Who were the Christians who succeeded the Apostles?

Were they Catholics or Protestants?**

Short and direct answer:

The Christians who succeeded the Apostles were Catholics (the early Church), not Protestants.

Protestant churches did not exist until the 16th century (1500s) — about 1,500 years after the Apostles.

 

 

 

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📜 1. What were the earliest Christians called after the Apostles?

In the first centuries, the followers of Christ were simply called:

• The Church

• The Christian Church

• The Church founded by the Apostles

• The universal (Catholic) Church

The word “Catholic” appears as early as 110 A.D., used by St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of the Apostle John:

“Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”
— St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans (A.D. 110)

This is only 80 years after Jesus and written by a man personally taught by the Apostle John.

That means:

✔ The Church immediately after the Apostles was already called Catholic
✘ There was no group called “Protestants”
✘ There was no group called “Born Again” as a separate denomination

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🕊 2. Who led the Church after the Apostles?

History shows a clear, unbroken line:

Apostles → Bishops → Early Church Fathers → Catholic Church

Examples:

• Peter → Linus → Cletus → Clement (first Popes)

• St. Ignatius of Antioch (disciple of John)

• St. Polycarp (disciple of John)

• St. Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp)

All these early Christian leaders were:

✔ bishops
✔ believed in the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ
✔ believed in apostolic authority
✔ believed in baptismal regeneration
✔ believed in the authority of the Church
✔ worshipped liturgically (Mass-like worship)

These beliefs match historic Catholic teaching, not Protestant teaching.

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📅 3. When did Protestantism begin?

Protestantism began in 1517 A.D. with Martin Luther.

That means there were:

• No Baptists in the year 200

• No Pentecostals in the year 300

• No Born Again denominations in the year 400

• No Protestants at all before 1500

For 15 centuries, the Christian community was one united body:
the Catholic (universal) Church.

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🧭 4. So who are the direct successors of the Apostles?

Historically and factually:

✔ The Catholics are the Christians who continued directly from the Apostles

✘ The Protestants did not exist until 1,500 years later

Even Protestant historians and scholars admit:

• The early Church looked Catholic (sacraments, bishops, liturgy).

• The term “Catholic Church” is the oldest name for Christianity.

• Protestantism is a much later breakaway movement.

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🏁 Conclusion

The Christians who succeeded the Apostles are the Catholics.

They are the original, historical Christian community founded by Christ and built upon the Apostles.

Protestants are Christians too, but they did not continue from the Apostolic age — they arose much later due to the Reformation.

 

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4. The One True Church vs. Thousands of Man-Made Churches: Understanding the Big Difference

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

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