Introduction
One of the most powerful promises in the New Testament is found in Matthew 28:20, where Jesus declares:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This verse is part of the Great Commission, where Christ commands His apostles to preach the Gospel to all nations.
However, some groups—including the Iglesia ni Cristo—claim that the Church founded by Christ fell into total apostasy shortly after the apostles died, supposedly disappearing until their modern restoration.
This claim raises a serious theological question:
If the Church apostatized, with whom was Christ during that time?
According to Catholic theology, the promise of Matthew 28:20 makes a total apostasy logically and biblically impossible.
The Context of Matthew 28:18–20
Matthew 28:18–20 records Christ’s final command to the apostles:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Several crucial elements appear here:
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Christ sends the apostles as teachers
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They must baptize and teach
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The mission continues until the end of the age
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Jesus promises His constant presence
This is not merely encouragement—it is a divine guarantee of the Church’s survival.
The Catholic Interpretation
The Catholic Church understands this passage as Christ’s promise that:
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His Church will never disappear
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His authority continues through apostolic succession
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The Holy Spirit will protect the Church from doctrinal destruction
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
“The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church.” (CCC 737)
And:
“The Church… will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven.” (CCC 769)
Thus, the Church may suffer crises or corruption among individuals, but it can never cease to exist or lose the Gospel entirely.
Logical Problem with the Apostasy Theory
Groups like the Iglesia ni Cristo argue:
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The early Church became corrupt
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The true Church disappeared
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It was restored centuries later
But this theory contradicts Christ’s promise.
Let us examine the logical dilemma.
If the Church disappeared
Then Christ’s promise in Matthew 28:20 failed.
If Christ remained present
Then the Church could not have vanished.
There is no middle ground.
Christ did not say:
“I will be with you for a few centuries.”
He said:
“I am with you always.”
Christ’s Promise in Other Passages
Matthew 28:20 is not the only promise of the Church’s endurance.
Matthew 16:18
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Here Christ promises indestructibility.
John 14:16
“He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.”
The Holy Spirit remains with the Church forever, not temporarily.
1 Timothy 3:15
The Church is called:
“the pillar and foundation of truth.”
A Church that completely apostasizes cannot be the pillar of truth.
Early Christians Never Believed in a Total Apostasy
If the Church truly fell into apostasy, we would expect early Christian writers to warn that:
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the Church would disappear
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the true faith would vanish
Instead, they taught the opposite.
Early Church Fathers on Apostolic Succession
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (180 AD)
Irenaeus of Lyons wrote:
“The tradition of the apostles, manifested throughout the whole world, can be recognized in every Church by those who wish to see the truth.”¹
He then lists the successive bishops of Rome from Peter onward as proof of authentic doctrine.
If the Church had already apostatized, such a claim would be meaningless.
St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 AD)
Ignatius of Antioch emphasized unity with the Church:
“Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”²
This statement shows that the early Christians already recognized a visible, structured Church.
St. Cyprian of Carthage (251 AD)
Cyprian of Carthage wrote:
“He cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.”³
This reflects the belief that the Church remained the living community of salvation, not a lost institution.
Apostolic Succession: The Historical Answer
Catholic theology teaches that Christ ensured the Church’s continuity through apostolic succession.
The apostles ordained bishops who continued their mission.
For example:
Peter → Linus → Anacletus → Clement → …
This unbroken succession continues in the papacy today.
The historical continuity of the Catholic Church is one of the strongest arguments against the apostasy theory.
The Apostasy Theory Creates an Impossible Gap
If the Church disappeared, we must answer several questions:
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Where was the true baptism?
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Who preserved the Bible?
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Who transmitted Christian doctrine?
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Where were the true Christians for 1500 years?
Historically, the only global Church preserving these elements was the Catholic Church.
Ironically, even the Bible used by modern Christians was canonized by Catholic bishops in councils such as:
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Council of Rome
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Council of Hippo
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Council of Carthage
The Real Meaning of Christ’s Promise
Matthew 28:20 guarantees three things:
1. The Church will always exist
There will never be a time when Christ has no Church on earth.
2. The Gospel will never be lost
Even if heresies arise, the authentic faith remains preserved.
3. Christ actively guides His Church
Through the Holy Spirit and apostolic authority.
Conclusion
The promise of Matthew 28:20 is a direct refutation of the idea that the Church founded by Christ vanished or apostatized.
If Christ truly remains with His Church until the end of the age, then the historical continuity of the Church must exist somewhere.
When we examine history, doctrine, and apostolic succession, the evidence strongly points to the enduring presence of the Catholic Church.
Therefore, the claim that the true Church disappeared for centuries is not only historically unsupported—it contradicts the very words of Christ.
Footnotes (Chicago Style)
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Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 3.3.1.
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Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8.
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Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Catholic Church, 6.
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