Was there a true church at the time of Christ?

Question

If so, where is it now?

Answer 1

What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus' flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).

By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10).

Answer 2

The church did not get its start until the day of Pentecost, 10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven. It began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first 120 believers in Jesus, which caused them to be reborn. If you read the book of Acts, you will find the history of the "true" church for its first 35 years.

That church still exist today, and still has the same membership - all those who have been reborn through the Holy Spirit of God. Just like the "true" church in the books of Acts had many local bodies, meeting in different places, homes and towns, so the true chruch today has many local bodies that meeting in different buildings and in different cities.

You will not be able to indentify the "true" church by the name on the door, or the organization to which it belongs. Because it is neither a "name" or an "organization". Rather it is a fellowship of all those who are reborn, no matter what building or town they may meet in.

That "true" church still exist today.

Answer 3

There was no church at the time of Jesus if you are talking in the Christian sense.

All of the apostles were Jewish and held all the Jewish practices even after Jesus died. It wasn't until later, when converting Gentiles became an issue that this original following started to change.

After Peter's supposed dream and Paul talking about not needing to follow the Law - the original following and those converted began to be their own entity. Once they began to happen, the Jewish population disowned them. One of the major reasons, outside of deserting the Law, was that these new Jesus followers where worshipping Jesus as a God. Which goes strictly against the Jewish belief - it is blaspheming and is idoltary punishable by death.

After these Jesus followers were denounced they formed the early church. But not until many, many years after the death of Jesus. Once they were forced out from the Jewish faith, they were persecuted. The Romans respected old religions but did not extend the same grace to new ones. Which is why Chrisitans were killed etc.

The word Christians wasn't even used till the second century - when it was thrown at the followers as an insult.

There is nothing left like the original followers. They held both the Law and faith in Jesus. (Remember the Jews did not believe that the Messiah would be God - but instead human). Probably the closest you can get is the glimpses of them in the NT through their writings. Most churches today base a lot of their theology off of the early church fathers - such as the doctrine of original sin by St. Augustine.

Answer 4

No. The Church age didn't begin until after Christ died. He gave instructions to His disciples on how to set up a church, how to conduct it, and what doctrine was to be taught. We are the Church as individuals, for when we follow the plan of salvation, we become the temple that God resides in.

Answer 5

Christ was Jewish. He lived under Mosiac Law. He died to establish His church. It was established on the Day of Pentacost.

The true church still exists today.

Answer 6

The true church is described in Acts 2.

In Acts 2 about 3000 all heard the same message, all understood it the same way, all believed it the same way, and all obeyed it the same way. When they did this, they became Christians - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. They were not members of any denomination. (None even existed then.)

After they became Christians, they continued steadfastly in unity, in fellowship, and following the same doctrine. (Acts 2:41-47)

Today if we read and understand what they understood, believe what they believed, and only do what thay believed (without adding any man-made doctrine), then we will become only what they became - Christians, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. The word of God produces Christians.

The true church is neither Catholic, nor Protestant. The church is not a denomination. The church of Christ identifies itself by name as a church that is trying to follow the “doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9). The “church of Christ” identifies itself by name as a church that belongs to Christ. The name points to the owner and builder. The name points to the one who purchased the church. (Matthew 16:18, Acts 20: 28)

In contrast to this the name of many denominations point to the name of a man, a particular practice, or the way they are organized. A member of a denomination identifies himself by name as one who submits to the authority of that denomination and tries to follow the doctrine (teaching) of that denomination. Why not just follow the doctrine and authority of Christ?

The church of the Bible is compared to a bride, with Christ being the groom. A bride honors the groom when she agrees to wear his name. But many churches today wear man made names.

Suppose, for example, Mr. Smith asks his girlfriend to marry him. She agrees, but says, “Our friend Mr. Jones is a good man, so when we get married, instead of being called Mrs. Smith, I want to be called Mrs. Jones.” Would Mr. Smith have a reason to question her loyalty to him? Would he feel honored? Why would a bride wear another man’s name? Why would a church want to wear a man-made name? The “church of Christ” wears a name found in scripture (Romans 16: 16).


The church of Christ wishes to restore the church to the teaching that was established and authorized by Christ and his apostles. We wish to have Biblical authority for everything we practice and teach. (Col. 3:17)

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the head of the church and the church is his body. (Eph. 1:22-23) The church of Christ recognizes this, and therefore there is no “headquarters” on earth that oversees the local congregations. Each congregation is independent and goes directly to the Bible to learn what should be taught and how we should worship. We believe the Bible is sufficient and we need no other authority or creed books. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3) Christ has “all authority” and we wish to follow this authority by following the things He taught. (Matt 28:18-20) We don’t want to add any man-made doctrine. (If we follow the authority or teaching of men, then Christ does not have “all authority” in our spiritual lives.) If we teach as doctrine the commandments of men, this makes our worship vain! (Matthew 15:9)

Please do not confuse the church of Christ with the “United Church of Christ”, the “International Church of Christ”, the “Church of Christ Scientists”, or the “Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints (Mormons)”. These groups are not the same and they teach drastically different things!

If you wish to know more about those who simply want to be New Testament Christians (nothing more, nothing less, nothing else), I invite you to investigate the church of Christ by comparison to the Scriptures! I have included a few web sites below that you might wish to visit, or you can e-mail me with any additional questions.

Thank you for your good question and interest in the church.

Answer 7

No the church is made of those thatfollow Christ teaching. the name christian was intended as an insult to the jews that followed Christ after his death.

Answer 8

The True Church Then AND now

The followers and practitioners of the words of Jesus

Answer 9

Read the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, and find a church that's like what you see there. Most churches are not like that.

Answer 10

There were no "churches" in Jesus's time on earth. There were temples however as Judaism was the religion that the Jews followed at that time & it was also the religion that Jesus was taught & followed.
But though he practised Judaism, he taught christianity which only became effective at his sacrifice.