Papal Primacy

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PioMagnus

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HELP!

I need some help with the role of the Pope in very early church history (before 300).

Did he carry the same roll that the pope does today? Where there any critical differences? Are there any quotes from before the year 300 from Church Fathers that I could use? It would be especially useful to have some quotes on primacy from Eastern Church Fathers.

I know this is a big bill to fill, but any help you could give me would be much appreciated.

In Him, through her,
PioMagnus
 
Hello PioMagnus,

Click here to visit a complete list of the Catholic Popes from St. Peter to Pope John Paul II.

Almost all groups, nations, companies, organizations, militaries all put one person in unequaled authority over all the rest of their group members. Why do they do this? Because authority unites. I think that Protestantism now is broken into ten thousand different factions. This is not the will of Jesus Christ.

Authority unites people. Even we, in America, where we cherish equality, have put one person in unequaled authority over us in order to unite us. Though all people in America have equal dignity, all Americans do not have equal authority. The person in the position of president of the United States is not the smartest, wisest or honest man in America. In America, you can freely speak out against any of the policies, decisions or actions of the President of the United States. However, if you try to schism away part of America and start an independant country on U.S. soil, then the entire military might of the United States will be unleashed to defeat you. You can speak out against the laws of the United States but you will be physically forced to obey the laws of the government of the United States. It is authority which unites the United States and our unity is the foundation on which the entire strength of the United States stands.

All “united” groups need one person to choose the direction in which all members of the group will be compelled to go. Almost all organizations, companies, countries, clubs, militaries, religions etc. put one man in unequaled authority over all the rest of their group members and it is this authority which unites them in the direction they all will go. (NAB MAT 12:25) “A kingdom torn by strife is headed for its downfall. A town or household split into factions cannot last for long.” Twelve Apostles with equal authority equals twelve Churches (I exaggerate a little). To unite His people, Jesus has put one man, in one position, over all His flock. Pope John Paul II sits in St. Peter’s chair and he is the only man in possession of the Holy Spirit of ultimate human authority over Christ’s Church. Pope John Paul II’s authority has been handed down from the hand of St. Peter by the sworn Word of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
 
Catholic Answers has some online tracts that deal with this topic. Here is a link to one: catholic.com/library/Authority_of_the_Pope_Part_1.asp

I think Irenaeus of Lyon and Cyprian of Carthage are the most convincing early Christian witnesses to the primacy of the bishop of Rome (the Pope):

“But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:2 [A.D. 189], emphasis added).

"The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ he says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. And to you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever things you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, they shall be loosed also in heaven’ [Matt. 16:18–19]). … 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 also what Peter was , 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?" (Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; 1st edition [A.D. 251], emphasis added).
 
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PioMagnus:
HELP!

I need some help with the role of the Pope in very early church history (before 300).

Did he carry the same roll that the pope does today? Where there any critical differences? Are there any quotes from before the year 300 from Church Fathers that I could use? It would be especially useful to have some quotes on primacy from Eastern Church Fathers.

I know this is a big bill to fill, but any help you could give me would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Here is some information.
newadvent.org/cathen/03744a.htm

Go down to the heading "IV. ORGANIZATION BY THE APOSTLES". That starts the church organization from the time of the Apostles. It’s very informative.

Peace be with you.
 
Did early popes have the same role as current popes? What differences were there?

Is it required that we believe that the Pope always had the exact same role from AD 37 to AD 2004?
 
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PioMagnus:
HELP!

I need some help with the role of the Pope in very early church history (before 300).

Did he carry the same roll that the pope does today? Where there any critical differences? Are there any quotes from before the year 300 from Church Fathers that I could use? It would be especially useful to have some quotes on primacy from Eastern Church Fathers.

I know this is a big bill to fill, but any help you could give me would be much appreciated.

In Him, through her,
PioMagnus
Click to expand...
Clement of Rome approx 80 A.D. settling a dispute in Corinth, over quarreling bishops while St John, the beloved desciple, is still alive over on Patmos. You can read his letter to the Corinthians.

Then we have Ignatius of Antioch writing in 110, to all the Churches on his way to be martyred. His letter to the Church of Rome is the only church of those written to that Ignatius gives the title of presiding to. Some translations use the term presidency. You can read this in his salutation, (opening remarks)

Another great bishop from the East, Cyprian’s letter to Pope Cornelius in Rome, approx 240 A.D. warning him of who is coming for a visit.

" they still dare-a false bishop having been appointed for them by, heretics-to set sail and to bear letters from schismatic and profane persons to the throne of Peter, and to the chief church whence priestly unity takes its source;"

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There is one huge difference between early popes and now and that is the number of catholics we have now.

st. julie.

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Look into the life of Gregory the Great. His strong personal defense of the prerogatives of the See of Rome is to this day a sore point with the East.

But this wasn’t just a power-grab. There was widespread civil chaos at the time and the Church exercised temporal power just to feed people. Much non-doctrinal papal power was consoidated under him.
 
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