Which was first Christians or Catholics?

Answer 1

A simple question, but the answer is rather complex.

Christianity normally is used to encompass all religions which believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Catholic, today, normally is used when discussing the Roman Catholic Church. But it wasn't always that way.

"Catholic" essentially means "universal church." Before the Great Schism (split of the Catholic Church into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches) and the Protestant Reformation (starting with the Lutheran church), "Catholic Church" and "Christian Church" would have been synonymous. So with this definition, Christians and Catholics began at the very same time.

Today, "Catholic" normally is a shortened form of Roman Catholic, although Eastern Orthodox churches should also be considered catholic. Still today, Roman Catholics consider themselves to have historical continuity from the original Catholic Church (see related link with list of Popes). Using this definition of Catholic (Roman Catholic), Christians and Catholics also began at the same time.

Some non-Catholic Christians argue that the current Catholic Church is not consistent with the beliefs of the apostles and the founders of Christianity, although Roman Catholic scholars (and some independent scholars) have written numerous books explaining how the current Catholic Church is consistent with the beliefs of the early leaders of Christianity. However, following the idea of 'catholic' held by this portion of non-Catholic Christians, Christians were before Catholics.