A historical comparison showing when major world religions and Christian denominations began — compared to the church Jesus established in the New Testament.
"Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
"The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Click any era to expand or collapse it.
Hindu Traditions
Founder: Various
Predates Christ — no knowledge of the gospel of Jesus.
Buddhism
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
Enlightenment philosophy — no personal Creator God, no plan of salvation.
Confucianism
Founder: Confucius
Human moral philosophy — no Creator, no Savior.
New Testament Church
Founder: Jesus Christ
Established at Pentecost — Acts 2. The only church with apostolic authority and the pattern of Scripture.
Hundreds of denominations exist today — but the Bible describes only one body.
"There is one body, and one Spirit… One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
"I beseech you… that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind."
The New Testament describes a simple structure — not the elaborate institutions that developed over centuries.
The Lord's Supper Weekly
Acts 20:7 ↗"Upon the first day of the week… the disciples came together to break bread."
Singing Without Instruments
Ephesians 5:19 ↗"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart."
The New Testament predicted that doctrinal changes would occur after the apostolic age.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
The safest course is to follow the teaching of the apostles recorded in Scripture — not the traditions of men developed centuries later.
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."