Did any early church fathers say that the keys were given to Peter successors?
- Thread starter Guest1
- Start date
- Status
P
pianistclare
Guest
Didn’t we already publish this?
Clement of Alexandria
“[T]he blessed Peter, the chosen, the preeminent, the first among the disciples, for whom alone with himself the Savior paid the tribute [Matt. 17:27], quickly g.asped and understood their meaning. And what does he say? ‘Behold, we have left all and have followed you’ [Matt. 19:27; Mark 10:28]” (Who Is the Rich Man That Is Saved? 21:3–5 [A.D. 200]).
Tertullian
“For though you think that heaven is still shut up, remember that the Lord left the keys of it to Peter here, and through him to the Church, which keys everyone will carry with him if he has been questioned and made a confession [of faith]” (Antidote Against the Scorpion 10 [A.D. 211]).
“[T]he Lord said to Peter, ‘On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven’ [Matt. 16:18–19]. . . . Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give to you the keys, not to the Church” (Modesty 21:9–10 [A.D. 220]).
The Letter of Clement to James
“Be it known to you, my lord, that Simon [Peter], who, for the sake of the true faith, and the most sure foundation of his doctrine, was set apart to be the foundation of the Church, and for this end was by Jesus himself, with his truthful mouth, named Peter, the first fruits of our Lord, the first of the apostles; to whom first the Father revealed the Son; whom the Christ, with good reason, blessed; the called, and elect” (Letter of Clement to James 2 [A.D. 221]).
Origen
“f we were to attend carefully to the Gospels, we should also find, in relation to those things which seem to be common to Peter . . . a great difference and a preeminence in the things [Jesus] said to Peter, compared with the second class [of apostles]. For it is no small difference that Peter received the keys not of one heaven but of more, and in order that whatsoever things he binds on earth may be bound not in one heaven but in them all, as compared with the many who bind on earth and loose on earth, so that these things are bound and loosed not in [all] the heavens, as in the case of Peter, but in one only; for they do not reach so high a stage with power as Peter to bind and loose in all the heavens” (Commentary on Matthew 13:31 [A.D. 248]).
Clement of Alexandria
“[T]he blessed Peter, the chosen, the preeminent, the first among the disciples, for whom alone with himself the Savior paid the tribute [Matt. 17:27], quickly g.asped and understood their meaning. And what does he say? ‘Behold, we have left all and have followed you’ [Matt. 19:27; Mark 10:28]” (Who Is the Rich Man That Is Saved? 21:3–5 [A.D. 200]).
Tertullian
“For though you think that heaven is still shut up, remember that the Lord left the keys of it to Peter here, and through him to the Church, which keys everyone will carry with him if he has been questioned and made a confession [of faith]” (Antidote Against the Scorpion 10 [A.D. 211]).
“[T]he Lord said to Peter, ‘On this rock I will build my Church, I have given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven [and] whatever you shall have bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven’ [Matt. 16:18–19]. . . . Upon you, he says, I will build my Church; and I will give to you the keys, not to the Church” (Modesty 21:9–10 [A.D. 220]).
The Letter of Clement to James
“Be it known to you, my lord, that Simon [Peter], who, for the sake of the true faith, and the most sure foundation of his doctrine, was set apart to be the foundation of the Church, and for this end was by Jesus himself, with his truthful mouth, named Peter, the first fruits of our Lord, the first of the apostles; to whom first the Father revealed the Son; whom the Christ, with good reason, blessed; the called, and elect” (Letter of Clement to James 2 [A.D. 221]).
Origen
“f we were to attend carefully to the Gospels, we should also find, in relation to those things which seem to be common to Peter . . . a great difference and a preeminence in the things [Jesus] said to Peter, compared with the second class [of apostles]. For it is no small difference that Peter received the keys not of one heaven but of more, and in order that whatsoever things he binds on earth may be bound not in one heaven but in them all, as compared with the many who bind on earth and loose on earth, so that these things are bound and loosed not in [all] the heavens, as in the case of Peter, but in one only; for they do not reach so high a stage with power as Peter to bind and loose in all the heavens” (Commentary on Matthew 13:31 [A.D. 248]).
P
pianistclare
Guest
Ephraim the Syrian
“[Jesus said:] Simon, my follower, I have made you the foundation of the holy Church. I betimes called you Peter, because you will support all its buildings. You are the inspector of those who will build on Earth a Church for me. If they should wish to build what is false, you, the foundation, will condemn them. You are the head of the fountain from which my teaching flows; you are the chief of my disciples. Through you I will give drink to all peoples. Yours is that life-giving sweetness which I dispense. I have chosen you to be, as it were, the firstborn in my institution so that, as the heir, you may be executor of my treasures. I have given you the keys of my kingdom. Behold, I have given you authority over all my treasures” (Homilies 4:1 [A.D. 351]).
Ambrose of Milan
“[Christ] made answer: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church. . . .’ Could he not, then, strengthen the faith of the man to whom, acting on his own authority, he gave the kingdom, whom he called the rock, thereby declaring him to be the foundation of the Church [Matt. 16:18]?” (The Faith 4:5 [A.D. 379]).
Pope Damasus I
“Likewise it is decreed . . . that it ought to be announced that . . . the holy Roman Church has been placed at the forefront not by the conciliar decisions of other churches, but has received the primacy by the evangelic voice of our Lord and Savior, who says: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . . ’ [Matt. 16:18–19]. The first see, therefore, is that of Peter the apostle, that of the Roman Church, which has neither stain nor blemish nor anything like it” (Decree of Damasus 3 [A.D. 382]).
Jerome
“‘But,’ you [Jovinian] will say, ‘it was on Peter that the Church was founded’ [Matt. 16:18]. Well . . . one among the twelve is chosen to be their head in order to remove any occasion for division” (Against Jovinian 1:26 [A.D. 393]).
“Simon Peter, the son of John, from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, brother of Andrew the apostle, and himself chief of the apostles, after having been bishop of the church of Antioch and having preached to the Dispersion . . . pushed on to Rome in the second year of Claudius to overthrow Simon Magus, and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is the fourteenth, year of Nero. At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord” (Lives of Illustrious Men 1 [A.D. 396]).
“[Jesus said:] Simon, my follower, I have made you the foundation of the holy Church. I betimes called you Peter, because you will support all its buildings. You are the inspector of those who will build on Earth a Church for me. If they should wish to build what is false, you, the foundation, will condemn them. You are the head of the fountain from which my teaching flows; you are the chief of my disciples. Through you I will give drink to all peoples. Yours is that life-giving sweetness which I dispense. I have chosen you to be, as it were, the firstborn in my institution so that, as the heir, you may be executor of my treasures. I have given you the keys of my kingdom. Behold, I have given you authority over all my treasures” (Homilies 4:1 [A.D. 351]).
Ambrose of Milan
“[Christ] made answer: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church. . . .’ Could he not, then, strengthen the faith of the man to whom, acting on his own authority, he gave the kingdom, whom he called the rock, thereby declaring him to be the foundation of the Church [Matt. 16:18]?” (The Faith 4:5 [A.D. 379]).
Pope Damasus I
“Likewise it is decreed . . . that it ought to be announced that . . . the holy Roman Church has been placed at the forefront not by the conciliar decisions of other churches, but has received the primacy by the evangelic voice of our Lord and Savior, who says: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . . ’ [Matt. 16:18–19]. The first see, therefore, is that of Peter the apostle, that of the Roman Church, which has neither stain nor blemish nor anything like it” (Decree of Damasus 3 [A.D. 382]).
Jerome
“‘But,’ you [Jovinian] will say, ‘it was on Peter that the Church was founded’ [Matt. 16:18]. Well . . . one among the twelve is chosen to be their head in order to remove any occasion for division” (Against Jovinian 1:26 [A.D. 393]).
“Simon Peter, the son of John, from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, brother of Andrew the apostle, and himself chief of the apostles, after having been bishop of the church of Antioch and having preached to the Dispersion . . . pushed on to Rome in the second year of Claudius to overthrow Simon Magus, and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is the fourteenth, year of Nero. At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord” (Lives of Illustrious Men 1 [A.D. 396]).
P
pianistclare
Guest
Cyprian of Carthage
“The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ he says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’ . . . On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?” (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251]).
Cyril of Jerusalem
“The Lord is loving toward men, swift to pardon but slow to punish. Let no man despair of his own salvation. Peter, the first and foremost of the apostles, denied the Lord three times before a little servant girl, but he repented and wept bitterly” (Catechetical Lectures 2:19 [A.D. 350]).
“[Simon Magus] so deceived the city of Rome that Claudius erected a statue of him. . . . While the error was extending itself, Peter and Paul arrived, a noble pair and the rulers of the Church, and they set the error aright. . . . [T]hey launched the weapon of their like-mindedness in prayer against the Magus, and struck him down to earth. It was marvelous enough, and yet no marvel at all, for Peter was there—he that carries about the keys of heaven [Matt. 16:19]” (ibid., 6:14).
“In the power of the same Holy Spirit, Peter, both the chief of the apostles and the keeper of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, in the name of Christ healed Aeneas the paralytic at Lydda, which is now called Diospolis [Acts 9:32–34]” (ibid., 17:27).
“The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ he says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’ . . . On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?” (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251]).
Cyril of Jerusalem
“The Lord is loving toward men, swift to pardon but slow to punish. Let no man despair of his own salvation. Peter, the first and foremost of the apostles, denied the Lord three times before a little servant girl, but he repented and wept bitterly” (Catechetical Lectures 2:19 [A.D. 350]).
“[Simon Magus] so deceived the city of Rome that Claudius erected a statue of him. . . . While the error was extending itself, Peter and Paul arrived, a noble pair and the rulers of the Church, and they set the error aright. . . . [T]hey launched the weapon of their like-mindedness in prayer against the Magus, and struck him down to earth. It was marvelous enough, and yet no marvel at all, for Peter was there—he that carries about the keys of heaven [Matt. 16:19]” (ibid., 6:14).
“In the power of the same Holy Spirit, Peter, both the chief of the apostles and the keeper of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, in the name of Christ healed Aeneas the paralytic at Lydda, which is now called Diospolis [Acts 9:32–34]” (ibid., 17:27).
P
pianistclare
Guest
The keys mean AUTHORITY. Popes are selected through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
No one needs to worry or weigh in on specific Popes.
Any poor Popes were supplanted by good ones.
No one needs to worry or weigh in on specific Popes.
Any poor Popes were supplanted by good ones.
T
tgGodsway
Guest
There are no “founding” fathers who claim Peter was to be succeeded or that he had a successor. But it is meaningless to find the opinions of those not inspired by the holy Spirit and to rely on them as if they have God’s word. There were many opinions floating around in the 1st and 2nd century but only those who held the view of the apostle can be given any weight or Credence.
A
AveOTheotokos
Guest
Pope Clement I
Peter was an Apostle, and his ministry was to be the Bishop of Rome, and the first Pope. When he died, other approved men succeed to his ministry.
T
tgGodsway
Guest
Actually the word of God tells us Peter was called to preach as an apostle to the Jews. Any voice that contradicts the word of God is false doctrine.
A
AveOTheotokos
Guest
Matthew 28:18-20
Rome is included in “all nations”.
Last edited:
M
Melchior_1
Guest
Is this a “Scripture alone” thing? I must admit, I can find nowhere in the Bible where that position is supported. I mean, there are quite a few passages which speak highly of paradosis, but I have been not able to find passages which points towards Scripture of the sole rule of faith,
If you can, I would greatly appreciate if you can furnish for me a Scripture passage other than 2 Timothy 3:16 which validates the “Sola Scriptura” position.
[Also, please do not deflect my request by posting passages which degenerate “tradition”. The Greek word for tradition is “paradosis”, and is mentioned in a negative light three times in reference to Jewish customs and Mosiac ceremonies, and is mentioned in a positive way five times in reference to listening to the leadership of the Church (among other things)].
A
AveOTheotokos
Guest
C
Catholicos
Guest
Maybe a little care in including Tertullian as a Church father. He certainly was important, but not a saint, nor to my knowledge didn’t die inside the Church for his heretical view of Montanism.
A
AveOTheotokos
Guest
While it is true that he was not a saint and embraced Montanism and later started a separate sect (the remnants of which were brought back into the Church by Augustine), the Catholic Encyclopedia lists him among the Church Fathers. He is considered by some to just be an “ecclesiastical writer” but his writings are consistently included with collections of writings of the Church Fathers.
His faults later in life do not detract from his orthodoxy and influence on early Christianity.
His faults later in life do not detract from his orthodoxy and influence on early Christianity.
Last edited:
B
Bon_Croix
Guest
The Keys can be found in the Old Testament and relate to the power given (delegated) to people in the King’s court. These are powers with which the King was vested. Obviously, with only 24 hours in a day, a King can not carry out, by himself, each one of his duties.
Jesus is the promised king of Israel (The New Israel). Him handing the keys to Peter is symbolic of delegation to Peter. Do you think all that stopped after Peter died? No, the Church lives each and every day and it transforms itself with time (or in time) because things change in the world around it.
So, was Peter able to say: “Don’t do in-vitro fertizlization”? No, there was no in vitro fertilization at the time of Peter.
And, in the Bible, we can read how Peter made decisions over the Church regarding issues during his time. (such as eating unclean foods under Mosaic or Judaic Law).
Jesus is the promised king of Israel (The New Israel). Him handing the keys to Peter is symbolic of delegation to Peter. Do you think all that stopped after Peter died? No, the Church lives each and every day and it transforms itself with time (or in time) because things change in the world around it.
So, was Peter able to say: “Don’t do in-vitro fertizlization”? No, there was no in vitro fertilization at the time of Peter.
And, in the Bible, we can read how Peter made decisions over the Church regarding issues during his time. (such as eating unclean foods under Mosaic or Judaic Law).
H
hope
Guest
Council of Ephesus
“Philip, presbyter and legate of [Pope Celestine I] said: ‘We offer our thanks to the holy and venerable synod, that when the writings of our holy and blessed pope had been read to you . . . you joined yourselves to the holy head also by your holy acclamations. For your blessednesses is not ignorant that the head of the whole faith, the head of the apostles, is blessed Peter the apostle’” (Acts of the Council, session 2 [A.D. 431]).
“Philip, the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See [Rome] said: ‘There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who down even to today and forever both lives and judges in his successors’” (ibid., session 3).
“Philip, presbyter and legate of [Pope Celestine I] said: ‘We offer our thanks to the holy and venerable synod, that when the writings of our holy and blessed pope had been read to you . . . you joined yourselves to the holy head also by your holy acclamations. For your blessednesses is not ignorant that the head of the whole faith, the head of the apostles, is blessed Peter the apostle’” (Acts of the Council, session 2 [A.D. 431]).
“Philip, the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See [Rome] said: ‘There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who down even to today and forever both lives and judges in his successors’” (ibid., session 3).
S
spina1953
Guest
tg Godsway, in Acts did not God tell Peter in chapter 10 to see Cornelius who was a Roman centurion a non Jew and looking at 10: 35 where it says “Any man of any nation who fears God and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him.” And in chapter 11 seems to me Peter is explaining that the Gentiles are being called also. So Peter then is also called to the Gentiles not just the Jews. Which means you have misunderstood God’s Word. If you believe God called Peter was to preach only to the Jews please show where that is what God told Peter he is only to preach to Jews as an Apostle?
Last edited:
D
De_Maria
Guest
G
Gorgias
Guest
“Early Church Fathers”? Why are they the standard for acceptance of this teaching?
After all, if I gave you power, and you said “our successors have this authority as well”, would you need your co-workers to sign off on your assertion?
But, since you asked, I can suggest that there’s better reason for believing than the ECFs: the Bible itself.
Remember – “apostolic succession” means succession of apostles, not merely succession of Peter. We have an example of apostolic succession in the Bible itself!
In Acts 1 (in v15 and following), we see Peter himself standing up and saying that it’s necessary that there would be an apostolic successor to Judas. So, on Peter’s authority (in other words, on Jesus’s authority, given to Peter), we see an apostolic successor given to the Church.
So… do I need to see ECFs saying that, on their authority, apostolic succession is reasonable? Nope… I see it on Peter’s authority, in the Bible.
Last edited:
P
PJM
Guest
My dear friend in Christ,
Have you ever pondered just WHY, in all of God’s Created universe, only humanity is RATIONAL, which requires a mind, intellect & freewill?
In small part it is that we could use these God granted gifts to answer logically, questions such as you posit.
Its a GOOD question, precisely because it seems not to be answered.
BUT is it really?
Mt 10: 1-4 Matt.10: 1 to 4
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb’edee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
SO WE SEE HERE JESUS SHARING SOME OF HIS GODLY POWERS WITH THE 12 APOSTLES; BUT ALSO THAT PETER, BY NAME IS LISTED AS “FIRST”
Now let’s continue with verses 5-8 of the same book and chapter
Matt.10 Verses 5 to 8
These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay
Now we have 2 more LESSONS:
Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [AND I PASS IT ON TO YOU] [YOU again direct & exclusive] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded YOU; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Again 2 Lessons
How could ANY 12 Apostles teach ALL that Christ taught THEM to the entire world? SUCH is impossible; so we ought to be able to see that it WAS Jesus Himself who instituted by absolute necessity; Both Apostolic and Papal z=succession.
BUT what about Peter and Papal succession?
I could supply a list of Peter Bible first, which can be GOOGLED.
In setting up His One True Faith & Church Jesus was not “reinventing the wheel”; NO rather He was just following His Own [as part of the Trinity Godhead] OT example where Yahweh always choose One man to lead HIS Chosen People
Adam, Noah, Abram, The Judges, the Kings like David and Solomon, and the Prophets; leading to John the Baptist, who of course led to Jesus, who freely choose “MY Church” [singular[, & the 12 Apostles who ALL knew were led by Peter [one MAN]. GOOGLE “the Early Fathers on the Primacy.”
God Bless you,
Patrick
Have you ever pondered just WHY, in all of God’s Created universe, only humanity is RATIONAL, which requires a mind, intellect & freewill?
In small part it is that we could use these God granted gifts to answer logically, questions such as you posit.
Its a GOOD question, precisely because it seems not to be answered.
BUT is it really?
Mt 10: 1-4 Matt.10: 1 to 4
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb’edee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him
SO WE SEE HERE JESUS SHARING SOME OF HIS GODLY POWERS WITH THE 12 APOSTLES; BUT ALSO THAT PETER, BY NAME IS LISTED AS “FIRST”
Now let’s continue with verses 5-8 of the same book and chapter
Matt.10 Verses 5 to 8
These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay
Now we have 2 more LESSONS:
- The Mandate is directly and exclusively to tHis Apostles
- The"Go ONLY to the house of Israel" [NO FURTHER]
Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [AND I PASS IT ON TO YOU] [YOU again direct & exclusive] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded YOU; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Again 2 Lessons
- Jesus EXPANDS there ministry to the ENTIRE World
- Once again the COMMAND is direct and exclusive:
How could ANY 12 Apostles teach ALL that Christ taught THEM to the entire world? SUCH is impossible; so we ought to be able to see that it WAS Jesus Himself who instituted by absolute necessity; Both Apostolic and Papal z=succession.
BUT what about Peter and Papal succession?
I could supply a list of Peter Bible first, which can be GOOGLED.
In setting up His One True Faith & Church Jesus was not “reinventing the wheel”; NO rather He was just following His Own [as part of the Trinity Godhead] OT example where Yahweh always choose One man to lead HIS Chosen People
Adam, Noah, Abram, The Judges, the Kings like David and Solomon, and the Prophets; leading to John the Baptist, who of course led to Jesus, who freely choose “MY Church” [singular[, & the 12 Apostles who ALL knew were led by Peter [one MAN]. GOOGLE “the Early Fathers on the Primacy.”
God Bless you,
Patrick
- Status