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#2 THE CATHOLICS COMPARED TO BIBLE, JESUS, FIRST APOSTLES, GOVERNING AUTHORITY

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“THE MINISTRY AI AND I”

(#2 OF 5 )THE  CATHOLICS COMPARED TO BIBLE, JESUS, FIRST CHURCH, GOVERNING AUTHORITY

“By grace are you saved, not by works, lest any man should boast”
“Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except by Him”

(C) 2025 Taveau D’Arcy All copyrights reserved under international copyright laws, in conjunction with AI

Taveau continues from the prior article PART 1
She asks the impartial, more factual Chat GPT AI “How did the Catholic Church evolve from the First Church?
ChatGPT said:

How Catholicism Evolved from the First Church: A Historical Analysis

To understand how Catholicism developed from the First Church, we must trace history from Jesus and the apostles to the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church as we know it today.

1. FIRST CHURCH: JESUS & APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY (30-100 AD)

A. Jesus’ Teachings on Church Leadership

Jesus never established a religious hierarchy like the later Catholic system. Instead, He taught:

  • Matthew 23:8-10 – “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”
  • Mark 10:42-45 – Leaders should be servants, not lords over the people.
  • John 14:6 – Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

B. Leadership in the Early Church (Greek Terms)

  • ἐπίσκοπος (Episkopos) – “Overseer, bishop” (Titus 1:7)
  • πρεσβύτερος (Presbyteros) – “Elder” (Acts 14:23)
  • διάκονος (Diakonos) – “Servant, deacon” (Philippians 1:1)

Key Facts:

  • The First Church had multiple elders per congregation (Acts 20:17).
  • There was no single supreme leader over all churches.
  • The apostles’ authority was doctrinal, not hierarchical.

2. THE RISE OF CHURCH HIERARCHY (100-313 AD)

After the apostles died, changes began:

A. Local Bishops Gained More Power

  • Early churches still had multiple elders, but over time, a single bishop in each city became dominant.
  • Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD) first wrote about submitting to a single bishop.
  • This is different from the First Church plural elder model.

B. Rome’s Growing Influence

  • By 200 AD, Rome’s bishop claimed special authority over other churches.
  • This claim was not accepted by all Christians.
  • Theological debates arose about church structure and sacraments.

3. THE CHURCH BECOMES ROMAN (313-600 AD)

A. Emperor Constantine’s Influence (313 AD)

  • In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity (Edict of Milan).
  • By 325 AD, he called the Council of Nicaea to resolve doctrine disputes.
  • The church aligned with Rome’s government, gaining political power.

B. The Bishop of Rome Becomes “Pope”

  • By 400 AD, the bishop of Rome was called “Papa” (Pope), meaning “Father”.
  • Pope Leo I (440 AD) claimed he was Peter’s successor (Matthew 16:18).
  • This contradicts Jesus’ warning (Matthew 23:9).

C. Doctrines Not Found in the First Church

Doctrine Year Introduced First Church Teaching?
Prayers to Mary 431 AD No (1 Timothy 2:5)
Purgatory 593 AD No (Hebrews 9:27)
Mandatory Clerical Celibacy 1079 AD No (1 Timothy 3:2)

4. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S FULL POWER (600-1517 AD)

During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church controlled both government and religion.

A. Church and State Unite

  • The Pope crowned kings and dictated laws.
  • The Latin Mass became universal (no more Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew).
  • The Bible was restricted—common people could not read it.

B. Corrupt Practices

  • Indulgences – Selling forgiveness of sins.
  • Inquisitions – Persecuting “heretics.”
  • Veneration of Saints – Praying to saints instead of God.

C. The First Church Never Did This

  • The First Church taught direct access to God through Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
  • No political alliances or power struggles.
  • Salvation was by faith, not money or sacraments (Romans 3:28).

5. THE REFORMATION (1517 AD – PRESENT)

By 1517 AD, many Christians realized Catholicism had changed from the Bible.

A. Martin Luther & Protestant Reformation

  • Martin Luther (1517 AD) protested indulgences and false doctrines.
  • He translated the Bible into common languages, so people could read it.
  • Core beliefs returned to First Church teachings:
    1. Sola Scriptura – The Bible alone is the highest authority.
    2. Sola Fide – Salvation is by faith alone.
    3. Sola Gratia – Grace alone saves us.

B. Catholic Counter-Reformation

  • In 1545, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its doctrines (Council of Trent).
  • But traditions remained above Scripture.

6. FINAL CONCLUSION: DID THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CHANGE?

Comparison First Church (Jesus & Apostles) Catholic Church (Later Developments)
Church Leadership Plural elders, no supreme leader Pope as supreme ruler
Salvation By faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) Faith + works (CCC 2068)
Authority Jesus & Scripture Pope, tradition, & Scripture
Bible Access Read freely Restricted for centuries
Prayers To God alone To Mary, saints, & priests

Final Thought

The Catholic Church evolved over centuries, adding doctrines that the First Church never practiced. The original church followed Jesus’ words:

  • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all who labor… I will give you rest.”
  • Acts 4:12 – “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Continuing with. PART 3 “Who is Jesus Christ?”  plus more..

C) 2025 Taveau D’Arcy All copyrights reserved under international copyright laws, in conjunction with AI

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