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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Under what authority did these creeds appealed to in affirming what is correct beliefs?
6. 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?
7. WHERE did the Creeds depend on for authority in matters of doctrines and teachings?
8. 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)

9. 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.

--Jimmy Li