Was Simon Magus the Real Founder of the Roman Catholic Church?

The idea that Simon Magus was the founder of the Roman Catholic Church is a fringe theory with no historical or theological consensus. It is rooted in a mix of apocryphal traditions, misunderstandings, and polemical works—particularly from those critical of early Christianity and the Catholic Church. Let’s break down what we know about Simon Magus and the origins of this claim.

1. Who Was Simon Magus?

Simon Magus (or Simon the Sorcerer) appears in Acts 8:9-24. He was a magician in Samaria who converted to Christianity after hearing the preaching of Philip the Evangelist. However, Simon later tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles, leading Peter to harshly rebuke him. This event is where the term "simony" (the buying or selling of church offices) originates.

Later apocryphal texts and early Christian writings portray Simon Magus as a heretic or Gnostic. Church fathers, like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr, depict him as a key opponent of the apostles and a figure representing false doctrine.

2. The Claim That Simon Magus Founded the Roman Catholic Church

Some anti-Catholic writers and sectarian groups argue that Simon Magus, not Peter, was the real "founder" of the Roman Church. This theory is based on the idea that Simon, by his sorcery and heretical teachings, introduced corruption and pagan elements into the early Church.

A primary source for this argument is Alexander Hislop's 19th-century book The Two Babylons, which claims that the Catholic Church inherited a mix of paganism through figures like Simon Magus. Hislop's book, however, has been widely discredited by historians as lacking rigorous evidence and engaging in conspiratorial thinking.

3. The Historical and Theological Reality

The Catholic Church traces its foundation to Jesus Christ and the apostles, particularly Peter, whom Catholics regard as the first pope. Early Christian writings (e.g., Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch) affirm that the church in Rome was founded by Peter and Paul, with no mention of Simon Magus being involved.

The association between Simon Magus and Rome appears only in later legends and Gnostic sources, but there is no historical evidence that he ever had a meaningful presence in Rome or that he influenced the Church’s development.

4. Why This Theory Persists in Some Circles

The claim that Simon Magus founded the Catholic Church is typically used by anti-Catholic groups, such as some Protestant fundamentalists and fringe conspiracy theorists, to argue that the Catholic Church is not the true continuation of Christ’s teachings. This argument relies on selective reading of apocryphal sources and the rejection of the traditional apostolic foundation of the Church.

Conclusion

The theory that Simon Magus founded the Roman Catholic Church has no credible historical or theological support. It is a fringe view promoted by critics of the Catholic Church to undermine its apostolic authority. Mainstream history and early Christian documents affirm that the Church in Rome was established through the ministry of the apostles Peter and Paul, not Simon Magus.