Jesus Christ founded the Roman Catholic Church early in the first century A.D. The basic organization of the Church was also put in place during this time, but the organization is something that has evolved, and continues to evolve, throughout the past two thousand years. Yet to say that the Roman Catholic Church has solely had one founder would be somewhat incorrect. There have been many persons that could be called "co-founders" of the Church. Among other matters, this paper will examine some of them, and their various influences.
             The early days of the Roman Empire and the "Pax Romana", or "Peace of Rome" are a great part of the historical backdrop of the Church at the time of its founding. But to have a more complete understanding of the historical perspective, one must have some knowledge of the ancient Jewish traditions.
             The Jews are an ancient people, whose unique religious characteristic during the lifetime of Christ was Monotheism, or the belief in one God. The Jews believed, and still believe, that they are the Chosen People of the One True God. Their history at the time of the first century was rare because it was comprised of direct intercession by God in their daily lives, and in the generational lives of their people. God told a Semitic man named Abraham who was from "the land of the Chaldeeans" (modern day Iraq,) to "get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee..." (Genesis 12: 1).
             This land would become modern day Israel. The descendants of Abraham chose to believe in this God, and in return, God promised that it would belong to they and their descendants forever. This is what we now call The Covenant.
             Throughout the years, the Jews were a great nation at times, (The Kingships of Saul, David, and Solomon,) and yet conquered by other nations and enslaved whenever they did not obey the laws of their God (the conquests by the Assyrians and e...