that He knows His sheep, and His sheep hear His voice. Again, it’s limited.
“Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’” – John 10:25-27
As we can see, just from those two verses, Peter wasn’t Catholic. And even though the Catholics designated him as the first pope, long after his death, it doesn’t mean he was one.
Peter was a sinning man who denied Jesus and then was later redeemed by Him. In Matthew 26, Jesus foretells that Peter will deny he knows Him.
“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’” – Matthew 26:34
By the end of that chapter, Matthew 26:69-75, Jesus’ prediction comes true.
Thankfully, the relationship between Jesus and Peter doesn’t end there. Jesus gives Peter the chance to do what was right. He asks Peter a very important question. But He asked it three times to write the wrong of his denial. And it’s the same question He asks all of His followers. “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-19)
Jesus knew that He was the only way (John 14:6) to God and eternal life. And He knew His plans for Peter, which didn’t involve eternal separation from God.
Peter knew the way and it wasn’t universal.
What is/was the Apostolic Church?
The Apostolic Church derives its name from the individuals who led it. The Apostles. In the book of Acts, we see a bibliography of sorts showing us what they did. Consider Acts (aka Acts of the Apostles) as a history book of the early church.
Some things we can use to help us understand our Christian lives today. But the vast majority of what’s in there is merely a record of what they did.
The New Apostolic Reformation teaches erroneously that what they did 2,000 years ago we can do today as well. And that simply isn’t so. Just like we can’t live to be 900 years like they did in the Old Testament.
Could members of the Apostolic church have been Catholic? Why or Why Not?
The last Apostle alive was John. In his gospel, he often referred to himself as either “the disciple whom Jesus loved” or “the one whom Jesus loved.” Unlike the other gospels, John doesn’t refer to himself by name. However, he does in his later works.
John wrote John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. With Revelation being his last work, he wrote it while exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching about Jesus
“I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.” – Revelation 1:9
Revelation was written around 95 A.D. And nothing in his writing, or anything written by any of the New Testament writers, regarded universalism in Christianity.
Only Roman Catholics associate the word Catholic with Christianity. When in reality, there’s no such correlation.
Related article: Catholic vs Christian.
Is the Apostolic Church still around?
The title apostle is a term that simply means “one sent.” Biblically speaking, an Apostle was one who saw Jesus Christ and was sent by Him.
Peter said, “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” – Acts 1:21-22
Because no one is still alive today who lived when Jesus lived and witnessed His resurrection, there cannot be any Apostles. Therefore, there is not, nor can there be an Apostolic Church.
If people out there want to call themselves “apostles,” nothing can stop them. But they’re not Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, run from any individual who claims to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Don’t be fooled by those charlatans. Anyone, at least living in the U.S., can go online and pay to be “ordained” as an apostle. But that doesn’t make you an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
If you found value in this article, consider reading Who Established The First Christian Church Catholics Or Christians?
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