2006-06-16 14:46:44 · 11 answers · asked by jf_stanfield 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There was no denomination at first. There were no splits of the denominational kind until the Copts left over the nestorian question in the 6th century.
However, the church called itself Catholic (means universal) starting in the early second century (Ignatius, in about 105 A.D.) This was a word chosen to emphasize the unity of the church, so that Christian travelers would know they were at home wherever they went.
The Orthodox and Catholic churches retain continuity with this original church. Any bishop can show his lineage of ordination all the way back to one of the apostles.
2006-06-16 15:09:16 · answer #1 · answered by evolver 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church. The Metropolitan Sees were set-up pretty quickly after the expulsion from the Jewish communities utilizing a variation of synagogue structure. Peter had control of the universal Church as shown by the Council that takes place in Acts. The universal Patriarch was localized at Jerusalem until it was moved to Rome by Peter. St. James was the first Patriarch of Jerusalem.
a handy figure for history of other denominations.
http://www.scborromeo.org/images/fig1.jpg
2006-06-16 22:27:58 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a book out that I own and love called. "Handbook of Denominations in the United States 11edition" by Frank S. Mead and Samuel S. Hill. It is very unbiased, but that also means it includes some cult info.
But if you want to get technical, in the time of Jesus Death and resurrection I believe the church was know as "The Way" in the English language anyway
2006-06-16 21:50:18 · answer #3 · answered by Nursen' 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the inner circle of disciples. Here's the evidence..
Mark 4:11
He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables"
That was the original christian church and it was secret, it was underground. And before anyone suggests that the secret was revealed in the following verses, let's see exactly what the writer revealed...
13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable?... Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.... etc
Oh what great secret has been revealed! Satan snatches away the truth! No one knew that did they? Mind blowing revelation is it not? This is the great "secret of the kingdom of God"? (and where do the NT writers reveal the other parables? Nowhere because they didn't know.
The writer himself was "on the outside" and only pretending that he knew something. The original christians were the gnostics.
2006-06-16 21:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Christians understand as the first New Testament church in the book of Acts, Jews understand was a continuation of the Old Testament synagogue.
It WASN'T a church; it was a synagogue of Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah.
2006-06-16 22:30:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church, in Rome. ..As in when Peter said "Upon this rock I found the Church". All christian religions sprang from Catholicism. The original Bible was eventually rewritten as the King James Version. Martin Luther splintered the faith into Lutheranism. King Henry V111 had portions rewritten and adapted to accommodate his inordinate appetite for self indulgence and blood lust. Still, and all, the first church was Catholic.
2006-06-16 22:03:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apostolic :) stemming from the Apostles. (part of a apostolic church now:) they focus on training you up to eventually become a leader, giving you more than just Sunday but real hardy teaching that we all need to get us through the week when we're not in bible study and Sunday church
2006-06-16 21:54:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was Catholic. Hard to say. I presume it was Peter the apostle's doing.
They should not have been starting churches, that's for sure. They were keeping old Jewish laws and traditions. Very anti-christ. Christ was about freedom from the law, grace and peace bestowed to all mankind.
2006-06-16 21:53:29 · answer #8 · answered by ruletheworld 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the very beginning of Christianity, people who were followers of Jesus Christ were said to be in "The Way." It was not called Christianity until after Jesus' death.
Before the Apostle Paul became a follower of Christ, he was named Saul and was a persecutor of anyone found to be in "The Way."
2006-06-16 21:51:39 · answer #9 · answered by fingerpicknboys 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it was the Roman Catholic Church...I could be wrong though....
2006-06-16 21:51:29 · answer #10 · answered by Luvtonurse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋