Was The Catholic Church Founded By Emperor Constantine?


PREAMBLE:
With a population of 1,121,516,000 (The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010), 25 million of which are in Nigeria, the Catholic Church is the world’s largest religious body. It is also Christianity’s oldest and more organized church. Despite the fact that the Catholic Church is an embodiment of success in Christianity, some critics still see the church as an enigma, making it the most controversial religious concept in the world. The controversies about the Catholic Church have raised a lot of dust, unwarranted, within Christendom and the world in general.

It would not be out of place to state here that, the Catholic Church has endured controversies and criticisms from certain quarters right from the 9th Century to date. However, each heresy, schism, and apostasy was dealt with according to the dictates of the scripture and teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, under whose authority and commands the Catholic Church came into being. 

Was The Catholic Church Founded By Emperor Constantine?

FACT: 
“Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of man is?’ ‘Some say John the Baptist’, they answered. ‘Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other Prophet’. ‘What about you?’ He asked them. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God’. ‘Good for you, Simon son of John!’ answered Jesus. ‘For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my father in Heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.’”

The above excerpts quoted from the book of Saint Mathew, set in motion the formation of the Catholic Church by Jesus Christ. Jesus established the Catholic Church with Simon Peter, the Rock, designated as the first Leader (Pope).

The word ‘Catholic’ means universal. It is derived from the Latin word Catholicus denoting or relating to the entire body of Christians, especially to the church before the separation and reformation period. A notable exposition of the term Catholic, as it had developed during the first three centuries of Christianity was given by St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his catecheses (348): The church is called Catholic on the ground of its worldwide extension, its doctrinal completeness, its adaptation to the needs of men of every kind, and its moral and spiritual perfection.

About 33 years after the ascension of Christ into heaven, Apostle Peter fled Jerusalem to Rome during the persecution, and from there he led the Catholic Church. From the time of Apostle Peter till date, there have been 265 Popes in direct succession to him. The position of ‘Pope’ was established by Christ and the office has been maintained in an apostolic manner since the time of Christ. The apostolic line of succession is seated in Rome till this very day. Many throughout time have tried to rationalize away and deny the authority and structure of the church as established by Jesus Christ and has maintained a clear line of apostolic leadership to this day. There is no doubt, however, that the church has celebrated the sacraments and worshiped the Lord essentially the same way since the time of Christ.

Emperor Constantine only appeared on the fray of the Catholic Church after 300 years of its existence. In the year 313AD, Constantine announced toleration of Christianity in the Edict of Milan, which removed penalties for professing Christianity. At the age of 40, he converted to Christianity and in the year 325AD, he convened the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Because of the importance of the Council, many people believe that he created the church, but in fact there had been many Councils prior to Nicaea and the structure of the church with its Pope and Bishops already existed. Constantine was a convert of the Catholic Church and Christianity, and not the founder. Christ is the founder of the Catholic Church.

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