Early Christian Views of the Bishop of Rome

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...ter his crimes were discovered and his conscience was laid bare even by his own confession, went to Rome and deceived Stephen our colleague, who was far away and did not know what had been done or what the truth was, by seeking to have himself unjustly restored to the episcopate from which he had been rightly removed. The result is that the sins of Basilides are not so much removed as increased, since to his former sins he has also added the crime of deceit and trickery. For the one who has carelessly been caught by fraud is not so much to be blamed as the one who has deceitfully caught him by surprise is to be detested. But if Basilides could deceive men, he cannot deceive God, since it is written, "God is not mocked." Nor can deceit help Martialis in such a way that he, who is also involved in great crimes, should keep his bishopric, since the apostle also warns and says, "A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God." Titus 1:7

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Background

And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Supporting witness

Ensure that you all follow the bishop, just as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and respect the deacons as being the institution of God. Let no one do anything related to the Church without the bishop. Consider that to be a proper Eucharist which is administered by the bishop or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is, there let the congregation also be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop to either baptize or celebrate a love-feast; but whatever he approves of is also pleasing to God, so that everything done may be secure and valid.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

See that you all follow the bishop, just as Christ Jesus does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles. Also, show reverence to the deacons, as those who carry out the appointment of God through their office. Let no one do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let a proper Eucharist be considered as such when it is administered either by the bishop, or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is present, let the multitude of the people also be there; just as where Christ is, there the whole heavenly host stands by, attending to Him as the Chief Captain of the Lord’s might, and the Governor of every intelligent nature. It is not lawful to baptize, offer, present sacrifice, or celebrate a love-feast without the bishop. But whatever seems good to the bishop is also well-pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Supporting witness

It is important for you not to treat your bishop too casually because of his youth, but to show him full respect, honoring the authority of God the Father, as I have seen even holy elders do. They do not judge hastily based on their bishop's youthful appearance, but being wise in God, they submit to him—or rather, not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. Therefore, it is right for you to obediently follow your bishop, sincerely honoring Him who has willed us to do so, since those who do not deceive not the visible bishop, but attempt to mock Him who is invisible. All such actions are directed not at people, but at God, who knows all secrets.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Trallians (LongVersion) Supporting witness

...ok, but upon him who is humble and quiet and trembles at my words?" Also, you should reverence your bishop as Christ Himself, according to the instructions of the blessed apostles. He who is within the altar is pure; therefore, he is obedient to the bishop and presbyters. But he who is outside does anything apart from the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons, such a person is defiled in his conscience and is worse than an infidel. For what is the bishop but one who possesses all power and authority beyond all others, as far as a man can possess it, who, according to his ability, has been made an imitator of the Christ of God? And what is the presbytery but a sacred assembly, the counselors and advisers of the bishop? And what are the deacons but imitators of the angelic powers, fulfilling a pure and blameless ministry unto him, as the holy Stephen did to the blessed James, Timothy and Linus to Paul, Anencletus and Clement to Peter? He, therefore, who will not yield obedience to such, must be utterly without God, an impious person who despises Christ and depreciates His appointments.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans (Syriac Version) Supporting witness

that ye may be in one concord in love, and may praise God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, because He has deemed a bishop worthy to be God’s, having called him from the east to the west.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Of the church of Rome, Linus the son of Claudia was the first, ordained by Paul;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

[we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

after him, Pius; then after him, Anicetus. Soter having succeeded Anicetus, Eleutherius does now, in the twelfth place from the apostles, hold the inheritance of the episcopate.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching

let them unfold the roll of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning in such a manner that [that first bishop of theirs ] bishop shall be able to show for his ordainer and predecessor some one of the apostles or of apostolic men, — a man, moreover, who continued steadfast with the apostles.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained in like manner by Peter.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

Since, moreover, you are close upon Italy, you have Rome, from which there comes even into our own hands the very authority (of apostles themselves).

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

And lest perchance the number of bishops in Africa should seem unsatisfactory, we also wrote to Rome, to Cornelius our colleague, concerning this thing, who himself also holding a council with very many bishops, concurred in the same opinion as we had held, with equal gravity and wholesome moderation.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... the lies of malicious people and slanderers, but from the judgment of the Lord God, who made him a bishop, and from the testimony of his fellow bishops, whose whole number has agreed with complete unity throughout the whole world. For this is something that, with worthy praise, commends our dearest Cornelius to God and Christ, to His Church, and also to all his fellow priests: he was not a man who suddenly reached the episcopate. Rather, after being advanced through all the offices of the Church, and after often serving the Lord well in sacred ministries, he rose through all the ranks of religious service to the high summit of the priesthood. Moreover, he did not ask for the episcopate itself, nor did he desire it. Nor, as others do when they are swollen with arrogance and pride, did he seize it for himself. Instead, he was peaceful and gentle, like those who are usually chosen by God for this office. Because of the modesty of his virgin continence, and the humility of his natural and carefully guarded reverence, he did not, as some do, use force to be made a bishop. Rather, he himself underwent compulsion, so that he was forced to accept the office of bishop. And he was made b

Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Direct teaching

Besides all these things, he also writes to Cornelius at Rome after receiving his letter against Novatus. In that letter, he also shows that he had been invited by Helenus, bishop in Tarsus of Cilicia, and by the others who were with him—namely, Firmilian, bishop in Cappadocia, and Theoctistus in Palestine—to meet with them at the Council of Antioch. There, certain people were trying to establish the schism of Novatus. In addition, he writes that it had been reported to him that Fabius was dead, and that Demetrianus had been appointed as his successor in the bishopric of the church at Antioch. He also writes about the bishop in Jerusalem, saying in these very words: "And the blessed Alexander, after being cast into prison, went to his rest in blessedness."

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...ons, the brothers living at Rome. When the report of the departure of that excellent man, my fellow bishop, was still uncertain among us, my beloved brothers, I was doubtful and unsettled in my opinion about the matter. Then I received a letter from you, sent to me by Crementius the subdeacon, in which I was fully informed of his glorious end. And I greatly rejoiced that, in keeping with the integrity of his service, an honorable completion also came to him. Moreover, I warmly congratulate you that you honor his memory with such a public and distinguished testimony. So by your action, there is made known to me not only what brings glory to you in connection with the memory of your bishop, but also what ought to provide an example of faith and virtue for me. For just as the fall of a bishop tends in a ruinous way toward the fall of his followers, so on the other hand it is useful and helpful when a bishop, by the firmness of his faith, presents himself to his brothers as an example to imitate.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

And he was made bishop by very many of our colleagues who were then present in the city of Rome, who sent to us letters concerning his ordination, honourable and laudatory, and remarkable for their testimony in announcement of him.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

...you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 In the same way, let the bishop love the laity as his children, caring for them and cherishing them with loving diligence: like eggs, so that young may hatch; or like young birds, taking them in his arms so that they may be raised into birds. He must admonish all men and reprove all who need reproof. He must reprove, but not strike; bring them low so that they may be ashamed, but not ruin them; warn them so that they may be converted; and rebuke them so that they may be reformed and live better lives. He must watch over the strong, that is, keep firm in the faith the one who is already strong. He must feed the people peaceably. He must strengthen the weak, that is, confirm by exhortation the one who is being tempted. He must heal what is sick, that is, cure by instruction the one who is weak in the faith because of doubt. He must bind up what is broken, that is, bind up with comforting admonitions the one who has gone astray, or has been wounded, bruised, or broken by sins and put out of the way. He must free it from its offenses and give hope. In this way he must restore it in strength to the Church, bri

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

For now the deacon is to you what Aaron was, and the bishop what Moses was. If, therefore, Moses was called a god by the Lord, let the bishop be honored among you as a god, and the deacon as his prophet. For as Christ does nothing without His Father, so the deacon also does nothing without his bishop. And as the Son without His Father is nothing, so the deacon is nothing without his bishop. And as the Son is subject to His Father, so every deacon is subject to his bishop. And as the Son is the messenger and prophet of the Father, so the deacon is the messenger and prophet of his bishop. Therefore let everything he is to do with anyone be made known to the bishop, and let it be finally ordered by him.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

Concerning the canons, I also make this constitution. A bishop gives the blessing, but does not receive the blessing. He lays on hands, ordains, offers, and receives the blessing from bishops, but never from presbyters. A bishop removes from office any clergyman who deserves removal, except a bishop, because he does not have the power to do that by himself. A presbyter gives the blessing, but does not receive it; yet he does receive the blessing from the bishop or from a fellow presbyter. In the same way, he gives it to a fellow presbyter. He lays on hands, but does not ordain. He does not remove from office, yet he does separate those under him if they are liable to such a punishment. A deacon does not bless and does not give the blessing, but receives it from the bishop and presbyter. He does not baptize, and he does not offer. But when a bishop or presbyter has offered, he distributes to the people, not as a priest, but as one who ministers to the priests. But it is not lawful for any of the other clergy to do the work of a deacon. A deaconess does not bless, nor does she do anything that belongs to the office of presbyters or deacons. She is only to keep the doors and to minist

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

But if the bishop himself is an offender, how will he still be able to bring another person's offense to judgment? Or how will he, or his deacons, be able to rebuke another if, by showing favoritism or taking bribes, they do not all have a clear conscience? For when the ruler asks and the judge accepts, justice is not brought to completion. But when both are companions of thieves and pay no attention to doing justice for widows, Isaiah 1:23, those under the bishop will not be able to support and defend him. For they will say to him what is written in the Gospel: "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?" Luke 6:41. Therefore, let the bishop, along with his deacons, be afraid to bear any such thing; that is, let him give no occasion for it. For when an offender sees someone else doing things as bad as he does, he will be encouraged to do the very same things. Then the wicked one, taking occasion from a single example, works the same evil in others, God forbid, and in that way the flock will be destroyed. For the more offenders there are, the greater the harm they do. Sin that passes without correction grows worse a

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

Be of one mind, you bishops, with one another, and be at peace with one another. Have sympathy for one another, love the brothers, and care for the people as you feed them. With one agreement, teach those under you to have the same beliefs and the same judgments about the same matters, so that there may be no divisions among you; so that you may be one body and one spirit, perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, according to 1 Corinthians 1:10 and Ephesians 4:4, by the appointment of the Lord. And let the deacon refer all things to the bishop, just as Christ does to His Father. But let him arrange such things as he is able to do by himself, receiving authority from the bishop, just as the Lord did from His Father the power of creation and providence. But let the bishop judge the weightier matters. And let the deacon be the bishop's ear, eye, mouth, heart, and soul, so that the bishop may not be distracted by many cares, but only by the more important ones, just as Jethro appointed for Moses, and his counsel was accepted.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

31. If any bishop makes use of the rulers of this world, and by their means obtains to be a bishop of a church, let him be deprived and suspended, and all that communicate with him.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

Moreover, let those apply their minds to what is in this place brought forward by this great father and holy martyr, who say that it is lawful for bishops to give up their Sees, and to retain the dignity of the priesthood.

1 Timothy 3:1 Direct teaching

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1 Timothy 3:2 Direct teaching

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Titus 1:7 Direct teaching

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

Acts 1:20 Direct teaching

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Philippians 1:1 Direct teaching

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1 Peter 2:25 Direct teaching

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 5:2 Supporting witness

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Acts 20:28 Supporting witness

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.