Are Protestants the True Church Founded by Jesus? Examining the Claims Through Scripture and History

Many Protestants claim to be the true Church founded by Jesus because they follow the Bible. But does history and Scripture support this claim? Discover the truth about the origins of Protestantism and the marks of Christ’s true Church.

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Are Protestants the True Church Founded by Jesus? Examining the Claims Through Scripture and History

Many Protestant Christians claim that they alone are the true Church of Jesus Christ because they strictly follow the Bible and reject what they call “man-made traditions” of the Catholic Church. They say that by going back to the Bible alone (sola scriptura) and obeying God's commandments, they have restored true Christianity.

But is this claim historically and biblically accurate? Can the Protestant movement, which began only in the 16th century, truly claim to be the original Church founded by Christ in the 1st century A.D.?

Let’s examine the facts and uncover the reality.

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1. When Did Protestantism Begin?

The Protestant Reformation began in 1517, when Martin Luther, a former Catholic priest, broke away from the Catholic Church. Other reformers like John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and later John Knox founded various new churches, including:

• Lutheran Church

• Reformed Church

• Presbyterian Church

• Anglican (Episcopal) Church

• Baptist Church

• Pentecostal and Evangelical churches (much later)

These churches are not the continuation of the apostolic Church but are breakaway movements, created over 1,500 years after Jesus Christ established His Church.

So while they claim to follow the Bible, they do not have historical roots going back to Jesus and the apostles.

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2. What Did Jesus Say About His Church?

Jesus clearly said:

“I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

This implies the Church He founded would:

• Be visible and continuous throughout history

• Never fall into total apostasy or error

• Be founded on Peter, the apostle

• Teach the fullness of truth (John 16:13; 1 Timothy 3:15)

The Protestant reformers rejected apostolic authority, rejected Peter’s role, and disagreed among themselves on key doctrines (even until now), which shows doctrinal division not found in the Church Christ founded.

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3. Following the Bible Alone: A Biblical Approach?

Many Protestants claim that by following sola scriptura (Bible alone), they are returning to true Christianity. But even this principle is not found in the Bible itself. In fact, the Bible teaches:

“Hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

The early Christians followed both:

• Sacred Scripture

• Sacred Tradition

The Bible itself was compiled by the Catholic Church in the 4th century. Without the Church, there would be no New Testament canon.

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4. The Marks of the True Church

According to the Nicene Creed (325 A.D.), the Church founded by Jesus is:

• One (united)

• Holy

• Catholic (universal)

• Apostolic

Can any single Protestant denomination claim these four marks?

Most Protestants are:

• Divided (over 30,000 denominations globally)

• Non-apostolic (no succession from the apostles)

• Not universal (mostly concentrated in Western or Evangelical cultures)

• Lack sacramental life (many reject baptismal regeneration and the Eucharist)

In contrast, the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, and some ancient Eastern churches trace their lineage directly to the apostles, maintain unity in doctrine and sacraments, and have existed since the first century.

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5. Do Protestants Truly Follow All God’s Commandments?

While Protestants value Scripture, many of them:

• Reject the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

• Do not honor Mary or the saints as the early Christians did

• Disregard confession, apostolic succession, and sacred tradition

• Changed the day of worship (yet criticize Catholics for "man-made tradition")

They accuse the Catholic Church of “adding” to God’s Word, but ironically, they often remove books from the Bible (like the Deuterocanonical books) and reinterpret passages outside the context of the early Church.

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Conclusion: Are Protestants the True Church of Christ?

While Protestant churches have sincere followers who love Christ and read the Bible, their historical origin, theological fragmentation, and doctrinal departures show that they are not the Church founded by Jesus Christ in the first century.

The true Church must be:

• Founded directly by Christ (not men like Luther, Calvin, or Zwingli)

• Historically continuous

• Theologically unified

• Apostolically rooted

That Church exists today in the Catholic Church, and to some degree in the Eastern Orthodox Church. These Churches alone can trace their unbroken line back to the apostles and continue to teach, sanctify, and govern as Christ intended.

Read also:  Most Protestants are claiming that their church is the true church founded by Jesus Christ. Do they have strong evidence to support their claim?; Why Protestants are afraid of history?