Defense Of The Title "pope" And Peter's Primacy

[StColette]

[quote]"10. The Papacy is of pagan origin. The title of pope or  universal bishop, was first given to the bishop of Rome by  the wicked emperor Phocas, in the year ....610"[/quote]

Pope (religious leader)
Pope (religious leader), in Latin, papa, from the Greek pappas, meaning “father”, a Christian ecclesiastical title expressing affection and respect and, since the 8th century, recognized in the West as belonging exclusively to the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church and incumbent of the Papacy. During the 4th and 5th centuries bishops were sometimes called pope. The title is still accorded the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria. Priests of the Orthodox Churches may also be called pappa, reflecting the sense of the original Greek word.

Besides the designation pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also holds these titles: vicar of Christ; successor of St Peter; supreme pontiff of the universal Church; patriarch of the West; primate of Italy; archbishop and metropolitan of the Roman province; sovereign of the State of Vatican City; and servant of the servants of God.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2004. © 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Phocas
Phocas (?-610), Byzantine emperor (602-610). Phocas was a Thracian centurion involved in an army rebellion that overthrew Maurice in 602. Maurice and his sons were executed, and Phocas was installed as emperor. He agreed peace terms with the Avars in 604, at the price of a rise in the annual tribute, but was unable to prevent the Persians under Khosrau II, an ally of the previous emperor, from invading Syria in 606. Khosrau then occupied Asia Minor, and two years later had advanced to the Bosporus.

Phocas’s reign was brutal and oppressive; he persecuted the Monophysites, and had the Jews at Antioch put to death as retribution for their attacks on the Christians there in 610. However, his dealings with Rome were cordial: he conferred the title Universal Bishop on Pope Boniface III in 607, and presented him with the Pantheon two years later, which Boniface consecrated for use as a church.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2004. © 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

[quote]Note:-Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history,  that Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there  for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that there  is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome.[/quote]

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What the Bible Says

Boettner is also wrong when he claims “there is no allusion to Rome in either of [Peter’s] epistles.” There is, in the greeting at the end of the first epistle: “The Church here in Babylon, united with you by God’s election, sends you her greeting, and so does my son, Mark” (1 Pet. 5:13, Knox). Babylon is a code-word for Rome. It is used that way six times in the last book of the Bible and in extra-biblical works like the Sibylline Oracles (5:159f), the Apocalypse of Baruch (2:1), and 4 Esdras (3:1). Eusebius Pamphilius, in The Chronicle, composed about A.D. 303, noted that “It is said that Peter’s first epistle, in which he makes mention of Mark, was composed at Rome itself; and that he himself indicates this, referring to the city figuratively as Babylon.”

Consider now the other New Testament citations: “Another angel, a second, followed, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure passion’” (Rev. 14:8). “The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath” (Rev. 16:19). “[A]nd on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations’” (Rev. 17:5). “And he called out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great’” (Rev. 18:2). “[T]hey will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, ‘Alas! alas! thou great city, thou mighty city, Babylon! In one hour has thy judgment come’” (Rev. 18:10). “So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence” (Rev. 18:21).

These references can’t be to the one-time capital of the Babylonian empire. That Babylon had been reduced to an inconsequential village by the march of years, military defeat, and political subjugation; it was no longer a “great city.” It played no important part in the recent history of the ancient world. From the New Testament perspective, the only candidates for the “great city” mentioned in Revelation are Rome and Jerusalem.

“But there is no good reason for saying that ‘Babylon’ means ‘Rome,’” insists Boettner. But there is, and the good reason is persecution. The authorities knew that Peter was a leader of the Church, and the Church, under Roman law, was considered organized atheism. (The worship of any gods other than the Roman was considered atheism.) Peter would do himself, not to mention those with him, no service by advertising his presence in the capital—after all, mail service from Rome was then even worse than it is today, and letters were routinely read by Roman officials. Peter was a wanted man, as were all Christian leaders. Why encourage a manhunt? We also know that the apostles sometimes referred to cities under symbolic names (cf. Rev. 11:8).

In any event, let us be generous and admit that it is easy for an opponent of Catholicism to think, in good faith, that Peter was never in Rome, at least if he bases his conclusion on the Bible alone. But restricting his inquiry to the Bible is something he should not do; external evidence has to be considered, too.

A Very Early Reference

Tertullian, in The Demurrer Against the Heretics (A.D. 200), noted of Rome, “How happy is that church . . . where Peter endured a passion like that of the Lord, where Paul was crowned in a death like John’s [referring to John the Baptist, both he and Paul being beheaded].” Fundamentalists admit Paul died in Rome, so the implication from Tertullian is that Peter also must have been there. It was commonly accepted, from the very first, that both Peter and Paul were martyred at Rome, probably in the Neronian persecution in the 60s.

In the same book, Tertullian wrote that “this is the way in which the apostolic churches transmit their lists: like the church of the Smyrnaeans, which records that Polycarp was placed there by John; like the church of the Romans, where Clement was ordained by Peter.” This Clement, known as Clement of Rome, later would be the fourth pope. (Note that Tertullian didn’t say Peter consecrated Clement as pope, which would have been impossible since a pope doesn’t consecrate his own successor; he merely ordained Clement as priest.) Clement wrote his Letter to the Corinthians perhaps before the year 70, just a few years after Peter and Paul were killed; in it he made reference to Peter ending his life where Paul ended his.

In his Letter to the Romans (A.D. 110), Ignatius of Antioch remarked that he could not command the Roman Christians the way Peter and Paul once did, such a comment making sense only if Peter had been a leader, if not the leader, of the church in Rome.

Irenaeus, in Against Heresies (A.D. 190), said that Matthew wrote his Gospel “while Peter and Paul were evangelizing in Rome and laying the foundation of the Church.” He then says the two departed Rome, perhaps to attend the Council of Jerusalem (A.D. 49). A few lines later he notes that Linus was named as Peter’s successor, that is, the second pope, and that next in line were Anacletus (also known as Cletus), and then Clement of Rome.

Clement of Alexandria wrote at the turn of the third century. A fragment of his work Sketches is preserved in Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History, the first history of the Church. Clement wrote, “When Peter preached the word publicly at Rome, and declared the gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had been for a long time his follower and who remembered his sayings, should write down what had been proclaimed.”

Lactantius, in a treatise called The Death of the Persecutors, written around 318, noted that “When Nero was already reigning (Nero reigned from 54–68), Peter came to Rome, where, in virtue of the performance of certain miracles which he worked by that power of God which had been given to him, he converted many to righteousness and established a firm and steadfast temple to God.”


[url="http://www.catholic.com/library/Was_Peter_in_Rome.asp"]http://www.catholic.com/library/Was_Peter_in_Rome.asp[/url]

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[quote]"Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles  and forbade any such notion. (Lk. 22:24-26; Eph. 1:22-23;  Col. 1: 18; 1 Cor. 3:10-11)."[/quote]

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Lk 22:24-26

[i]24 Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.
25 He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as 'Benefactors';
26 but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. [/i]

in refute of this

43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

Since Peter is considered the great or headship among the Apostles, Peter is their servant, in that he must help them.

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Eph. 1:22-23

[i]22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. [/i]

11 [23] His body: the church (Eph 1:22); cf the note on Col 1:18. Only in Eph and Col is Christ the head of the body, in contrast to the view in 1 Cor 12 and Romans 12:4-8 where Christ is equated with the entire body or community. Fullness: see the note on Col 1:19. Some take the one who fills as God, others as Christ (cf Eph 4:10). If in Christ "dwells the fullness of the deity bodily" (Col 2:9), then, as God "fills" Christ, Christ in turn fills the church and the believer (Eph 3:19; 5:18). But the difficult phrases here may also allow the church to be viewed as the "complement" of Christ who is "being filled" as God's plan for the universe is carried out through the church (cf Eph 3:9-10).

NAB Footnotes

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Col. 1:18

[i]18 He is the head of the body, the church. 9 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. [/i]

9 [18] Church: such a reference seemingly belongs under "redemption" in the following lines, not under the "creation" section of the hymn. Stoic thought sometimes referred to the world as "the body of Zeus." Pauline usage is to speak of the church as the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-27; Romans 12:4-5). Some think that the author of Colossians has inserted the reference to the church here so as to define "head of the body" in Paul's customary way. See Col 1:24. Preeminent: when Christ was raised by God as firstborn from the dead (cf Acts 26:23; Rev 1:5), he was placed over the community, the church, that he had brought into being, but he is also indicated as crown of the whole new creation, over all things. His further role is to reconcile all things (Col 1:20) for God or possibly "to himself."

NAB Footnotes

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1 Cor. 3:10-11

[i]10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. [/i]


6 [10-11] There are diverse functions in the service of the community, but each individual's task is serious, and each will stand accountable for the quality of his contribution.

NAB Footnotes

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Verses that Prove Jesus made Peter the headship of the Apostles

In each of these verses Peter is always referred to first before any other Apostle.

Mt 10:1-4

[i]1 And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities.
2 And the names of the twelve Apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
3 James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus,
4 Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. [/i]

Mk 3:16-19

[i]16 And to Simon he gave the name Peter:
17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.
18 And Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew and Matthew, and Thomas and James of Alpheus, and Thaddeus and Simon the Cananean:
19 And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. [/i]

Lk 6:14-16

[i]14 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes,
16 And Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. [/i]

Acts 1:13

[i]13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James. [/i]

It is always Peter who speaks on the behalf of the other Apostles.

Mk 8:29

[i]29 Then he saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Peter answering said to him: Thou art the Christ. [/i]

Lk 12:41

[i]41 And Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou speak this parable to us, or likewise to all? [/i]

Jn 6:68-69

[i]68 Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away?
69 And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. [/i]

Peter is the first to preach at Pentecost

Acts 2:14-40

[i]14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words. [/i]

Peter works the first miracle

Acts 3:6-7

[i]6 But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk.
7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up: and forthwith his feet and soles received strength. [/i]

The Revelation to baptize the Gentiles came to Peter

Acts 10:46-48

[i]46 For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.
47 Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days. [/i]

Jn 1:42 ... Simon is Cephas (Aramaic: Kepha for rock).

[i]42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter. [/i]

Peter the Rock on which Christ's Church would be built

Mt 16:16-18

[i]16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [/i]

Peter was given the keys of Heaven

Mt:16:19:

[i]19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. [/i]

Jesus asks Peter to "feed my lambs, Tend my sheep, Feed my sheep."

Jn 21:15-17

[i]15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
16 He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17 He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep. [/i]

Jesus prays for Peter so that his faith will not fail and so that Peter can strength the faith of his brethren.

Lk 22:31-32

[i]31 And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren. [/i]

After reading through these verses and clearly understanding their interpretation one can easily come to the conclusion that Peter was chosen to be the headship of the Apostles and he was given this authority by Jesus.



God Bless and Mary Protect,
Jennie



p.s. forgive any mistakes just look at the time of the post and you'll see why there might be mistakes lol please forgive Pope being lower cased lol I've tried fixing it but it doesn't seem to want to work lol

Edited August 20, 2004 by StColette

[MorphRC]

That is awesome Angelies! Great stuff!

[phatcatholic]

oh no! colette has encarta too now? we might as well just change the name of the apo board to "Encarta 2004"

hehe

[MorphRC]

Lol. Actually I gave the quotes to Angelies.

Im spreading my Virus :ill:

[StColette]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 20 2004, 08:46 AM'] oh no! colette has encarta too now? we might as well just change the name of the apo board to "Encarta 2004"

hehe [/quote]
hehe yeah Morph gave me the Encarta stuff I need secular quotes to defend that the title was not of pagan origin.

[Guest JeffCR07]

great post colette, and props to morph for the help!

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff

[MorphRC]

Arigato :chinese:

[franciscanheart]

awesome jennie, bump.
that was really good.
so much of this will help me!

[StColette]

yw girlie I love being of some help hehe

[phatcatholic]

hughey, i'm glad you are hangin out here and learning more about catholicism. keep it up!!

[MorphRC]

Yes and we need more ppl here

[phatcatholic]

everyone must go and recruit!!!

[StColette]

lol I've been recruiting !! lol

[MorphRC]

So have I! I recruited ^^ lol My task is complete

[StColette]

lol you recruited me to phatmass but I brought myself into the Apologetics section hehehee