Nowhere in scripture is the word “catholic” or “Catholic” for that matter used.Duh. Christ founded ONE Church not many. One flock, one shepherd. Catholic means UNIVERSAL.
“Duh. Christ founded ONE Church not many.”
Right, one flock, one shepherd. Believers and Jesus.
I’m well aware of what “catholic” means thank you very much. I’d have thought you would have picked that up in my post.
I’d say more but I’m tired of this discussion.
Jesus Christ did not found a church...Jesus founded disciples who became (because they were disciples) the church(es)...
No one joined the church...They were added as they became believers...
Churches already existed when people started turning to Jesus...And men started creating their own churhes just as quickly...The Roman, pagan church as well, was very alive and well at the time...
Constantine combined a large religious group with the pagan church and it turned out to be your religion...That's NOT the church that Jesus founded...
You claim your church fathers are direct descendents of the Apostles...Maybe some were...Maybe not...Maybe they were some of the ones that were run out of the church by Paul and others...Your claim of being the one, true church is meaningless...The fact that you can produce a (broken) lineage back to Apostles is meaningless as well...No one knows how accurate that lineage record is...
The reason your church lasted so long and was/is as powerful as it was is due to it's alliance with pagan and secular gov'ts....
And it means the Body of Christ, even those who have no church to go to or have to meet in underground or house churches, like many in foreign lands.