Christian VS Catholic

Understanding the Words “Christian” and “Catholic”

The word Christian is one of the oldest names for the followers of Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26). To be Christian means to believe in Jesus Christ, to be baptized in His name, and to follow His teachings. It is a word that unites all who profess faith in the Son of God.

The word Catholic came soon after. It means “universal” in Greek. Early writers used it to describe the whole Church spread across nations, united in the same faith, sacraments, and leadership. By the second century, Saint Ignatius of Antioch spoke of “the Catholic Church,” meaning the complete and visible community of believers gathered around the bishops and in communion with the successor of Peter.

All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics. The Catholic Church is the original community founded by Christ and His apostles. It continues to profess the same faith, celebrate the same sacraments, and live under the same mission that Jesus gave to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Over the centuries, other Christian communities emerged, each seeking to live the Gospel according to its own understanding of Scripture and tradition. The Catholic Church recognizes the faith and baptism shared with these brothers and sisters in Christ. The Second Vatican Council teaches that “many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church,” and that these elements “are gifts belonging to the Church of Christ” (Lumen Gentium, 8).

The Catholic Church sees herself as the fullness of the Christian faith, holding together Scripture, tradition, and the sacramental life as handed down from the apostles. Her unity is expressed in the creed we profess each Sunday: “I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” The word catholic in that creed still means universal—a Church open to every people, language, and culture.

To be Catholic is to be part of this universal communion. It means belonging to a faith that has spanned centuries and continents, celebrating the same Eucharist that the early Christians celebrated, and remaining in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

To be Christian is to belong to Christ. To be Catholic is to live that belonging within the Church that He founded. Both words speak of identity and relationship. They remind us that faith is not lived in isolation but in communion—with God and with one another.

In a world that often divides, these words invite unity. The Christian name marks the beginning of faith. The Catholic name expresses its fullness. Together, they call every believer to follow Christ more closely, to seek holiness, and to bear witness to His love in the world.