IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THE FIRST CHURCH?
By JOHN F. JONES
THE above is a question that is perplexing many in this age, and is one that should find a satisfactory answer. Such an answer can be found in the New Testament scriptures. In Mark 3 : 13, 14 we have the account of the organization of the first church and the setting apart of the apostles to preach. Also in Matt. 10 : 1 and in Luke 6 : 12, 13 a record of the same event is found. In the scriptures quoted it will be seen that Jesus Himself is the organizer, and He, we are told in Eph. 1 : 22, God “gave to be head over all things to the church, which is His body.” This organization was perfected in Jerusalem in the year A. D. 31, thus making the Jerusalem church the first church. The same year we have the instruction of Jesus, the head of the church which He Himself had organized, commanding them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.” Acts 1 : 4. In that same year, A. D. 31, the promise came to the church, and a wonderful work was accomplished which added to their numbers “about three thousand souls.” Acts 2 : 41. They continued in the good work, “and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The church at Jerusalem, the first Christian church, the apostolic church, was not permitted to carry forward the Gospel work a long time without interruption; for in three years from its organization bitter persecution set in, and Stephen, one of the deacons, was cruelly stoned to death. Acts 7 : 59. So great was the persecution that they were scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8 : 1. Notwithstanding all this, Jerusalem was the recognized headquarters of the organization, and there the first ecumenical council was held. The labors of the scattered brethren were not without fruit to Jesus. During their twelve years’ exile, a number of churches had been raised up, taking the name of the places wherein they were raised,—Ephesus, Philippi, Macedonia, Corinth, Rome, etc.9In the promulgation of the Gospel of Christ in that age it was to be expected that bitter opposition would be encountered and friction result, as doctrines opposing Judaism were being presented. Such truly was the case, making it necessary to hold a council, or conference, and this council was held at Jerusalem, A. D. 46, twelve years after their dispersion, with apostle James in the chair. After seriously considering the matter brought before the council, Paul, Barnabas, and Peter speaking in turn, it was left to president James to render his sentence, which was to the intent that the Gentiles who had accepted the Gospel should not be troubled about circumcision. Acts 15 : 13-35. This, in brief, establishes the fact that the church at Rome was not the first church. Also that Peter was not the first presiding officer in the apostolic church. When and how the Roman Catholic Church was organized, established, etc., is another matter. Cambridge, Md. JOHN F. JONES.