THESIS: PAPAL AUTHORITY DOES NOT EXIST IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
INTRODUCTION
Roman Catholicism hold to the idea that the Pope is the vicar of Christ, or
more understandably, that the Pope is the Physical representative of Christ with
a special “pipeline”(so to speak) from Christ to the Church today. Roman
Catholicism tries to justify this belief that this has always been a Christian
tradition to begin with. So where does the early Creedal evidence points to?
If the concept of the Pope with its doctrine of Papal infallibility and
total authority of the Christian/Catholic Church is true, we would expect
that such a doctrine would be held highly in the Early Church. They would
hold to this as a fundamental pillar of what defines Christianity.
In confessing this great and grave concept of the Pope, they would
definitely confess the Pope’s position as fundamental alongside other
great doctrines such as one God, Jesus virgin birth, works and resurrection
in the CREEDS.
There is no mention of the Pope or the Bishop of Rome in any of the Early
Creeds. Having gone through all the early Christian Creed up to 381 AD
myself, I can personally also attest to this.
There were times during the early History of Christianity, controversies
over doctrines aroused. Such examples included the issue of Free-will,
Personhood of Jesus, existence of the material flesh, etc. Some Creeds were
a response to these in order to affirm what is to be correct teaching.
Under what authority did these creeds appealed to in affirming what is
correct beliefs?
IF the POPE or the Bishop of Rome was the INFALLIBLE and AUTHORITATIVE
source of doctrines and teachings, why did these creeds not quote the Pope
or revoke his name as a defense?
WHERE did the Creeds depend on for authority in matters of doctrines and
teachings?
NOT THE POPE BUT SCRIPTURES!
A. “He suffered, he died and was buried, according to the
scriptures.” (Tertullian 200 AD, Second Fromula)
B. “And was born of a Virgin, according to the Scriptures…”
(Lucian of Antioch, 300 AD)
C. “And if anyone, contrary to the right faith of the Scriptures
teaches and says that there had been a season or time or age before the
Son of God was begotten, let him be accursed.”
D. “For we truly and clearly both believe and follow all things from
the holy Scriptures.”
E. “And the third day He rose again, according to the
Scriptures.(Epiphanius, 374 AD, Second Formula)
Not just Bishop of Rome, but Bishops (Plural)
A. Creed and Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was a “creed of 318 Bishops”
B. Constantinoplitan Creed in 381 AD was a “creed of 150 Bishops”
CONCLUSION
Since the Pope has not been part of the historic Christian Church, we must
reject him, his office, and his unhistorical claim to the dustbin of popular but
fallacious myths. Rather, if we are to love Jesus Christ truly, we must come to
God’s Word, namely the Bible for our source of authority in judging correct
and true doctrines.
