Who Built the Church?
The most common and popular view of theologians today is that the church began on the Day of Pentecost. And, moreover, it was on that day that the church was founded by the Holy Spirit.
Certainly if we can determine who built the church the answer as to when it was built becomes clear.
Two scripture references are submitted as authoritarian proof as to the founder of the Church.
First Matt. 16:18-19 KJV
- 18:And I [Christ] say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- 19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Second Matthew 18:17 – 20
- 17: And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
- 18: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
- 19: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
- 20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The first reference (Matt. 16:18, 19), has particular details which warrant careful consideration.
- Christ said He will build His Church and not another. The rock is not Peter, but Christ. This building process began when he called out the twelve to follow Him. (Matt. 10:1- 4) We note that at that time Jesus named the twelve as both Disciples and Apostles. (an important point later to be covered in I Cor. 12:28) The word “build,” has a meaning to build up from the foundation, and edifying. Christ is the foundation upon which the church is built. “Will Build” does not necessarily mean the church will be built in the future, but that He will continually be building it, adding to it and to edify it. A good description of this is a doming up. This shows His constant involvement with the Church.
- Literally “the portals of death” will not overcome His church. The Church will not die out or cease to exist.
- The keys of the kingdom of heaven was given to the church at that time. Notice Jesus did not say the keys to the kingdom of heaven, but the keys of the kingdom of heaven. These keys signify both binding and loosing. A point of importance—the Greek language makes it clear that whatever they do has already been done in Heaven. Heaven is not bound by the actions of men on earth. The actions of the church, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, reflect the actions and decisions already decided in heaven.
The second reference (Matt 18) gives instruction as to how disputes are to be managed among church Brethren. Three facts of this reference are crucial to the Church question.
- In verse 17, church is mentioned twice giving the understanding that the church did exist at that time. How can something be told to the church and then to hear the church if there is no church?
- Here Jesus is teaching for the first time the doctrine of Church discipline. re. I Cor. 5.
- Verse 18 is a verbatim quote which Jesus gave in chapter 16 verse 19. There can be no uncertainty that the church in chapter 16 is identical to that of chapter 18.
16:19. whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
18:18. Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The Gospel record makes it undeniable that Jesus Christ founded His church during His earthly Ministry.
—As an observation: Matthew 18: 17- 20, causes difficulties for Theologians who deny that Christ founded His church during His earthly ministry. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that these verses are fraudulent.(Matt. 18:17-20 KJV) However, nearly all simply ignore these verses or even acknowledge them.
—As a further observation in verse 18:20 (still in church context) Jesus said that wherever two or three are gathered together there He is in the midst of them. He did not say the Holy Spirit is in the midst of them thus constituting them as a church, but His presence.
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