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I argue that Christ founded the Catholic Church is the best explanation of the following evidence:

1. That He founded a visible Church
2. The early historical evidence for the Papacy and Apostolic succession

In this episode, we examine four main areas of historical evidence:

Point #1: Peter’s role as ‘chief Apostle’ and his special primacy are attested in Matthew 16, John 21, and the lists of Apostles in the Gospels.

• In Matthew 16:18 – 19 (ESV), we read:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall 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.”

• In John 21:15-17 (ESV), we read:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

• On pg. 149 of Fr. Anthony Alexander’s College Apologetics, we learn that Peter is mentioned 179 times and all of the other Apostles were mentioned a combined 148 times in the Gospels.

Point #2: Church authority and governance is shown through the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. 

• Peter and James promulgate the Apostolic teaching on this matter. Peter stands up and proclaims the answer to the question. Everyone falls silent. Later, James confirms Peter’s answer with his own judgment.
• This is done by both Peter and James with no explicit answer to the question coming from Scripture. This scene supports the hierarchical, authoritative nature of the Church.
• James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, quotes from Amos 9:11 (ESV):

After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.

Point #3: The letter from Clement (1st century) and letters from Ignatius (105 – 110 AD) testify to the unique authority of the Church in Rome and Apostolic succession.

• From Phillip Schaff quoted on Pg. 120 of Trent Horn’s The Case for Catholicism. Schaff says, the Roman Church

gives advice, with superior administrative wisdom, to an important Church in the East, dispatches messengers to her, and exhorts her to order and unity in a tone of calm dignity and authority, as the organ of God and the Holy Spirit. This is all the more surprising if St. John, as is probable, was still living in Ephesus, which was nearer to Corinth than Rome.

Point #4: The lists of Popes written by St. Irenaeus and St. Hegesippus testify to the office of the Papacy, which goes all the way back to St. Peter himself.

• The list of St. Hegesippus is discussed at length in this article from calledtocommunion.com.
• St. Irenaeus gives the list of Popes in Against Heresies 3.3.3.
• There are about nine lists of Popes passed down by early Christian writers: Hegesippus, Irenaeus, Julius Africanus, Epiphanius, Jerome, Hippolytus, Optatus, Augustine, and the ancient Roman Canon of the mass (section II.4.4 of this article).

Resources Mentioned

• The Case for Catholicism by Trent Horn
• College Apologetics by Fr. Anthony Alexander
• The Bishops of History and the Catholic Faith: A Reply to Brandon Addison (Free article)

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