The Church Which Is The First

[Will_Pick]

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

 

[LilyM]

Well if you can’t find the verse that says the Church of God is the first then we can’t help you - there are plenty of verses to the effect of ‘you are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it’

I’d like to know why you think they apply better to the Church of God than to the Catholic Church which can trace an unbroken succession from Peter.

 

[Della]

Will Pick:

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

Worldwide Church of God, founder: Herbert W. Armstrong.

The Catholic Church, founder: Jesus Christ.

You decide.

 

[imroc]

Will Pick:

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

Since you started the thread I think it would be appropriate that you show how your church was the “first” church. Honestly, I think this thread should be deleted because theres no weight to it. Or better yet, I should go and start a church called, “My Church.” Then, nobody will every question me about my church being the “first”.

at the bottom of my billboard will be:

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

 

[FCEGM]

Will Pick:

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 10:32; 1 Cor. 11:22; 1 Cor. 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 3:5.

All these speak of “the church of God”. This is not so much a title as it is a description of the One Church founded by Christ (God Incarnate) on St. Peter, the Rock. It was St. Ignatius of Antioch (it’s second Bishop after St. Peter) who first used the word “Catholic” to describe this One Church in his letter to the Church at Smyrna while he was on his way to Rome to be martyred for the Faith around the year A.D. 110.

Don’t be fooled by the various denominations, such as “The Church of God” or “The Church of Christ” or “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” who attempt to use such passages to show that, “See, it says right there that WE are the Church”; none of these “churches” saw daylight until the 1800’s at the earliest.

 

[Will_Pick]

imroc:

Since you started the thread I think it would be appropriate that you show how your church was the “first” church. Honestly, I think this thread should be deleted because theres no weight to it. Or better yet, I should go and start a church called, “My Church.” Then, nobody will every question me about my church being the “first”.

at the bottom of my billboard will be:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

I worded it wrong "church of God"meaning the body of all believes in Jesus Christ.

 

[Will_Pick]

Will Pick:

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

I;m very sorry I just worded my question wrong What I was trying to say is the Bible said the church is the body of Christ,so the first church is all that believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ so would that not be the “FIRST” church and not the catholic church.
I;m not trying to start any thing I was just looking for a answer,and I may still have it worded wrong if I do I’m sorry and you can just forget it,God bless you all

 

[FCEGM]

Will Pick:

I worded it wrong "church of God"meaning the body of all believes in Jesus Christ.

When the “church of God” is spoken of it refers to, as I said earlier, that one Church founded by Jesus Christ on St. Peter. That Church from that time on has had a visible identity as the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and continues to this day in its celebration of the Eucharist and its conferring the various Sacraments on its visible members, all in union with the Bishops of Rome, the legitimate successors to St. Peter and thus the protectors of the body of belief to which all Christians are to adhere.

Scripture and Sacred Tradition make no distinction between this visible Church and the “body of believers”. It is only when, over time, various men and movements separated themselves from “union with Peter”, that the thought of a spiritual “body of believers” not in union with the See of Rome came about. As the Church teaches, in varying degrees those Churches and denominations (the terms are not interchangeable) are in union with the Catholic Church to the degree (they vary from one to another) that their faith and practice agrees with that of the Catholic Church.

 

[Will_Pick]

imroc:

Since you started the thread I think it would be appropriate that you show how your church was the “first” church. Honestly, I think this thread should be deleted because theres no weight to it. Or better yet, I should go and start a church called, “My Church.” Then, nobody will every question me about my church being the “first”.

at the bottom of my billboard will be:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

okay

 

[BryPGuy89]

Will Pick:

The church of God is the church that the bible said is the first church,Can’t find the verse, so how can Catholic say they are the first church.

Well, Peter, first pope of the Catholic Church, other disciples first bishops, well I don’t know how much earlier you can get then the disciples of Jesus.

 

[RHooker]

Actually, the first church was Baptist. Remember: John the Baptist. And the second are the Nazarenes since Jesus was called a Nazarene.
Thought you might like a little levity.

 

[BryPGuy89]

RHooker:

Actually, the first church was Baptist. Remember: John the Baptist. And the second are the Nazarenes since Jesus was called a Nazarene.
Thought you might like a little levity.

the Baptist, means the one who baptizes, not a member of the Baptist Church my friend.

For the nazerites, if you consider them a church of Christ visit, nazarite.net/home.html
Their beleifs are very twisted and opposite of the RCC. Most things associated with Christianity, Jesus fish, the Cross, Sunday services, Christmas, Easter, all are evil in their eyes.

 

[BlestOne]

Just for clarification:
Catholic-Jesus in 33 ad.
Lutheran - Martin Luther in 1521.
Mennonites - Menno Simons in 1525.
Anglicans - King Henry VIII in 1533.
Presbyterians - John Calvin in 1550.
Baptist - John Smyth in 1609.
Methodist -John and Charles Wesley in 1729.
Episcopalians - Samuel Seaburyin 1789.
Church of Christ - Thomas Campbell in 1807.
Seventh Day Adventists - Ellen White in 1860.
Salvation Army - William Booth in 1865.
Pentecostal - Charles Fox in 1901.
Fundamentalism - Milton and Lyman Steward in 1910.

I will look for a more complete list…

 

[BlestOne]

Oh and as for proof…we can trace our lineage…how bout you?

1. St. Peter d. 67
2. St. Linus, 67-76
3. St. Anacletus 1, 76-88
4. St. Clement 1, 88-97
5. St. Evaristus, 97-105
6. St. Alexander 1, 105-115
7. St. Sixtus I, 115-125
8. St. Telesphorus, 125-36
9. St. Hyginus, 136-40
10. St. Pius I, 140-55
11. St. Anicetus, 155-66
12. St. Soter, 166-75
13. St. Eleuterius, 175-89
14. St. Victor I, 189-99
15. St. Zephyrinus, 199-217
16. St. Callistus 1, 217-22
17. St. Urban I, 222-30
18. St. Pontian, 230-35
19. St. Anterus, 235-36
20. St. Fabian, 236-50
21. St. Cornelius, 251-53
22. St. Lucius I, 253-54
23. St. Stephen 1, 254-57
24. St. Sixtus II, 257-58
25. St. Dionysius, 259-68
26. St. Felix I, 269-74
27. St. Eutychian, 275-83
28. St. Caius, 283-96
29. St. Marcellinus, 296-304
30. St. Marcellus 1, 304-09
31. St. Eusebius, 309-11
32. St. Melchiades, 311-14
33. St. Sylvester I, 314-35
34. St. Marcus, 336
35. St. Julius I, 337-52
36. Liberius, 352-66
37. St. Damasus I, 366-84
38. St. Siricius, 384-99
39. St. An astasius 1, 399-401
40. St. Innocent I, 401-17
41. St. Zosimus, 417-18
42. St. Boniface I, 418-22
43. St. Celestine I, 422-32
44. St. Sixtus III, 432-40
45. St. Leo 1, 440-61
46. St. Hilarius, 461-68
47. St. Simplicius, 468-83
48. St. Felix II, 483-92
49. St. Gelasius 1, 492-96
50. Anastasius II, 496-98
51. St. Symmachus, 498-514
52. St. Hormisdas, 514-23
53. St. John 1, 523-26
54. St. Felix III, 526-30
55. Boniface II, 530-32
56. John II, 533-35
57. St. Agapitus 1, 535-36
58. St. Silverius, 536-37
59. Vigilius, 537-55
60. Pelagius 1, 556-61
61. John III, 561-74
62. Benedict I, 575-79
63. Pelagius II, 579-90
64. St. Gregory 1, 590-604
65. Sabinianus, 604-06
66. Boniface III, 607
67. St. Boniface IV, 608-15
68. St. Deusdedit, 615-18
69. Boniface V, 619-25
70. Honorius I, 625-38
71. Severinus, 638-40
72. John IV, 640-42
73. Theodore I, 642-49
74. St. Martin I, 649-55
75. St. Eugene I, 655-57
76. St. Vitalian, 657-72
77. Adeodatus, 672-76
78. Donus, 676-78
79. St. Agatho, 678-81
80. St. Leo II, 682-83
81. St. Benedict II, 684-85
82. John V, 685-86
83. Conon, 686-87
84. St. Sergius I, 687-701
85. John VI, 701-05
86. John VII, 705-07
87. Sisinnius, 708
88. Constantine, 708-15
89. St. Gregory II, 715-31
90. St. Gregory III, 731-41
91. St. Zacharias, 741-52
92. Stephen II, 752-57
93. St. Paul I, 757-67
94. Stephen III, 768-72
95. Adrian I, 772-95
96. St. Leo III, 795-816
97. Stephen IV, 816-17
98. St. Paschal I, 817-24
99. Eugene II, 824-27
100. Valentine, 827
101. Gregory IV, 827-44
102. Sergius II,. 84447
103. St. Leo IV, 847-55
104. Benedict III, 855-58
105. St. Nicholas I, 858-67
106. Adrian II, 867-72
107. John VIII, 872-82
108. Marinus I, 882-84
109. St. Adrian III, 884-85
110. Stephen V, 885.91
111. Formosus, 891-96
112. Bomface. VI, 896
113. Stephen VI, 896-97
114. Romanus, 897
115. Theodore II, 897
116. John IX, 898-900
117. Benedict IV, 900-03
118. LeoV,903
119. Sergius III, 904-11
120. Anastasius III, .911-13
121. Lando, 913-14
122. John X, 914-28
123. Leo VI, 928
124. Stephen VII, 928-31
125. John XI, 931-36
126. Leo VII, 936-39
127. Stephen VIII, 939-42
128. Marinus II, 942-46
129. Agaptus II, 946-55

 

[BlestOne]

1. John XII, 955-64
2. Leo VIII, 964-65
3. Benedict V, 965,
4. John XIII, 965-72
5. Benedict VI, 973-7
6. Benedict VII, 974-83
7. John XIV, 983-84
8. John XV, 985-96
9. Gregory V, 996-99
10. Sylvester II, 999-1003
11. John XVII) 1003
12. John XVIII, 1003-09
13. Sergius IV, 1009-12
14. Benedict VIII, 1012-24
15. John XI~, 1024-32
16. Benedict IX, 1032-45
17. Sylvester III, 1045
18. Benedict IX, 1045 (2nd)
19. Gregory VI, 104546
20. Clement JI, 1046-47
21. Benedict IX, 104748 (3rd)
22. Damasus II, 1048
23. St. Leo TX, 1049-54
24. Victor II, 1055-57
25. Stephen IX, 1057-58
26. Nicholas II, 1059-61
27. Alexander II, 1061-73
28. St. Gregory VII, 1073-85
29. Bl. Victor III, 1087
30. Bl. Urban II, 1088-99
31. Paschal II, 1099-1118
32. Gelasius II, 1118-19
33. Callistus II, 1119-24
34. Honorius II, 1124-30
35. Innocent II, 113043
36. Celestine II, 1143-44
37. Lucius, 1144-45
38. Bl. EugeneIll, 1145-53
39. Anastasius IV, 1153-54
40. Adrian IV, 1154-59
41. Alexander III, 1159-81
42. Lucius III, 1181-85.
43. Urban III, 1185-87
44. Gregory VIII, 1187
45. Clement III, 1187-91
46. Celestine Ill, 1191-98
47. Innocent III, .1~8-1216
48. Honorius III, 1216-27
49. Gregory IX, 1227-41
50. Celestine IV, 1241
51. Innocent IV, 1243-54
52. Alexander IV, '1254-61
53. Urban IV, 1261-64
54. Clement IV, 1265-68
55. BI. Gregory X, 1271-76
56. BI. Innocent 'V, 1276
57. Adrian V, 1276
58. John XXI, 1276-77
59. Nicholas III, 1277-80
60. Martin IV, 1281-85
61. Honorius IV, 1285-87
62. Nicholas IV, 1288-91
63. St. Celestine V, 1294
64. Boniface VIII, 1294-03
65. Benedict’ XI, .1303-04
66. Clernent V, 1305-14
67. John XXII, 1316-34
68. Benedict XII, 1334-42
69. Clement VI, 1342-52
70. Innocent VI, 1352-62
71. Bl. Urban V, 1362-70
72. Gregory XI, 1370-78
73. Urban VI, 1378-89
74. Boniface IX, 1389-1404
75. Innocent VII, 1404-06
76. Gregory XII, 1406-15
    resigned during Western Schism to permit a proper election of a successor.
77. Martin V, '1417-31
78. Eugene IV, 143147
79. Nicholas V, 1447-55
80. Callistus III, 1455-58
81. Pius II, 1458-64
82. Paul II, 1464-71
83. Sixtus IV, 1471-84
84. Innocent VIII, 1484-92
85. Alexander VI, 1492-1503
86. Pius III, 1503
87. Julius II, 1503-13
88. Leo X, 1513-21
89. Adrian VI, 1522-23
90. Clement VII, 1523-'34
91. Paul III, 1534-49
92. Julius III, 1550-55
93. Marcellus II, 1555
94. Paul IV, 1555-59
95. Pius IV, 1559-65
96. St. Pius V, 1566-72
97. Gregory XIII, 1572-85
98. Sixtus V, 1585-90
99. Urban VII, 1590
100. Gregory XIV, 1590-91
101. Innocent IX, 1591
102. Clement VIII, 1592-1605
103. Leo XI, 1605
104. Paul V, 1605-21
105. Gregory XV, 1621-23
106. Urban VIII, 1623-44
107. Innocent X; 1644-55
108. Alexander VII, 1655-67
109. Clement IX, 1667-69
110. Clement X, 1670-76’
111. Bl. Innocent XI, 1676-89
112. Alexander VIII, 1689-91
113. Innocent Xli, 1691-1700
114. Clement XI, 1700-21
115. Innocent XIII, 1721-24
116. Benedict XIII, 1724-30
117. Clement XII, 1730-40
118. Benedict XIV, 1740-58
119. Clement XIII, 1758-69
120. Clement XIV, 1769-74
121. Pius VI, 1775-99
122. Pius VII, 1800-23
123. Leo XII, 1823-29
124. Pius VIII, 1829-30
125. Gregory XVI, 1831-46
126. Pius IX, 1846-78
127. Leo XIII, 1878-1903
128. St. Pius X, 1903-14
129. Benedict XV, 1914-22
130. Pius XI, 1922-1939
131. Pius XII, 1939-1958
132. John XXIII, 1958-1963
133. Paul VI, 1963-1978
134. John Paul I, 1978
135. John Paul II, 1978-2005
136. Benedict XVI, 2005-present

 

[BlestOne]

Wow …
I wasn’t trying to kill the thread, just trying to show that we have the historical evidence to prove who we are…hmmmmm Sorry about the thread killer there.

 

[estesbob]

BlestOne:

Wow …
I wasn’t trying to kill the thread, just trying to show that we have the historical evidence to prove who we are…hmmmmm Sorry about the thread killer there.

Thanks for the list although it made me feel old to realize i am on my sixth Pope!

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

As indicated in the previous posts, the Catholic Church can trace its roots all the way back to St. Peter (and, thus, Jesus Christ). Some people seem to get wrapped up in the name that that these early Christians called themselves. They are concerned with the fact that the word Catholic is not in the bible. As most of us know, neither is the word trinity, but few seem to be worried about that. St. Ignatius did indeed use the word Catholic as early as 107AD and from what I can tell the name just caught on from there. All of the really early Church Fathers probably called themselves “Christians”. But, here is the clincher… look at the beliefs and practices written about by those early Christians. They are undeniably and completely CATHOLIC. They are the same practices and beliefs that are still practiced today in the Catholic Church. Ignatius, Ireneus, Clement, Justin Martyr all have left detailed epistles talking about their worship which included profession of faith, confession of sin and most importantly, the consumption of the Body and Blood of Christ known as the Eucharist. In fact, it is startling to see just how little the mass has changed in practices in 2000 years.

So what if the earliest church hadn’t thought of a name to call itself until a mere 70 or 80 years after the death and resurrection of Our Lord? That is relatively fast for those days (particularly considering the fact that these people were persecuted and had to meet in secret). If you read the earliest Christian writings the Catholic Church is there, right from the beginning. There are several books which have compilations of these writings. I would recommend, Four Witnesses by Rod Bennnett, for anyone who is interested.

 

[gryskull]

imroc:

Since you started the thread I think it would be appropriate that you show how your church was the “first” church. Honestly, I think this thread should be deleted because theres no weight to it. Or better yet, I should go and start a church called, “My Church.” Then, nobody will every question me about my church being the “first”.

at the bottom of my billboard will be:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Can I join?

 

[gryskull]

Will Pick:

I;m very sorry I just worded my question wrong What I was trying to say is the Bible said the church is the body of Christ,so the first church is all that believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ so would that not be the “FIRST” church and not the catholic church.
I;m not trying to start any thing I was just looking for a answer,and I may still have it worded wrong if I do I’m sorry and you can just forget it,God bless you all

I don’t know if this will help but I hope it does. The church of Christ is the Catholic church founded on Peter. The word Catholic which means universal was first used by St Ignatius of Antioch, he was a disciple of John the Apostle, around the time 107 A.D. When he used the word Katolikos(Catholic) he wasn’t really using it as a name of the church because as we all know the Church of Christ didn’t have a name. It was simply known as the church( Look at 1 Tim 3:15). But this name stuck so as to distinguish the real church since there where heresies going around. That’s the reason why we call ourselves Catholic because it is the church that is know throughout or the one that is universally accecpted. Maybe a book would help you understand why we are catholic. The title of the book is “The four witnesses” by Rod Bennett.