Christian-History.org does not receive any personally identifiable information from the search bar below.

Who Was the First Pope?
(Video Series)

There's no short way to answer the question, who was the first pope? It needs to be covered thoroughly. There is ample evidence in the early Christian writings to do so.

This video series, each segment less than 10 min. long, does just that. To prepare, here's a brief outline of early Christianity's answer this question.

My book, Rome's Audacious Claim, goes through the church fathers to refute the claim of Roman Catholic apologists that there was a pope in the first century. It explains how fourth-century events explain the rise of the papacy, the (later) development of Roman Catholicism, and then opens the door on the sordid results of Roman religious rule. Available where books are sold. See Amazon reviews.

  • There was no bishop of Rome to be pope until over 50 years after Peter's death!
  • At least two Roman bishops in the 2nd century had to be stopped from splitting the church. This was done by bishops with more respect and authority than the Roman bishop.
  • No Roman bishop claimed universal authority for himself until the mid-3rd century.
  • Cyprian of Carthage, since made a saint by the Roman Catholics, convened a council of 82 bishops to renounce "Pope" Stephen's attempt to claim the title of "Bishop of bishops."
  • At the Council of Nicea, in A.D. 325, the bishop of Rome was given authority over an area similar to that of the bishop of Alexandria. The bishop of Alexandria had authority over all of Egypt.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

This is an ad written by me, Paul Pavao: I get a commission if you buy Xero shoes, which does not increase your cost. Barefoot running/walking is the best thing for your feet--if we did not walk on cement, asphalt, and gravel. Normal shoes compress your toes and do a lot of the work your lower leg muscles should be doing. Xero shoes are minimalist and let your toes spread and your feet do the work they are supposed to do. More info at the link.

Return to Early Christianity

Home | Contact Me

spacer

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Early Church History Newsletter

You will be notified of new articles, and I send teachings based on the pre-Nicene fathers intermittently.

Back issues availabel

When you sign up for my newsletter, your email address will not be shared. We will only use it to send you the newsletter.

Email

Name