Did Jesus intent to establish a church?

Answer 1

The founding of the church and Jesus intent to found on is not agreed on by all. Here are some views:

One view

At one point Jesus said 'I have not come to abolish the prophets, but to fulfil them' thus implying that he did not intend to start an entirely new religion. Actually, Jesus did not found the Christian Church, it was gradually started by several groups after he died.

Jesus intended to teach how we should live and what would be a good way to think. it took more then 300 hundred years after his death for a what we call a formal church to get going and then it had to bow down before the idols and traditions that belonged to to the many previous religions and sects that were popular at the time. Perhaps he did wish to form a church but the church that he formed would not have been that of Caesar which is after all the Roman church.

Contrary to the above

It is quite clear that Jesus did intend to fulfil the covenant between God and the whole of humanity and not just the 'chosen people' - the Jews. He makes this very clear throughout his teaching - especially in his involvement with foreigners (eg the Samaritan woman, the healing of the Roman Centurion's servant and so on). His great commission at the end of Matthew's gospel stated that the apostles were to make disciples of all nations and to baptise them in the name of the Trinity. In addition to this, Jesus called Peter 'the Rock upon which I will build my church' - indicating that it was Peter's character (immensely loyal, insightful, utterly devoted to his master but nevertheless fallible and sinful) that would make up the type of Christian of which his new Church would consist. (NB the myth that this quote gives mandate for the Roman Catholic Church to insist that they are the 'true church' based on Peter is totally unfounded and without historical or scriptural confirmation).

Thus, contrary to the above answer there were churches set up almost immediately after the resurrection and ascension. This happened around AD 33 but by AD 55 there were many churches founded by Paul and others that were already thriving by the time Paul wrote his letters to them between AD 50 and AD 60. There were several churches that we know of in Galatia and Ephesus (in Turkey), Rome, Corinth, Collossi and Thessaloniki in Greece, and several other areas. Many more are cited by John in his Revelations. These are but a few that we know of; tradition has it that the apostle Thomas founded more churches in India and the apostle Philip founded churches in Africa. James (Jesus' brother) founded churches in Spain and John Mark in parts of Italy - to name but a few.

The confusion about the 'start' of the church comes from the formal adoption of the Christian faith by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century. However this did not mark the 'start' of the Church - it had been around since the middle of the first century and was only not recorded officially because it was, for the most part, sent underground for fear of persecution by the very empire that adopted it three hundred years later.

Answer 2

No, his followers did (Jesus was a Jew as were most of his followers).

Yes. He founded the church when he told Peter:

(Matthew 16:18) And I 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.

Answer 3

No even though Jesus never ever built or established a church in his life time. But he did very clearly tell Simon , You are Peter , The Rock on which I will build my church.

Answer:

Yes indeed. In Matthew 16:18 it clearly says, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the grave) shall not prevail against it." He is the 'foundation stone' and trained His Apostles for 3 1/2 years to continue to build His Church. After the 1st Pentecost or birth of the Church, the Holy Spirit empowered these men to do so.

Whenever the Scripture speaks of the Church (Congregation or Assembly), it is never speaking of a building or a human organization under a secular authority. In the Greek, 'ekklesia' is used for this and means 'called out or called from.' We see this word in Genesis 12 as Abraham is called out from Ur. His descendants are called out of Egypt in Exodus 12 and became the 'church in the wilderness' in Acts 7:38. One of the final warnings God gives His people is to 'come out of Babylon' in Revelation 18:4.

Jesus made it very plain that none can come to Him and be part of His Church unless the Father calls them (John 6:44;65). Only those who respond to this call of the Father, repent and get baptized, will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become part of the Church that Jesus built (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Answer 4

A:

The Apostle Paul expected the return of Jesus within his own lifetime, which is hardly consistent with a church as we know it today. From what Paul said, he was preparing people for that second coming, not so much to build a church that would last down through the centuries. The author of the first New Testament gospel, now known as Mark's Gospel, agrees with Paul. He also expected the second coming within the lifetimes of some of his own generation.

We now know that Matthew's Gospel was written even later than that of Mark - in the eighties of the first century - and it was becoming clear that Jesus was not returning within the time of that generation. It is in Matthew's Gospel that we then read of Jesus establishing a church, with Peter as the leader. Since we also know that Matthew's Gospel was substantially based on Mark's Gospel, we can deduce that its author knew nothing about Jesus' intentions that 'Mark' had not known. Jesus is unlikely to have intended to establish a church.

Answer 5

no, the romans did.

Answer 6

He died for it. So yes.