In a recent podcast on the topic of where to find the expression “Catholic Church” in the Bible (spoiler alert: it’s Acts 9:31), I quoted a comment from a viewer, who claimed:
“I am afraid Catholicism is a poisoned challis [sic]! It uses some biblical terminology and trappings to come across as Christianity – but it poisons the cup with all its other false teachings…”
This person seems to labor under the misconception that the Bible came before the Catholic Church. But, of course, it’s the other way around. The fact of the matter is the Catholic Church is history’s oldest and largest Christian body. Throughout the centuries up to the present day, the Catholic Church has continued the ministry of the apostles. The Fundamentalist claim that “the Catholic Church is not Bible-based” is therefore true. The Church is Christ-based and the Bible is Church-based! The Church does not use “some biblical trappings to come across as Christianity” it is the basis of Christianity.
All that being said, the question of the Catholic Church’s legitimacy and authority remains a matter of debate between Catholics and our separated brethren. In answer to the above claim by my Fundamentalist interlocutor, what follows is merely the tip of the iceberg of the biblical evidence that supports the Catholic Church’s claims regarding its foundation, authority, and role in salvation history.
1. The Foundation of the Church
The foundation of the Catholic Church is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the authority He bestowed upon His apostles. One of the most pivotal passages in this regard is found in the Gospel of Matthew:
“And I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
In this verse, Jesus gives Simon bar Jonah the name “Peter” or “Cephas” (from the Aramaic “kepa” meaning “rock”) explicitly naming him as the “foundational stone” of His Church. This passage is significant for several reasons. First, it establishes Peter as the leader of the apostles, suggesting a hierarchical structure within the early Church. Second, the promise that the “gates of netherworld will not prevail against it ” indicates the Church’s divine protection and endurance through the ages. After all, Jesus promised to be with us “until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
2. The Authority of the Apostles
After His resurrection, Jesus further emphasized the authority of His apostles in the Great Commission:
“Then Jesus approached them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-19)
This mandate to evangelize and baptize underscores the mission and the authority given to the apostles to lead the Church. The Catholic Church continues this apostolic mission, maintaining the teachings and practices handed down from the beginning through apostolic succession.
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit
The presence of the Holy Spirit is another critical aspect of the Church’s foundation. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles at Pentecost:
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all assembled together in one place. Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound similar to that of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were sitting.” (Acts 2:1-2)
This event marks the birth of the Church, empowering the apostles to preach the Gospel and perform miracles. The Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Spirit continues to guide and protect the Church, ensuring that it remains faithful to Christ’s teachings.
4. The Unity of the Church
The New Testament emphasizes the importance of unity within the Church. In John 17:20-21, Jesus prays for the unity of His followers:
“I pray not only on behalf of these, but also for those who through their word will come to believe in me. May they all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
This call for unity is foundational to the Church’s understanding of its mission. The Catholic Church is the visible manifestation of this unity, striving to maintain a cohesive body of believers under the leadership of the pope, who is the successor of St. Peter.
5. The Sacraments and the Church’s Role in Salvation
The Catholic Church teaches that it plays a vital role in the salvation of souls through the sacraments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the sacraments are “the means by which Christ communicates his grace to the faithful” (CCC 1131). Biblical evidence for the sacramental nature of the Church can be found in the words of Jesus:
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)
The Catechism says that through Baptism we enter the Church as through a door: “Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments” (CCC 1213).
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)
Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist highlights the Church’s role in administering the sacraments, which makes the Church essential for our spiritual nourishment and salvation.
6. The Church as the Body of Christ
The Apostle Paul elaborates on the nature of the Church as the Body of Christ in his letters, particularly in 1 Corinthians:
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
These words emphasize the interconnectedness of believers within the Church and the importance of each member’s role. The Catholic Church interprets this passage as a call to recognize the Church as the living Body of Christ on earth, with Christ as its head (Colossians 1:18).
+ + + + +
The biblical evidence for the Catholic Church is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, the authority of the apostles, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the call for unity, the sacramental life, and the understanding of the Church as the Body of Christ. These biblical proofs all support the Catholic Church’s claim to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church established by Christ. As such, the Catholic Church is not only the continuation of the early Christian community but also the essential instrument of God’s grace in the world today. Through its teachings, sacraments, and commitment to unity, the Catholic Church fulfills its mission to lead all people to Christ.
“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).
And that’s no nonsense.