Q & A of the Catholic Faith: Romans 16:16 & Iglesia Ni Cristo: Debunking the Claim With Biblical & Historical Evidence

Description:

Explore an apologetic, scholarly analysis of Romans 16:16 — addressing claims that this verse supports Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Manalo’s doctrine. Includes biblical exegesis, Church Fathers, historical timeline, comparisons, scholarly perspective, and church history proving why this interpretation is fallacious.

Introduction

In online debates and religious discussions, some members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) claim that Romans 16:16 is a scriptural basis for their church name and exclusivist identity. This article examines this claim with biblical study, church history, patristic sources, and theological scholarship to clarify what Romans 16:16 actually means and why it cannot be used as doctrinal proof for INC.

📖 Romans 16:16 — What Does the Text Say?

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
(Romans 16:16, ESV)

🔎 Key Observations:

“Churches” — Plural
“of Christ” — Genitive descriptive (“belonging to Christ”), not a fixed proper name
Context — Paul greeting Christian communities in Rome and elsewhere.

📌 Common Misinterpretation by INC

Some INC literature interprets “churches of Christ” in Romans 16:16 as a proper name—asserting that the early church itself was called “Church of Christ” in the same way INC uses it today.

⚠️ Error: This interpretation assumes a modern denominational identity for ancient Christian communities where none existed.

📊 Comparison: Biblical Naming vs. Denominational Titles

Category	Biblical / Early Church Terms	Modern Denominational Usage
Language Type	Descriptive Genitive (“churches of Christ”)	Proper Name (Iglesia Ni Cristo)
Purpose	Identifies belonging to Christ	Identifies institutional identity
Evidence Found	Scripture & early Christian practice	Post-1900 developments
Used By Early Church Fathers	Yes — descriptive references	No
Exclusive Claim	No	Yes (in INC theology)

📜 Historical Timeline: Church Identity & Titles

📚 What the Bible Actually Uses

Paul and other New Testament writers use various terms for believers without institutional labels:

Church of God (1 Cor. 1:2)
Church of the living God (1 Tim. 3:15)
Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27)
Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19)

None suggest a unique organizational name exclusive to a later institution like INC.

📖 Patristic Evidence

From Early Church Writers

The early church used descriptive language to refer to the Christian community:

Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD) — refers to “the Church which presides in love” and addresses local churches descriptively, not as institutional trademarks.
Clement of Rome (c. 96 AD) — describes peace and unity among churches.
Didache (1st–2nd century) — instructions for Christian life and practice, no naming conventions.

👉 Conclusion: Early Christians did not use “Church of Christ” as an organizational title in the sense modern denominations do.

📜 Church History & Naming

The concept of naming denominations grew gradually:

Early centuries: Identity based on apostolic teaching and communion, not institutional brands
Reformation: Names become identifiers (Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, etc.)
Modern era: Organizational names distinct for legal and cultural reasons

Thus, quoting Romans 16:16 to claim an exclusive institutional name misses both historical context and textual meaning.

📎 Quotes from Scholars

“The phrase churches of Christ in Romans 16:16 is a descriptive genitive, indicating ownership by Christ, not a corporate or denominational title.”
— Gordon D. Fee, New International Commentary on Romans

“Early Christian writings do not ascribe formal denominational names to churches; identity centred on doctrine and apostolic authority.”
— Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition

📌 Why the Interpretation Fails

Here are critical theological issues in the INC claim:

Contextual Misreading
Treats descriptive language as an official name.
Historical Anachronism
Applies modern terms to ancient communities.
No Early Church Support
No patristic evidence that Christians used “church of Christ” as an institutional name.
Contradicts Patterns in Scripture
Paul and other writers use various descriptors.

🛡 Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) Perspective

The Catholic Church recognizes the universal Church as the Body of Christ — not confined to a singular human institution alone — and does not endorse denominational exclusivism rooted in misinterpreted titles.

The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. — CCC 811
Identification of the Church is grounded in fidelity to apostolic teaching and sacraments, not a specific modern church title.

📍 Conclusion

Romans 16:16 does NOT teach or support:

✔ An exclusive denomination called “Church of Christ”
✔ A doctrinal identity unique to Iglesia Ni Cristo
✔ A biblical basis for INC’s theological claims

Romans 16:16 DOES teach:

✔ Christians belong to Christ
✔ Early churches greeted one another in unity
✔ The Church is described by relationship, not corporate title

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Thursday, January 15, 2026

Romans 16:16 & Iglesia Ni Cristo: Debunking the Claim With Biblical & Historical Evidence