Expert: J.M.J. West - 8/21/2008

Question
When did Cistianity start??

Answer
The most common, and probably most correct response, was that the Church began to be "the Church" at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and those gathered with them, and imbued them with supernatural gifts.  Acts 1 and 2 deals with this primarily.  This would have been, give or take, roughly 33A.D.

Certainly Christ began to found his church during his ministry on earth:  he called his 12; he gave them authority to teach and preach and drive out demons (Matt 10); he gave one of them -Simon called Peter - a preeminent authority symbolized by the Keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:16-19); he gave all 12 the authority to "bind and loose" (Matthew 18:18) and forgive sins (John 20:20).  But the apostles didn't actually do much until after the resurrection, and more specifically after Pentecost.

Does that help?

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West