Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Popes of the Catholic Church-- Part 2: On This Rock, I Will Build My Church.

Very little is known about the early popes.  Some early papal succession lists show Linus as being the first bishop of Rome.  AD 60: St. Peter is historically considered to be the first pope, it is unlikely that he was the first bishop in Rome.  When he arrived in Rome in 60 AD, he found a Christian community already in existence.

As one of the original Apostles, Peter played a major role in the Gospels and the early years of the church.  In the New Testament, Jesus refers to him when he says, "On this rock, I will build my church."

The confusion with the early popes is due to the fact that the infant Christian Church was outlawed and early Christians were subject to periodic persecution which didn't end until the 4th century when Emperor Constantine I made Christianity legal.  Christianity was declared the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380.

By 325: the papacy's power had increased and two ecumenical councils were held.  The First Council in Nicaea in 325 and the Council of Chalcedon 125 years later.

The council was the first to define the divinity of Jesus.  They also set the formula by which the date of Easter is decided.  However, the current pope at the time, Sylvester wasn't there, he was back in Rome.

More to Come.

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