Who started the Christian Church?

[CHRISTINE77]

Catholics always say that Peter was the first pope, the rock, the key holder of the Catholic Church. But what about Paul? In a way I think Paul really made Christianity what it is today. He was the one who declared all Gentiles were part of the kingdom of Israel, descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews were. He was the one who denounced the Jewish laws (such as circumcism and dietary restrictions), and told all people that they could be saved only by grace and the crucifixion of Jesus.

What do you think, both Catholics and non-Catholics? Who was most important, Peter or Paul?

 

[ralphinal]

Be careful lest you feed the Muslim’s lie that Paul created or distorted Christianity.

The Faith was founded by Jesus. Paul was the first great theologin. Peter lead the growth of the early CHurch. We cannot say that Paul was greater as he had a different ministry than Peter. We can say that Peter was head of the Church.

 

[chris_molter]

The Pope isn’t always the most visible or most important person in the Church. Quite often a saint or theologian of the period outshines the successor of Peter.

Why would it necessarily be different with Peter himself?

 

[StMarina303ad]

Catholics always say that Peter was the first pope, the rock, the key holder of the Catholic Church. But what about Paul? In a way I think Paul really made Christianity what it is today. He was the one who declared all Gentiles were part of the kingdom of Israel, descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews were. He was the one who denounced the Jewish laws (such as circumcism and dietary restrictions), and told all people that they could be saved only by grace and the crucifixion of Jesus.

What do you think, both Catholics and non-Catholics? Who was most important, Peter or Paul?

Orthodox Christians honor both Sts. Peter and Paul equally as the found of the Church in Rome after they’d each already started the Church in other areas: Paul all over Greece and Peter in Antioch.

I know a man by the name of Michael, who lives in Thessalonica that attends the very Church St. Paul established and later wrote to in the books of the Bible 1 and 2nd Thess. He works in as a Hotel Manager there in Thessalonica.

As far as who started the Church, Jesus the corner stone laid the foundation of the Church which are the 12 Apostles and the Holy Spirit brough the Church to life at the 1st Penacost by the descent of the Holy Spirit through Holy Fire.

The head of the Church is still Christ, we are His body. The Orthodox Church is His Bride and we should all love and honor the Church as a husband would love and honor his bride.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Orthodox Christians honor both Sts. Peter and Paul equally as the found of the Church in Rome after they’d each already started the Church in other areas: Paul all over Greece and Peter in Antioch.

I know a man by the name of Michael, who lives in Thessalonica that attends the very Church St. Paul established and later wrote to in the books of the Bible 1 and 2nd Thess. He works in as a Hotel Manager there in Thessalonica.

As far as who started the Church, Jesus the corner stone laid the foundation of the Church which are the 12 Apostles and the Holy Spirit brough the Church to life at the 1st Penacost by the descent of the Holy Spirit through Holy Fire.

The head of the Church is still Christ, we are His body. The Orthodox Church is His Bride and we should all love and honor the Church as a husband would love and honor his bride.

Well, **yes of course **Jesus started it all. No question about that!. But Peter only has 2 letters in the New Testament; Paul has many. Acts is mostly about Paul, just a little bit about Peter.
Paul has the most to say about how to be a Christian.

 

[ralphinal]

Well, **yes of course **Jesus started it all. No question about that!. But Peter only has 2 letters in the New Testament; Paul has many. Acts is mostly about Paul, just a little bit about Peter.
Paul has the most to say about how to be a Christian.

That does not mean that he started the faith. Nor does it mean that he was more important. For example, who wrote more about being Christian, Paul or T.D. Jakes? Well, Jakes did, but we cannot say that he is more important that Paul.

Jesus used St. Paul for a specific role, that of teacher and Church-starter. Peter had another role, but his role was just as important.

 

[StMarina303ad]

Well, **yes of course **Jesus started it all. No question about that!. But Peter only has 2 letters in the New Testament; Paul has many. Acts is mostly about Paul, just a little bit about Peter.
Paul has the most to say about how to be a Christian.

If you really want to attend a Church which Paul founded, go to Greece and attend one of the many he directly started. They are in communion with the rest of the Orthodox Church. You will not be led astray, but you will be led to the fullness of Truth.

However, you do not need to travel that far. Surely you have an Orthodox Church closer to you, although it may have been founded by one of the other of Christ’s Apostles: St. Mark founded the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria - you can find some of their missionary Churches here in the U.S., St. Thomas founded the Orthodox Church in India - you can find some of their missionary Churches here in the U.S., St. Andrew founded the Greek Orthodox Church in Constantinople (known at the time by the name Byzantium) which is all over the U.S. St. James established the Church in Jeruselem and they have missionary Churches here in the U.S. Just go to: scoba.us/directory.html to find the nearest Church to you.
Or, move just move to Greece.

 

[inJESUS]

He was the one who declared all Gentiles were part of the kingdom of Israel, descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews were. He was the one who denounced the Jewish laws (such as circumcism and dietary restrictions), and told all people that they could be saved only by grace and the crucifixion of Jesus.

was he the only one? what did Peter say about these things?

What do you think, both Catholics and non-Catholics? Who was most important, Peter or Paul?

 

[CHRISTINE77]

was he the only one? what did Peter say about these things?

each has his mission, they preached together and travelled together.

 

[inJESUS]

Paul and Peter really didn’t travel together.

my poor choice of words. I meant they met before starting their travels and there are historical evidences in Southern Lebanon, in a very old church, in a small room near the church where the 2 aopstles used to meet before leaving for other places.

I think Peter was a little shocked by some of Paul’s ideas.

like what?

 

[JLSamuel818]

Still, Paul was very full aware of who our Lord has left authority to. He followed peters rules.

Paul was a non-believer, and persecutor of the first Christians. Till Christ came to him and converted him. He was told to find Peter. There he dedicated himself to Christ.

He was very well of who had the authority over him.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Still, Paul was very full aware of who our Lord has left authority to. He followed peters rules.

Paul was a non-believer, and persecutor of the first Christians. Till Christ came to him and converted him. He was told to find Peter. There he dedicated himself to Christ.

He was very well of who had the authority over him.

I agree that Peter had been given authority by Jesus, and Peter was the one who had the vision of the sheet descending with all the unclean animals in it.

I think Peter was more traditional than Paul. He still believed in a lot of the Jewish practices and laws, while Paul said the law was no longer important, because of Jesus Christ.

 

[inJESUS]

I think Peter was more traditional than Paul. He still believed in a lot of the Jewish practices and laws, while Paul said the law was no longer important, because of Jesus Christ.

Paul as well not only believed but practiced the Jewish laws. What you are refering to are teachings about gentiles converting to Christianity, and the explanation of the law in light of Jesus’ salvation. After all, when the judaizers attacked the apostles’ teachings regarding the law to gentiles, both Peter and Paul refuted them while both practiced the Jewish law.

 

[JLSamuel818]

Be that as it may, Paul was a God fearing man, he obeyed Peter authority.

And this is not true that Paul thought the laws were not important. The laws are VERY important. Paul knew that Christ didn’t come to abolish the laws and word of God, he came to fulfill it.

Grace,
_[Samuel]

 

[CHRISTINE77]

I’m really not trying to start an argument here. I just was thinking that Protestants tend to emphasize St. Paul’s teachings, more than Catholics do. But I could be very wrong on this.

 

[JLSamuel818]

If protestants really did listen to St.Pauls teachings, then they would oblige to Peter’s authority as Paul did, along with Peter’s succession of authority, Pope Benedict.

 

[ralphinal]

I’m really not trying to start an argument here. I just was thinking that Protestants tend to emphasize St. Paul’s teachings, more than Catholics do. But I could be very wrong on this.

They do, but that is because the heresies were based on Paul, not on the Gosples or the other books.

 

[swariffin]

The head of the Church is still Christ, we are His body. The Orthodox Church is His Bride and we should all love and honor the Church as a husband would love and honor his bride.

The very head of the Church is indeed Christ as we called it the Groom and the Church is the bride. Therefore, the title of the pope is also the Pontiff which means the bridge. The other title of the pope is Vicar of Christ.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Catholics always say that Peter was the first pope, the rock, the key holder of the Catholic Church.

Gabriel of 12
Jesus is the founder of the Catholic church who Named Simon “Rock” and built his church upon Peter (kephas). See Mathew 16:14-18

CHRISTINE77
But what about Paul? In a way I think Paul really made Christianity what it is today. He was the one who declared all Gentiles were part of the kingdom of Israel, descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews were.

Gabriel of 12
Yes and no; for clarification; Paul preached to the Jews first then to the Gentiles and argued that his Gentile converts (church’s) did not have to be circumcised or follow Jewish traditional dietary laws etc. James Bishop of Jerusalem a predominate Jewish community did not accept the customs the Gentiles had, coming into Jewish Christian communities. Thus the first Christian counciled and when Peter spoke, all fell silent. Allowing the Gentile Christians the freedom not to accept circumcision into the community only Baptism was needed to enter the kingdom of God. As Peter first preached in Acts at Pentecost, then Paul later taught baptism over circumcision.

Peter is the one God gave the vision in order to accept the Gentiles into the body of Jesus Christ not Paul.

CHRISTINE77
He was the one who denounced the Jewish laws (such as circumcism and dietary restrictions), and told all people that they could be saved only by grace and the crucifixion of Jesus.

Gabriel of 12
Paul teaches, Grace saves and by baptism one dies to self, and resurrects in Jesus Christ through Grace in the baptismal waters. Thereby rejecting circumcision laws for Gentile converts.

CHRISTINE77
What do you think, both Catholics and non-Catholics? Who was most important, Peter or Paul?

Gabriel of 12
Both are important but Jesus tells Peter to feed and tend his flock until he returns. Jesus tells Saul, “why are you persecuting me”? and became Paul the greatest Christian Evangelist ever lived. The greatest one only our father in heaven knows, Jesus states the greatest one is the one who serves. So I ask who is serving today? Peter’s office is still here in the Roman Catholic Pope, and the same church still preaches Peter’s message through Pauls apostolic teachings, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you”.

Peace be with you

 

[colliric]

Catholics always say that Peter was the first pope, the rock, the key holder of the Catholic Church. But what about Paul? In a way I think Paul really made Christianity what it is today. He was the one who declared all Gentiles were part of the kingdom of Israel, descendants of Abraham, just as the Jews were. He was the one who denounced the Jewish laws (such as circumcism and dietary restrictions), and told all people that they could be saved only by grace and the crucifixion of Jesus.

What do you think, both Catholics and non-Catholics? Who was most important, Peter or Paul?

In answering the thread title’s question I would say it was God, when he created the entire universe. The Church was part of his salvational plan for mankind, so he created it too. He created everything.

However if you want to talk more specifically as to the creation of the Church as we know it today, you should naturally start with Jesus, who preached the coming and continious coming(an important point to note) of the kingdom of God and charged this specific mission, along with all that it entails, to his followers. Without the Son of God, there would be no Church as we know it today.

The church is continually being founded in the world today and it is part of the Kingdom of God(but is not the Kingdom by itself).