RomeSweetHome wrote:Aineo Wrote
The Orthodox churches do not accept the infallibility of the Pope. The Orthodox churches agree with the first 7 church councils. You are reading a lot into history based on RCC propaganda not historical truth.
That is what I was trying to explain to you Aineo! That is the main difference between Catholics and Orthodox Churches. Infact that is the main reason why they broke away from the Church in 1054AD.
Aineo Wrote
The first church was not the Orthodox church or the RCC. The first church was started in Jerusalem, where even the RCC acknowledges James was the Bishop. You are grabbing at straws. The western church became the Roman Catholic Church after the 1st Council of Nicea, which was called by Constantine, not Sylvester the Bishop of Rome. In fact Sylvester did not even attend the council. The Bishop of Rome was recognized as the President of church councils only because Rome was the largest city in the empire and the historical seat of the Roman Empire. Not because of Peter being the supposed first Bishop of Rome.
I think you need a brief history lesson;
ca. 30-33 Jesus founds the Church with Peter as its leader and
first pope.
"
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" ( Mt. 16:18 ).
That is a personal interpretation of the RCC. The keys given to Peter unlocked the kingdom of heaven on the Day of Pentacost for the Jews, in Acts 8 to the mixed Jews/gentiles, and to the gentiles when he preached to Cornelius. The keys are now useless. There is no Biblical justification to believe that Peter was the final or only infallible authority in the 1st century.
ca. 50 Council of Jerusalem: the apostles affirm the role of Gentiles in the Church.
Where James was the Bishop.
ca. 62 St. James, first bishop of Jerusalem, is martyred.
ca. 64 Emperor Nero begins the persecution of Christians. Sts. Peter and Paul are martyred during this persecution around the year 67.
Peter's grave was found in Jerusalem in the 1950's, when an ossary was found that had Peter's name inscribed on it. Other than a reference to Babylon in 1 Peter there is no Biblical evidence or historical evidence Peter was in Rome after 50 A.D. when the Jews were expelled from Rome.
Since Paul never wrote to a church started by another Apostle and since his greeting in Romans 16 do not list Peter or Cephas we know Peter was not in Rome when Romans was written.
67-76 (Pont.) The first successor of Peter, the second pope, Linus, is chosen to lead the Church. He is best known for encouraging the growth of the clergy. He is martyred in Rome in 76.
76-88 (Pont.) [Ana]Cletus, the third pope, is chosen and is best known for building an oratory for the burial of the martyrs and drawing up rules for the proper consecration of bishops.
And so forth we are now at the 265 Pope.
Again there is no historical proof of this list of Popes prior to the 3rd century. This is a traditional listing.
Aieno wrote
The apostalic succession is a work of smoke and mirrors, not a historical fact.
Could you show me how your Church started? It seems you are ashamed to even tell me what denomination you belong too. How far does your church go back too?
Over 30,000 Protestant denominations have developed since the 16th century. Yet the Catholic Church has remained
ONE.
Peace
I don't belong to a denomination. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church. My Great Grandfather Hunsicker was a Presbyterian minister. If you want my pedigree here is part of it. My grandfather Nelson arrived on the Mayflower. My grandfather the Rev. Francis Doughty arrived in 1633 he was the son of the Vicar of Sodbury, Glouchester. My Grandfather Valentine Hunsicker arrived with his maternal grandfather in the early 1700's when they emmigrated from Switzerland to escape the persecuation of the Mennonites and helped establish the Mennonite communities in America.
I attend a non-denominational church that teaches God's word. I do not label myself by a denomination. I am a Christian, a part of the universal (catholic) body of Christ. Jesus Christ the head of the body started the church (ekklesia) I belong to. The word "church" is the translation of "ekklesia", which means assembly or congregation. It does not mean a systematic theology like the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, and etc.
The gates of hell will not prevail against the "ekklesia" that Christ founded and is the Head of.