For the sake of this article, let’s avoid peripheral commentaries, along with denominational and focus solely on the basic history of the Church and how we arrived at where we are today.
Was the original or early Church Catholic? Yes, but not in the way most people assume. To understand this, we must examine origins and language. The term “catholic” comes from Greek, not from Rome, and this distinction is essential.
The Greek word katholikós (καθολικός), formed from kata meaning “according to” and holos meaning “the whole,” literally means:
• “according to the whole”
• “universal”
• “complete”
This is important because, originally, catholic simply meant universal, complete, or encompassing all believers- a gathering of people where God was present.
We know that Jesus intended the body of believers, originally referred to as The Way, to be His Church, as He Himself referred to it as such (Matt. 16:18- "On this rock I will build my church..."). There was no intention to divide ideologies, teachings, or create denominations. Those divisions were entirely man-made.
A bishop named Ignatius of Antioch was the first known person to use the Greek term catholic around AD 107, as noted in a letter he wrote to the Smyrnaeans.
At that time:
• There was no Roman Catholic institution
• No pope as later defined (Peter never technically held the position)
• No denominational structure'
“Catholic” referred to the worldwide body of believers holding the true apostolic faith- not to a specific church hierarchy.
Early Christians- a term likely coined by outsiders as a slight against those practicing The Way (often interpreted as “little Christs” or “Christ-like”)- understood the meaning of catholic. It was used to distinguish orthodox (right-believing) Christianity from heretical sects and to express unity across geography, culture, and language, something unprecedented and rapidly developing at the time.
This is why the Apostles’ Creed states, “I believe in the holy catholic Church.” When it was written, this meant, “I believe in the universal body of Christ.” At that time, there was essentially one Church, spread across many regions. The word church still had nothing to do with a structure or building, it referred entirely to the people belonging to the movement.
Over the centuries, as authority centralized, the church in Rome gained influence. The term “Roman Catholic” emerged to distinguish it from the developing Eastern Orthodox churches and, later, Protestant movements. As this happened, the meaning of the word shifted. Catholic moved from meaning “universal” (its original sense) to Roman Catholic, a later institutional and geographical identifier.
.....Pause. Let’s reset.....
Again, the earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth did not call themselves Christians. They called the movement 'The Way'. Saul / Paul said, “I persecuted the Way to the death” (Acts 22:4).
The term Christian appears only after the movement spread to non-Jews: “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). At that time, all followers of The Way were Christians. Catholic was not an identity, it was a description. Leadership was still apostolic.
The Greek word for church used in Scripture is ekklesia, meaning “called-out assembly.” It did not mean a building. However, persecution intensified. As the apostles died and persecution increased, organization became necessary. Elders, bishops, and overseers were established, and teaching was guarded to prevent false doctrine. Creeds began to form, authority became localized, and unity was no longer assumed, it was something that needed protection. The Church became a global body with localized, centralized leadership.
In the fourth century AD, Constantine the Great legalized Christianity. The Council of Nicaea established doctrine, and then:
• The Bishop of Rome gained supremacy
• Tradition began to rival Scripture
• “Catholic” slowly became institutional rather than purely theological
This is where Roman Catholicism emerged as a distinct authority structure.
Fast forward (skipping a great deal of detail) to 1054. This period resulted in a major split between East (Eastern Orthodox) and West (Roman Catholic). Disputes over authority, theology, language, culture, and governance created a deep divide. From this point forward, Christianity was no longer one unified institution. Over time, and through many more disagreements, further divisions occurred, eventually paving the way for what we now recognize as approximately 45,000 denominations and thus also experiencing a linguistic shift from being a body of believers to an institution, facility, or place.
So, was the original Church the Catholic Church as we know it today? No, not even close.
But by the original definition of the word, was... and is... the entire body of Christ catholic, both then and now? Yes.
I hope this history helps clarify the heritage of the Church and puts an end to uneducated claims that one institution alone is right while others are wrong. Such thinking is uninformed and fruitless. Scripture says "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" Ephesians 4: 4-6.
This does NOT mean that all churches, denominations, etc. practice sound biblical theology. In fact, some blatantly exercise false teachings. This however, is another topic for another time.
To close, should you ever encounter controversy similar to the above, I hope that you will shake the dust from your feet and move along confidently. God is not the author of confusion or controversy. Rest confident in your research. Pray for those who remain uninformed and lack the drive for finding the truth. And remember, it is only through the Spirit that we gain understanding and wisdom.
~ Devin
Devin Osborne
