In the first 300 years of Christianity, there were a lot of local churches joined by common beliefs, although the differences between the church fathers indicate divisions were not unknown. However, history does not teach that all these churches answered to Rome. That didn’t occur until after 400, and was a source of considerable conflict.
Many divided early on.
“According to tradition the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Church of Alexandria which was established by Saint Mark the apostle and evangelist in the middle of the 1st century (approximately AD 42).[1] The head of the church and the See of Alexandria is the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of Saint Mark, currently Pope Shenouda III.” The split occurred, I believe, in the 400s.
Now, who was right - the Roman church, or the Egyptian one? Both claim apostolic succession. So I guess it depends on which Pope you side with as to who the true, 2000 year old church is.
There were other splits as well. That is why the argument “The Catholic Church is the only 2000 year old church” strikes me as silly.
According to Scripture, Christ wanted us to be one (John 17:22-23). We are all as a Church to be of one mind and to think the same (Philippians 2:2; Romans 15:5). There is only to be one "faith" (Ephesians 4:3-6), not many. For the Church is Christ's Body and Christ only had one Body, not many. Also, since the Church is Christ's Bride (Ephesians 5:29), can Christ be married to more than one wife (essentially a spiritual form of the the sin of polygamy)? No, Christ can only have one wife (i.e., one Church, not many).
It's pretty straightforward. There can be only one church and we know that church by the four marks of the true Church of Christ.
I’m sorry, Mr. Rogers, but that’s just not true. History teaches us that all Christians answered to Peter and his successors for several hundred years. For many generations, all Christians knew and accepted the Apostolic succession. St. Paul bowed to Peter’s authority and all the “rituals” the Apostles set up.
All who wish to review Scripture about Apostolic Succession should review:
Acts 1:15-26, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28
1 Cor 12:27-31
Eph 4:11, Eph 2:19-21
1 Tim 3:1-13, 1 Tim 4:13-14, 1 Tim 5:17-22, 2 Tim 2:1-2
Titus 1: 5-9
I hope you will review these passages from one of the original translations of the Bible.