Beginning Of The Catholic Church

[jesussaves]

hello. i am a protestant. i do not believe in the roman catholic church but am studying into it. i would like to know if there are any definitive statements regarding the legitimacy of the papacy.

i have read into the victor and the easter controvery and into the cyprian and the baptism controversy. i also noted firmilians response to cyprian, saying that he thinks stephen is being arrogant for making his claims to authority. this letter to firmilian is very, very controversial in my mind because it doesn't really say if stephen has legitimate authority or not without reading into it. other quotes regarding the catholic church and the papacy in the first few centuries also seem vaque (such as on www.catholic.com). it seems as if it would be more evident than the bishop of rome making suggestions and no one really mentioning how the bishop of rome is final in a sense beyond respect.

i am aware of the development of doctrine/papacy. this seems like a possible cop out, but if it were legitimate of course it would not be. the simple fact that it is possible for me to think it may be a cop out i think says more against the catholic church. but in the end, from what i know so far, i do admit that it could be legitimate Godly development... but especially considering man's inclination to take authority to himself, it could be man made development.

if you don't even know of the events above offhand, i understand! but any info you might be able to give would be appreciated.

Edited May 21, 2004 by jesussaves

[Carson Weber]

You need to read books that address these issues deeply, synthetically, and which demonstrate that the papacy is wholly founded in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of that Old Covenant in the New Covenant Kingdom of the Christ.

I recommend two books for you.

1. [u]Upon This Rock[/u] by Stephen K. Ray
2. [u]Jesus, Peter, and the Keys[/u], ed. Butler