What is the oldest Christian denomination?
Tracing the ancient roots of the Church to understand unity, division, and the call to faithfulness today
The oldest Christian denomination is generally considered to be the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Roman Catholic Church, depending on how one defines “denomination.”
Let’s break it down historically and theologically:
🏛️ 1. The Original Church: One Body in the First Century
- The earliest Christian Church began in Jerusalem around 30–33 AD, led by the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
- For the first few centuries, the Church was one unified body (though scattered across regions like Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Constantinople, etc.), with local bishops overseeing communities.
- This era is often referred to as the “undivided Church” — before any major schisms.
🕊️ 2. The Roman Catholic Claim
- The Roman Catholic Church traces its lineage directly to the apostle Peter, whom they regard as the first pope and bishop of Rome.
- It emphasizes apostolic succession and sees itself as the original and universal Church.
- The term “Roman Catholic” was formalized later, but the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) was viewed as having increasing influence from at least the 2nd century onward.
- From a Western perspective, Catholicism is the oldest continuous Christian institution.
🏛️ 3. The Eastern Orthodox Perspective
- The Eastern Orthodox Church also traces its roots to the apostles and the early Church, especially in centers like Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria.
- Orthodox Christians claim they have preserved the faith and worship of the early Church more faithfully, without the innovations they attribute to Rome.
- They split from the Roman Church in the Great Schism of 1054, mainly over issues of papal authority and theological nuances (like the Filioque clause).
🧱 4. The Oriental Orthodox Churches
- These include the Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian, Syriac, Eritrean, and Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Churches.
- They separated from the rest of the Church much earlier, after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, due to disputes over Christological definitions (nature of Christ).
- These churches claim a very ancient and apostolic lineage, maintaining traditions going back to the 1st century (e.g., the Coptic Church says it was founded by Mark the Evangelist in Alexandria around 42 AD).
✅ Summary Comparison
| Church Body | Founded | By Whom | Key Claim to Antiquity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Church | ~33 AD | Jesus → Peter → Popes | Apostolic succession centered in Rome |
| Eastern Orthodox | ~33 AD | Jesus → Apostles → Patriarchs | Continuation of the undivided Church in the East |
| Oriental Orthodox | ~33–50 AD | Apostles like Mark, Thomas | Split after Chalcedon, preserving ancient Eastern traditions |
| Assyrian Church of the East | 1st century | Apostle Thomas/Nathaniel | One of the oldest Eastern bodies, not part of Chalcedonian debates |
🕯️ So, Which Is the Oldest?
If we define “oldest” as the uninterrupted continuation of the apostolic church founded by Christ, all of these ancient churches (Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Church of the East) trace their lineage back to the first century and are heirs of that early Church.
However:
- The Roman Catholic Church claims universal authority from Peter and has had an unbroken line of popes.
- The Eastern Orthodox Church sees itself as the faithful continuation of the apostolic Church without Roman additions.
- The Oriental Orthodox Churches assert they are older in doctrine, resisting the changes of later councils.
📖 A Biblical Reflection
Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The true Church isn’t merely defined by organizational continuity but by faithfulness to the gospel, sound doctrine, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.