"The early church was NOT Catholic. That evolved at a later date. The early church met in believers' homes and put their faith in Jesus only."
It certainly was Catholic. They believed in the Eucharistic real presence of Christ. They believed in the monarchial role of bishops. They believed in both oral tradition and Scripture as the well spring of God's Revelation. They believed that Peter had a primacy above the other apostles. And so forth.
If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and acts like a duck...
Otherwise, you are saying that the Church totally transformed in less than 100 years after Christ's death and resurrection. Didn't He promise the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church?
Regards
In reading through this thread, I came across your post. You say, "They believed that Peter had primacy above the other apostles." Would you be so kind as to share a passage of scripture where others did just what you wrote? Thanks.
ampu