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If you want to settle the “which church did Jesus found?” question without getting lost in 2,000 years of heated debates, you can do it in just two verses.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18–19)
That’s not an advisory note. That’s a kingdom transfer of authority — from Christ to Peter — with an unshakable promise attached.
🗝️ Peter’s Keys, Christ’s Church
In the ancient world, keys meant authority. The “keys of the kingdom” weren’t just symbolic trinkets. They were the right to govern, open, close, admit, or forbid. Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, here’s a nice metaphor for friendship.” He said, “Peter, here’s the authority to bind and loose in My kingdom.”
And notice — Jesus says “My Church”. Not “My churches.” Singular.
🌍 But What About the Other Apostles?
Now, here’s where many modern discussions go wrong — they treat Peter’s primacy as if it strips the other apostles of their authority. That’s not how Christ built His Church.
After His resurrection, Jesus gave all the apostles this Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
Every apostle received the authority to preach, to baptize, and to govern in Christ’s name — and they passed that authority down through apostolic succession. That’s why the ancient churches — Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, and others with valid succession — still hold Christ’s commission in their very DNA.
⚖️ Primacy Without Denial
Peter’s primacy is a matter of office, not a denial of the apostles’ shared mission. Think of it like a captain among equals: the crew still sails the ship, but the captain carries a unique role in keeping course.
The Catholic view is that Peter’s successor (the Pope) continues that visible unifying role, ensuring the Church remains one flock under one shepherd. But even the churches outside Roman communion that have preserved true apostolic succession still participate in the same Christ-given mission to evangelize and baptize the world.
In short:
- One foundation: Christ, with Peter as the rock.
- One commission: Given to all the apostles.
- One Church: Expressed through those bodies that still carry valid apostolic succession.
💬 The Takeaway
If Jesus built His Church on Peter, then we can’t ignore that office. If Jesus sent all the apostles, then we can’t dismiss the other ancient churches that continue in their succession.
The Church is Christ’s — and the gates of hell still haven’t prevailed.
📜 Ancient Churches with Apostolic Succession
| Church | Founding Year (Tradition) | Apostolic Founders |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 33 AD | Peter, Paul |
| Eastern Orthodox | 33 AD | Andrew, John, others |
| Oriental Orthodox | 33 AD | Mark (Coptic), Thaddeus, others |
| Assyrian Church of the East | 33 AD | Thomas, Thaddeus, Bartholomew |
| Church of the East (India) | 52 AD | Thomas |
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