How did they come to dominate all of Western Christendom? Who was really the first Bishop of Rome?
How did they come to dominate all of Western Christendom? Who was really the first Bishop of Rome?
Mason Butler
Jordan White
Probably Peter, since Paul talks about him
Carson James
The Catholic church has its roots in a pagan cult called Mithra. The church started with men and families who were left over from Senatorial positions in the declining Roman Empire - they were not christian but took on that guise to keep power and position. They never gave up their 'eternal' Rome aspirations keeping the grubby culture of the church very male and militaristic (hence the crusades).
Michael Harris
>since Paul talks about him
and Paul places him in Jerusalem, not Rome. riddle me this: at the time that Paul was writing, Peter was one of the leaders of the early christian community in Jerusalem. Paul writes to a christian community in Rome. how could Peter be the first bishop of Rome when the christian community existed before Peter lived in Rome?
Austin Martinez
bishops did not be come a formal position distinguished from priest until near the end of the 1st century. Untill that point they were the same office
Justin Perry
Peter was visiting his friend James the Just (Jesus' brother) who was the most important Church figure at the time, being the brother of God and all.
Justin Mitchell
Mary was a virgin Heretic
Luis Ward
Shhhh, no she wasn't. She loved the dick Adeplhoi literally means in the same womb as.
Gabriel Kelly
The first bishop of Rome was Peter the apostle followed by Linus. The church dominated all of Christianity until the Persians pressured the Armenians and Assyrians to separate. Non chalcedonianism became popular and caused the west Syrians and Copts to separate. Then of course the schism of 1045 happened. In short it dominated western Christendom because it was the only Christian sect for 1500 years.
Charles King
Also, it's not like the Pope lived in the Vatican during the first generation of Christianity. Peter was probably just the head of a bunch of preachers in Italy, and went to Jerusalem to discuss doctrinal doings with James, who was the "head" of the Christian Church at the time.
This specific instance might have been to deal with Paul's ideals concerning Gentile conversion to Judaism, a hot topic issue between James and Paul.
Imagine being James in that situation. Your Brother is God and some guy who used to hunt down your friends tells you you're wrong because his Ghost said so.
Aiden Butler
Do you even know what a bishop is? Described in scripture it is the ordained overseer of the church who's job is to ordain presbyters and deacons and to protect and advance the faith. The idea that a Christian community exists in any given area without a bishop does not mean anything.
Chase Bailey
>this is what shitlibs actually believe
Jeremiah Torres
I think James would have understood inspiration at that point. James was also given the last private audience with Christ before his ascension. You can bet they talked.
Lucas Perry
>They never gave up their 'eternal' Rome aspirations keeping the grubby culture of the church very male and militaristic (hence the crusades)
It's truly a marvel of history that an entire empire could be taken in by such depraved con-artists...
Julian Wood
All ancient Christians believed both Peter and Paul had been executed in Rome (Peter crucified upside down, Paul beheaded, a better death because he was a Roman citizen)
And since they also believed in apostolic succession and apostolic sees, the church of Rome came to be seen as the most important one because of its status as capital, and because of its status as heirs/successors of both Peter and Paul.
btw, the third "Pope"/bishop of Rome was Clement, and we do have an epistle from him recognized by genuine by textual criticism scholars, which is as old as some books of the new testament, the epistle of Clement to the Corinthians.
earlychristianwritings.com
en.wikipedia.org
text here
with regards to Peter and Paul
"But, to cease from the examples of old time, let us come to those who contended in the days nearest to us; let us take the noble examples of our own generation. 2Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted and contended unto death. 3Let us set before our eyes the good apostles: 4Peter, who because of unrighteous jealousy suffered not one or two but many trials, and having thus given his testimony went to the glorious place which was his due. 5Through jealousy and strife Paul showed the way to the prize of endurance; 6seven times he was in bonds, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a herald both in the East and in the West, he gained the noble fame of his faith, 7he taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world and was taken up into the Holy Place, the greatest example of endurance. ".. chapter 5
Joshua Smith
The early church in Rome had no pope. That was a title that was created when Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Peter was ordained by God to evangelize and share the good news of God's grace. He was broken of his pride and made a useful vessel by God
Peter is to be commended for his faithfulness, but ought never to be venerated as anything more than he was,a sinner saved by grace.
Elijah King
>6seven times he was in bonds
that's a rather suspicious number
Ian Allen
Why would a church in France or England give a fuck what some guy in Rome thinks?
Eli Jones
Constantine didn't create the title of Pope. And the title isnt even that important. The bishop of Alexandria is a Pope too. Concepts like Apostolic See and Patriarch used to be more important.
The power of the Catholic Pope is due to being the bishop of Rome, and successor to Peter.
The early Church had bishops from the first century of Christianity, with a clear hierarchy. That same letter by Clement to the Corinthians was written because of that, Corinthians were deposing themselves the bishop and other church authorities.
"Our Apostles also knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the title of bishop. 2For this cause, therefore, since they had received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have been already mentioned, and afterwards added the codicil that if they should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministry. 3We consider therefore that it is not just to remove from their ministry those who were appointed by them, or later on by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and have ministered to the flock of Christ without blame, humbly, peaceably, and disinterestedly, and for many years have received a universally favourable testimony. 4For our sin is not small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily offered its sacrifices. 5Blessed are those Presbyters who finished their course before now, and have obtained a fruitful and perfect release in the ripeness of completed work, for they have now no fear that any shall move them from the place appointed to them. 6For we see that in spite of their good service you have removed some from the ministry which they fulfilled blamelessly.[24]
There are some church fathers who were bishops and knew the apostles, or were third generation christians, disciples of people who knew the apostles. You should read what they wrote.
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Elijah Evans
Constantine didn't make it the offical religion you moron.
That was theodosius.
Constantine just made it not illegal. He didn't convert till his death bed
Matthew Roberts
At the time, bishops were just priests
Juan Wood
You really are retarded, aren't you