did catholicism come first?

Question

if so, why do protestants (some) think the catholics are wrong? i mean, protestantism only came about because of martin luther.

just a bit of confusion here

chippy-who says the catholics' doctrines are wrong? what if yours is wrong?

chippy-i understand

opinionated-your answer doesn't make sense

Answer 1

Yes, it came first. Catholics don't do anything against the bible, they created it. They were doing these things before they put the bible together. Anyone who says that Catholics contradict the bible need to realize the bible is a Catholic book. Protestants took what they wanted and ran with it. Luther could only justify his beliefs by removing books (and letters) from the bible (they have since been added back in by most Protestants).

The Bible is Catholic by Design. Jesus left us with a Church, not a book.

Answer 2

Did Roman Catholicism come first? NO. The Western Church split from Byzantium on December 25, 800 AD when Pope Leo III coronated a new Emperor even though they already had a legitimate Empress in Constantinople. The Emperor Diocletian proclaimed (about 500 years before) that the Imperial Government was not in an Imperial City (ROME) but where the Emperor WAS. I honestly think this was an attempt to undo what Constantine did, so that the balance of power would be brought back to the west and change Rome from a back water city (which it has become) to a center of power. For some reason, people (Roman Catholics) tend to forget this point. How is the schismatic now?

There are some pretty bold answers here. Roman Catholicism are the original Christians? Tell an Eastern Orthodox that. They have kept the language and the liturgy from the Apostolic age.

Regius, YOU are pitting the Apostolic Fathers against Christianity? Remind me to not stand next to you for fear of a lightening strike. The Apostolic Fathers ARE NOT a perversion. But hey, they knew Christ and Christianity probably better than us 21st Century know it alls.

Answer 3

The question should be.. Are Catholics living according to the original revealed and taught teaching's and practices, as when it was started by the Peter and the other followers of Christ after his death and resurrection?
I don't think the protestants have it all correct either, but they were trying to reinsert several lost practices into religious practices.
You do have to admit the Catholics have made changes over the years, a lot in about the 14th century. A big one being baptism by immersion. Also some question if the Catholics have been able to correctly transfer the authority to operate God's church through the dark ages?

Answer 4

Catholicism arose out of the perverse teachings of the apostolic "fathers" after the death of the apostles. Some will try to claim apostolic succession, but this doctrine is nowhere credibly endoresed by the scripture. The catholic church practices the "doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (hierarchy)" which Jesus says he hates. No man is to be called father - Jesus explicitly forbid this - but the catholic church does this all the time. A cursory reading of the apostolic fathers will show that by the end of the first century the bishops were struggling for supremacy in the church in clear contradiction to Christ who taught that "He that would be great among you shall be the servant of all." The bishops illegalized meetings where they were not present and even forbid anyone to baptize except them. Eventually, they required mandatory fasting, prayer and a period of examination of up to three years before baptism was allowed. The bible shows that baptism was immediate upon profession of faith. Over and over again, you will see that these men usurped the authority which belongs only to Christ, and were devoid of the spirit. These same men prepared the church to be handed over to the "Christian" emperor, Constantine, and the damage was nearly total; he completely reworked how churches met.

Martin Luther is NOT the only reason for protestantism; God is! The church belongs to Him, and He was beginning to restore it. The trouble is, the reformers, save maybe the anabaptists, did not go far enough: they retained all the heirarchical claptrap, including temple style worship, and merely jetissoned some of the Catholic teachings. To get back to the root, the church needs to return to home based worship, not led by "clergy" from the front, but with everyone participating in an orderly "free for all." They also need to restore the agape or "love feast" as a potluck style meal, the highlight of which is the Lord's supper.

For more on this:
http://www.ntrf.org
http://www.house-church.org

Tom

Answer 5

Before you asked such a question you should know why the early church broke apart.

The early Catholic church was very different than it is today. (Examples: normal people were not allowed to own Bibles or read the scriptures - the church was forcing its people to pay 10% (not asking them but forcing them) - the church was hinging a person being saved on them touching or seeing a relic)

Martin Luther may not have been 100% correct, but he was certainly much more correct than the Catholic church at that time period. Remember, we are still only humans and humans will always get on the wrong path for awhile. The Catholic Church did much to right itself in the last 100 years!

We don't know if we are 100% correct! The basic foundations are the same and that is what keeps us tied together.

Answer 6

No the first Christians who lived at the time of Jesus came WAY before the catholic church.

The way to know if the catholic church is following the Bible or man made doctrines is to check what they are teaching against the Word of God. Do the research. There are many things that the Catholic church teaches that are in direct opposition with scripture.
http://www.reachingcatholics.org/mainpage.html

Answer 7

Catholicism was started as a banner of war for Constitine. Catholicism was not started as a genuine change of person, change of Character faith. When Rome began forming the Catholic belief the first thing they did was make it a religion of greed. Then it all went down hill. The REAL CHRISTIAN FAITH was a secret faith that was banned from the government and the Christias were heavily persecuted. This was until 311 AD

Answer 8

Well, Catholicism had become corrupt and Martin Luther read the Bible for himself and posted his thesis on the Wittenburg door. His intent was simply to point out where they had gone astray and help them get right, but they took it as a threat to their power and attacked him. Martin Luther just wanted to help the church get back on track with the Bible.

The Protestants came out of that, an effort to return to the original intent of the Bible. That is why they / we say that the Catholic church is wrong. It really was doing a lot of bad things at that time. Today, there are lots of other issues, more doctrinal than corrupt as they used to be.

Answer 9

Naw, Catholics are the real deal. Jesus even promised his Church would be around forever. The Catholic Church! He said the Gates of Hell would not prevail against her. He didn't say Hell wouldn't try but that it wouldn't win against her. The Catholic Church has had it's trials but, it is alive and growing even now as we converse because it is through the grace of God and nothing that man does or does not do that does it.

Answer 10

Martin Luther did not want to leave the RCC. He wanted the RCC to stop the heresy! The RCC was selling sins! They wanted the money to build St. Peters! And so much more that Luther wrote about.
Luther wanted Mass in ones own language instead of Latin. This was viewed as sinful to the RCC. Luther also wanted bible printed in ones own language Old and New test. He had to do this in hiding! Who do you think was behind this? Satan.
The RCC was NOT the first church. It was established around 300 ad when the church was in hiding.

We protestants view the RCC as people who have been taught things that go against the bible IE Mary worship, priests not married, Idol worship, and so much more.

The RCC started out following the bible then they went to the traditions of men just like the pharisees.
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