The Birth of the Christian Church and the Emergence of Protestantism

The Christian Church was born on the Day of Pentecost, not long after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, giving them the ability to speak in various languages and thus spread the word of God.
The church initially consisted of Jewish followers of Jesus. They met in houses and synagogues for prayer and worship, studying scripture and conducting the Lord’s Supper.
The early Church faced persecution from the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities, but it continued to grow and spread, attracting both Jews and non-Jews.
The formal doctrine of the church was established over centuries through the Ecumenical Councils, where influential bishops discussed and decided on matters of belief and practice.

Protestantism emerged during the Reformation in the 16th century, a major schism within Western Christianity led by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other early Protestants.
The catalyst for the Reformation was Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, written in 1517, which criticised the Catholic Church’s teachings and practices, in particular the sale of indulgences.
Another key issue was the idea of ‘Sola Scriptura’, the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority on Christian belief and practice. This challenged the position of the Pope and Church tradition.
The Reformation was marked by a focus on personal faith, the importance of direct relationship with God, and the belief in ‘justification by faith alone’.
Protestantism quickly spread across Europe, aided by the printing press and translation of the Bible into local languages, which allowed more people to read and interpret the Bible for themselves.
Despite initial persecution, the Protestant Church established itself firmly over the next few centuries. Today it is one of the three major branches of Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Orthodoxy, with numerous denominations within it.