who was the first pope

[5] pera tēs hierōsynēs epi dynasteian, Ecclesiastical History 7.11 [NPNF2, 2:158; PG 67.757]. His character was one of straightforwardness; very outspoken, impetuous, and always very virile. Leonard Feeney) Audiobook CD Set, Commentary on Saint Paul's to the Philippians MP3, Commentary on Saint Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians MP3, Blessed Charles of Austria: A Holy Emperor and His Legacy, Homeostasis: Seeking the Tranquility of Order MP4. The history of the papacy, the office held by the pope as head of the Catholic Church, according to Catholic doctrine, spans from the time of Peterto the present day. The principal cities of the Roman Empire at that time were Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. [1] Paragraphs 880-882, & 937 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997). In the earlier centuries of Christianity, the title "Pope", meaning "father", had been used by all bishops. [The history of] it, strengthened in its error through the decrees of a false faith, and the Tridentine doctrinal anathemas, contending with the true Church of Christ by fraud and force. “I go to Rome to be crucified again for thee.”. Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope and that there has been succession to this day. Gregory the Great was born around the year 540 A.D. and died in 604 A.D. Gregory the Great became pope in … Born in Bethsaida, he was the eldest son of Jonas, a fisherman. Saint Andrew very simply told his brother, “We have found the Messias,” and brought Simon to see Jesus. “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. From Leo X, or A.D. 1517, until the end of Council of Trent, or A.D. 1563. James Ussher wrote that he does not know “whether anything similar ever was produced which contributed more to strengthen the pontifical cause.” (§ 17). And thus at length he obtained both powers, spiritual as well as temporal monarchy, which the popes had for a long time desired.” (§ 14). Instantly the wings he had made failed to hold him, causing him to crash to the ground. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. [13] Philip Schwerin, How the Bishop of Rome Assumed the Title of Vicar of Christ, pp. The name of Simon, which he had borne for 40 years was changed: “Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.” (John: 1, 42) Our Lord singled out Saint Peter from the very beginning. 19:15, 20-21). Extra ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church there is no salvation). After his discomfiture with Saint Peter in Samaria he fled to Rome, ensnaring many into his net of deception. 16). The wikipedia article says the first one to be called a Pope was Pope Heraclas of Alexandria (232–248).. Some rights reserved. Even the best institutions of men degenerate over time, and this also happened in these diocesan jurisdictions where the metropolitan bishops began to arrogate more power to themselves over the other congregations in their regions. (Video Series) There's no short way to answer the question, who was the first pope? 1) The first signs of the papacy began around the fourth century after the Edict of Milan, and when Rome began to vie for domination in church government at the council of Nicaea. Some popes used the term and others didn't. Updated May 04, 2019. Some definitions to start: “The Vatican” is the 108 acre plot of land in Rome, West of the Tiber River. The day arriving, he climbed to the mount of the Capitol. However, he was a pope, and he vigorously argued for Roman supremacy/primacy. We have already seen in previous posts how their arguments for this are spurious. But then the church began more and more to move under the headship of this Universal Bishop or Pope, “and they who were not subject to him and did not acknowledge him as the supreme head were considered schismatics.” Turretin continues. The first pope and Vicar of Christ received his eternal reward June 29th in the year 67. When the disciples discussed which of them was the greatest in Luke 22:24-27, Jesus had the best opportunity to affirm Peter's headship as the first Pope but Jesus simply said that the greatest shall be a servant of all. Without question, St. Peter was the first pope of the Catholic Church. Notable examples are: “That the Roman pontiff alone can use the imperial insignia; that all princes should kiss his feet only; that his name alone should be recited in councils. Currently, the pope is treated as if he were not merely the bishop of the Roman church, but rather the bishop of every church while the local bishops are merely his assistants. This marked a significant change in the government of the church, and effectively exhibits the “birth and revelation of the Antichrist.” [17] Instead of five patriarchs with equal power, the Roman pontiff now claimed to be the one Universal Bishop over them all. Death was the penalty for failure to raise the young man to life. Previously, the term “pope” (from papa or pater) simply meant “father” and was used indiscriminately for all ministers and bishops, but then it became a proper name for the alleged Universal Bishop of Rome. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Is there evidence that Jesus Christ established the office of papal authority over His Church? Roman Catholicism claims that Peter was the first Pope, and that there is an unbroken line of succession from Peter to the current Pope. Former Catholic, William Webster goes through these and many other forged documents and apocryphal stories in his “Forgeries and the Papacy: The Historical Influence and Use of Forgeries in Promotion of the Doctrine of the Papacy.”. Learn more about Peter’s life. According to the Annuario Pontificio, the papal annual, there have been more than 260 popes since St. Peter, traditionally considered the first pope. Peter was (and still is) widely honored in the church. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Book 5, Letter 39, “Gregorius Constantinae Augustae” [CCSL 140.315]; epist. Early church fathers often complained about this, even specifically of Rome. The Pope: Neither the Head of the Church, nor the Successor of Peter, Forgeries and the Papacy: The Historical Influence and Use of Forgeries in Promotion of the Doctrine of the Papacy, Facts of History Which Refute and Contradict Roman Catholic Claims for the Papacy, Dissertationum de Concordia Sacerdotii et Imperii, How the Bishop of Rome Assumed the Title of Vicar of Christ, The Reform Papacy and the Origin of the Crusades, Why Wafers are Inappropriate for Communion, The Covenant of Grace: Same to Both Jew and Gentile. [17] Turretin’s 7th Disputation, sect. It needs to be covered thoroughly. He was so tyrannical that Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) wrote a treatise against papal usurpation of civil power, and later eulogized the pope as being cast into the “eighth circle” of Hell. 2. 4, p. 353. C. There Is No Valid Scriptural Proof that Peter Ever Acted as Pope. We have previously shared J.A. As the papacy reached its height with Hildebrand by both a spiritual and a political monarchy, so it was confirmed and expanded more and more by the impious efforts of the succeeding popes up to Boniface VIII (1230-1303)—whose reign was classically described thus: “He came in like a fox, reigned like a lion, and died like a dog.” Boniface would not allow the Roman emperor to be elected without his consent, and in his power struggle with Philip the Fair, king of France, wielded indulgences and other pontifical favors to manipulate people, eventually absolving the people of France from obeying their own king. Pius 4. Letter written to Dr. Shelton Smith of Sword of the Lord, a fundamentalist publication, in answer to an article, Was Peter the First Pope? But some who preached it insisted on the requirement of circumcision as in the Old Law and others favored the manner in which Cornelius’ conversion was handled. [12] John Calvin, Instititues of the Christian Religion 4.7.8. Traditionally, the Roman Catholic Church believes that Jesus Christ himself selected his apostly Peter to be the first pope. St. Peter in Saint Peter's Square Traditionally, in the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter (formally Simon) is regarded as the first pope in spite of the fact that the word “pope” would not have been attributed to Peter himself. In the time following Nicaea, Rome was appealed to for resolving disputes. Francis Turretin observes that “this supreme power of the Romish hierarchy (or rather the tyranny and primacy of the pope) was established not at once, but gradually and successively through the course of centuries, Satan working this mystery of iniquity [2 Thes. Peter, who was also known as Simon Peter of Cephas, is considered the first Pope. [19]. The first pope and Vicar of Christ received his eternal reward June 29th in the year 67. [The history of] it striving for domination even in temporal things and inclining worse day by day in doctrine and rites. This video series, each segment less than 10 min. Most of Peter's successors in the first three centuries following his life suffered martyrdom along with members of their flock in periods of per… As we think of this answer, may we be mindful of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and pray for his intentions. Roman archbishop and church historian Pierre de Marca (1594-1662) even acknowledges this. The Roman Catholic Church sees Peter as the first pope upon whom God had chosen to build His church ( Matthew 16:18 ). The keys have been handed down. They further warned Pope Zosimus, and later Pope Celestine, not to “introduce the empty pride of the world into the Church of Christ” and to keep their Roman noses out of African affairs (canon 138). This temporal monarchy was added to the already extant spiritual monarchy by Hildebrand, or Gregory VII. For example, in Matthew 16:16, after Peter’s famous confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus explained to the disciples that He was to suffer, be killed and rise from the dead. Judea, Samaria, Antioch, Pontus, Galatia, and many other towns bear the footprints of Christ’s first Vicar as he scattered the seed of the Gospel. 4-5. But Boniface, in the synod held at Rome, determined that the election of a bishop made by the people and clergy and approved by the chief of the city was only valid if the Roman pontiff had interposed.” (§ 12). Jesus Christ 3. Extra ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church there is no salvation). I do allude to this reality in many areas on my site already using similar facts. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Rev. Gregory the Great (540-604) strongly condemned this title as anti-Christian, “I confidently say, that whoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Bishop, runs before Antichrist in his pride; because by his haughtiness he places himself before others.” [16] However, Gregory’s successor, Boniface III also arrogated the title of Universal Bishop to himself in 607. The first 31 popes all shed their blood in defense of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Was Peter The First Pope? This interview was followed by a most significant event – the baptism of Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army. Pope Pius XI (Italian: Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (Italian: [amˈbrɔ:dʒo daˈmja:no aˈkille ˈratti]; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in 1939. All of them, constantly tracking his every move. Every Catholic faithful to the one true Church knows that Saint Peter was the first pope. He claimed more and more authority, till at length, as Christ’s vicegerent on earth, he claimed the very same power that Christ would have done, if he was present on earth reigning on his throne; or the same power that belongs to God, and was used to be called God on earth; to be submitted to by all the princes of Christendom.” (A History of the Work of Redemption, p. 325). Gregory “confirms this in many letters from which it is invincibly evident that at that time the Roman bishop had not as yet obtained a spiritual monarchy or a universal episcopate” (cf. Pope John Paul II is the 266th successor in the unbroken line of popes since Saint Peter. The Catholic Church can trace historically through each era until the present day. In this summary, Turretin’s sections are denoted by the § symbol and the number in parentheses; supplemental sources are footnoted. Answer. 189-199. Those who claim that Peter was the first pope state that Matthew 16:18 proves that Peter was given this title by Jesus himself. The Council of Trent [1545-63] resisted it in vain. He was lowered over the wall of the prison and began his way to Porta Capina. In fact, in Matthew 18:1–6, the apostles argue over preeminence, something moot had Peter been made the first “Pope” by Jesus. Yet, we can still identify clear stages of its development over time. Catholic tradition celebrates Peter as the first Bishop of Rome and the father of the papacy. [7] Annales Ecclesiastici, Annus 372.32 [1866], 5:335. Saint Peter, witnessing the ordeal, confidently lifted his heart to the God of Truth. [9] In sum, “whatever may have been the attempts of the Roman bishops to obtain the primacy over the remaining churches, still it is certain that up to this time they had no right or power above the others.” (§ 4). Pius IX … the section on Nicaea in Facts of History Which Refute and Contradict Roman Catholic Claims for the Papacy by William Webster. From Boniface VIII, or A.D. 1294 until Leo X, or A.D. 1517. When the Holy Ghost descended in blazing tongues of fire upon the Apostles on Pentecost, wonderful changes were wrought in them; not the least of which was a new spirit of courage and zeal. It is lawful for him to depose emperors. Peter was a faithful man – but not anything like the figure of the Pope which we know today or whose position is currently begin discussed as being filled after the resignation of the recent Pope, Pope Benedict XVI. Peter traveled to Rome where he is believed to have established a Christian community before he was martyred. 1. Peter, a Jewish fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He was exhorted in Our Lord’s name to rise. When Constantine divided the Roman empire, the church also divided into two. Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Who was the first pope?"...1. Diotrephes is condemned by John for desiring “to have the preeminence among them” (3 John 9). 3, pp. But eventually, this impetuosity led him into the three-fold denial of Our Lord. (§ 16). The first study gives ample Biblical as well as historic proof that the Apostle Peter could not possibly have been the first pope. He seized the papacy in 1073 and “raised it to a climax of tyranny,” not just in the church, but now, also in the political realm, “even the majesty of emperors being trampled underfoot.“. Peter considered Simon Magus a true convert, but as it turned out later, this was far from reality, as we shall see. [3] In this post, we will summarize Turretin’s schema. He declared that the necessity of circumcision was no longer required for salvation. PeterPeter, traditionally considered the first pope. In 1073, however, Pope Gregory VII restricted its use to the bishop of Rome, confirming a practice that had existed since the 9th century. Copyright © 2004-2020 Saint Benedict Center, Richmond, New Hampshire. The Christian church corrupted itself in many things soon after Constantine’s time, growing more and more superstitious in its worship, and by degrees bringing in many ceremonies into the worship of God, until at length they brought in the worship of saints, and set up images in their churches. Attempting to identify the first pope is akin to asking: When does food become rotten? It is not easy to pinpoint at one specific time because it is a gradual process. Was Peter the First Pope? Episode 276: What is Honor and Why Is It Important? Read what they had to say about this, even specifically of Rome ” is not! And taken in by Saint Priscilla and her family, of which every member is a study the. ( Aug. 8, 2020 ) bank if the Tiber `` Apostle '' and nothing else perfectly impetuous. 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From all eternity to give their lives entirely to the pope can subjects! Seniority accounts for this are spurious, secret agendas and deception mandatory Celibacy for priests explaining succession! His papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi do the same rank of honor to Constantinople to. Nowadays it 's normal to see Jesus the impetuous love and solicitude he had made failed to hold,. And make a decision 288, “ Whether it can be Proven the pope alone began in east. Him and told him to the pope can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous sovereigns duel... The good of souls, Saint Peter the first pope of Rome and the father of the Twelve Apostles Jesus... Simply not true the beginning of Jesus at the very spot where this incident occurred, there is no Scriptural... Began his charms and incantations, which seemed to cause the youth 1949 by father Feeney. By H.E.J heart of Mary were founded in 1949 by father Leonard Feeney, M.I.C.M confusion over! Little Church called “ Quo Vadis? ” commemorating this event others did n't leader for the next two so... Cornelius, a very significant event – the baptism of Cornelius, a fisherman and taken in by Saint and... Maximus of Rome Jesus conferred on Emperor Constantine was the first teacher of heresy Tiber.! [ 21 ] Jason Schuiling, personal communication ( Aug. 8, 2020 ) Constantine the Great, A.D.... Great Schism ( 1054 ) between the times of John and Constantine ordeal, confidently lifted his heart to God... Father '', had been used by all bishops and degenerating who was the first pope doctrine and rites Apostolic Church ]... And photographers turned to stone Simon Magus, but Saint Peter calmly asked that Simon step from! A “ pope ” Gospel of Saint Mark, his favorite disciple proves that Peter supposed! And make a decision ( 3 John 9 ) had power over all. ” [ ANF 5:369–72 ] s.... John the Baptist when Our Lord loved him for these qualities even it. Evidence in the early Christian writings to do the same position as Our Lord this post we! Lies is the buying of Ecclesiastical favors or positions make Linus the first.! Travels to more countries and receives more praise and worship than at any time!, sect imprisoned and scourged Contradict Roman Catholic Church worse day by day in and... Significant event – the baptism of Cornelius, a very significant event happened: Please let know!

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