Early Christian Views of the Bishop of Rome

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;

Caius, Fragments Supporting witness

The Pastor, moreover, did Hermas write very recently in our times in the city of Rome, while his brother bishop Plus sat in the chair of the Church of Rome.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

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.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

... also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be conflict regarding the office of the episcopate. For this reason, considering that they had obtained perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed the ministers previously mentioned, and subsequently instructed that when these ministers passed away, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We believe, therefore, that those appointed by them, or later by other distinguished men with the consent of the whole Church, who have served the flock of Christ blamelessly in a humble, peaceful, and selfless spirit, and have long enjoyed a good reputation with everyone, cannot be justly removed from the ministry. Our sin will not be small if we dismiss from the episcopate those who have fulfilled its duties blamelessly and holily. Blessed are those presbyters who, having completed their journey before now, have achieved a fruitful and perfect departure from this world; for they have no fear of being deprived of the place now appointed to them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent character from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

3. The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Supporting witness

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.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Direct teaching

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) Direct teaching

... honor God and the king.” And I say, indeed honor God as the Author and Lord of all things, but the bishop as the high-priest, who bears the image of God—of God, as a ruler, and of Christ, in his role as a priest. After Him, we must also honor the king. For there is no one superior to God, or even like Him, among all beings that exist. Nor is there anyone in the Church greater than the bishop, who ministers as a priest to God for the salvation of the whole world. Nor, again, is there anyone among rulers to be compared with the king, who secures peace and good order for those over whom he rules. He who honors the bishop shall be honored by God, just as he who dishonors him shall be punished by God. For if one who rises up against kings is justly deemed worthy of punishment, as they disrupt public order, how much more severe a punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy of, who presumes to do anything without the bishop, thus both destroying the Church’s unity and causing its order to fall into confusion? For the priesthood is the highest point of all good things among men, against which anyone mad enough to strive dishonors not man, but God, and Christ Jesus, the First

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 Trallians (LongVersion) Supporting witness

For what is the bishop but one who beyond all others possesses all power and authority, so far as it is possible for a man to possess it, who according to his ability has been made an imitator of the Christ of God?

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

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 Supporting witness

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 Supporting witness

XXVI. The bishop, he is the minister of the word, the keeper of knowledge, the mediator between God and you in the several parts of your divine worship.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...hop must not favor his brother, or his son, or any other relative, by giving him the dignity of the episcopate, or by ordaining anyone he pleases. For it is not right to make people heirs to the episcopate and to satisfy human affection in divine matters. We must not place the Church of God under laws of inheritance. But if anyone does this, let his ordination be invalid, and let him be punished with suspension.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

1. Our Lord, whose precepts and admonitions we ought to observe, describing the honour of a bishop and the order of His Church, speaks in the Gospel, and says to Peter: I say unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church;

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching

And after this, let us see in what sense it is said to Peter, and to every Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:19). First, I think that the saying, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven," is spoken in a way consistent with the words, "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). For he is worthy to receive from the same Word the keys of the kingdom of heaven, who is strengthened against the gates of Hades so that they do not prevail against him. He receives, as it were, as a prize, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, because the gates of Hades had no power against him, so that he might open for himself the gates that were closed to those who had been conquered by the gates of Hades. And he enters, as a temperate man, through an opened gate, the gate of temperance, by the key that opens temperance. And as a righteous man, he enters by another gate, the gate of righteousness, which is opened by the key of righteousness. And so it is with the rest of the virtues. For I think that for every virtue of knowledge, certain mysteries of wisdom are opened up to him who has lived according to virtue, corresponding to the kind

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

...ed by those in heaven to have been set free. It seems that the things which were earlier granted to Peter alone are here given to all who give the three warnings to all who have sinned. So if they are not heard, they will bind on earth the person who is judged to be like a Gentile and a tax collector, just as such a person has been bound in heaven. But since it was necessary that Peter should have something superior to those who had given three warnings to the brothers, even if something common was said in the case of Peter and of those who had warned the brothers three times, in Peter’s case this saying was specially placed before the words, “And whatever things you bind on earth,” and so on: “I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 16:19. And indeed, if we pay careful attention to the Gospel writings, we will find here also, in relation to the things that seem to be common to Peter and to those who have warned the brothers three times, a great difference and a superiority in what was said to Peter, compared with the second group. For it is no small difference that Peter received the keys not of one heaven but of more than one, so that whatever things he

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...either was this man rebuked, who brought Him the message about His mother and His brothers, nor was Peter only named blessed above him. Rather, each of these two parties received from Him the answer properly called forth by their several words, as the discussion that follows will show. "When one is a child, he thinks as a child, and speaks as a child. But when he becomes a mature man, those things proper to a child are to be done away with. In other words, when one reaches forward to the things that are before, he forgets those that are behind. Therefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ was teaching and healing the race of men, so that all belonging to it might not utterly perish together, and when the minds of all who were listening to Him were intently occupied with these concerns, it was a completely untimely interruption when this messenger came in and reminded Him of His mother and His brothers. "What then? You yourself be the judge. Should He have left those whom He was healing and instructing, and gone to speak with His mother and His brothers? Would not such a thought at once lower the character of the Person Himself? Again, when He chose certain men who were loaded and burde

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...r His brothers. No, He does not even accept hearing it said that He is David's son. But the Apostle Peter, the most eminent of all the disciples, was able to acknowledge Him on that occasion when all were putting forward the various opinions they held about Him. For he said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And immediately He calls him blessed, saying, For my heavenly Father has revealed it to you. Observe what a difference there is between these two statements spoken by Jesus. For to the one who had said that His mother stood outside, He replied, Who is my mother, or who are my brothers? But to the one who said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, He gave a blessing and benediction in return. Consequently, if you insist that He was born of Mary, then it follows that He Himself, no less than Peter, is thus proved to have spoken falsely. But if, on the other hand, Peter states what is true, then without doubt that former person was in error. And if the former was in error, the matter must be referred back to the writer. We know, therefore, that there is one Christ, according to the Apostle Paul, whose words, at least as they agree with His advent, we beli

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...ed him, and after him, Clement became the bishop, third in line from the apostles. This man, having seen and interacted with the blessed apostles, still had their preaching echoing in his ears and their traditions before his eyes. He was not alone in this, for many others remained who had received instructions from the apostles. During Clement's time, a significant disagreement arose among the brethren in Corinth, and the Church in Rome sent a powerful letter to the Corinthians. This letter exhorted them to peace, renewed their faith, and declared the tradition recently received from the apostles, proclaiming the one omnipotent God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of man, who caused the deluge, called Abraham, led the people out of Egypt, spoke to Moses, established the law, sent the prophets, and prepared fire for the devil and his angels. From this document, anyone who wishes may learn that He, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was preached by the Churches and may also understand the apostolic tradition of the Church. This Epistle predates those who now spread falsehoods and invent another god beyond the Creator and Maker of all things. Clement was succeeded by E

Caius, Fragments Direct teaching

and that the truth of Gospel preaching was preserved until the times of Victor, who was the thirteenth bishop in Rome from Peter, and that from his successor Zephyrinus the truth was falsified.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

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

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.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...specially those of us who are bishops and preside in the Church, so that we may also prove that the episcopate itself is one and undivided. Let no one deceive the brothers with a lie. Let no one corrupt the truth of the faith by treacherous deceit. The episcopate is one, and each bishop holds his part in it for the whole. The Church also is one, though she is spread far and wide into a multitude by her increase in fruitfulness. There are many rays of the sun, but one light; and many branches of a tree, but one strength founded in its firm root. And from one spring many streams flow. Although their number seems to spread out because of the generous abundance of the overflowing water, the unity is still kept in the source. Separate a ray of the sun from its body of light, and its unity does not allow the light to be divided. Break a branch from a tree, and once it is broken, it cannot bud. Cut off a stream from its fountain, and what is cut off dries up. So also the Church, covered with the Lord's light, sends out her rays over the whole world. Yet it is one light that is spread everywhere, and the unity of the body is not divided. In her fruitful abundance, she spreads her branch

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...ept brotherly love and ecclesiastical unity, he has lost even what he once had. Unless, perhaps, he seems to you to be a bishop who, after a bishop had been appointed in the Church by sixteen fellow bishops, strives through bribery to be made a corrupt and outsider bishop by the hands of deserters. And although there is one Church, which Christ has spread throughout the whole world into many members, and also one episcopate spread abroad through the united number of many bishops, he still tries, in spite of God's tradition and in spite of the joined and firmly connected unity of the Catholic Church everywhere, to make a merely human church. He also sends his new apostles through very many cities, so that he may set up some new foundations of his own choosing. And although in every city and throughout all the provinces bishops have already been ordained—men advanced in years, sound in faith, proved in trial, and condemned in persecution—this man dares to create other bishops over them, and false ones at that. It is as if he could either roam through the whole world with the stubbornness of his new effort, or tear apart the structure of the ecclesiastical body by spreading his own

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...efore, it is necessary to obey the presbyters in the Church—those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles; those who, along with the succession of the episcopate, have received the certain gift of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But it is also necessary to be wary of others who depart from this original succession and gather themselves anywhere, viewing them as heretics with perverse minds, schismatics who are arrogant and self-serving, or as hypocrites acting for gain or vanity. All these have fallen from the truth. The heretics who bring strange fire to the altar of God, meaning strange doctrines, will be consumed by fire from heaven, as Nadab and Abiud were. Those who oppose the truth and urge others against the Church of God will remain among those in hell, as they are swallowed by an earthquake, just as those with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were. Those who divide and separate the unity of the Church will receive the same punishment from God as Jeroboam did. Amen

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

But if you suppose that the whole church is built by God on that one Peter only, what would you say about John, the son of thunder, or about each one of the Apostles? Shall we dare to say otherwise, that the gates of Hades will not prevail against Peter in particular, but that they will prevail against the other Apostles and the perfect? Does not the saying spoken before, "The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it," Matthew 16:18, hold true for all and for each one of them? And also the saying, "Upon this rock I will build My church," Matthew 16:18? Are the keys of the kingdom of heaven given by the Lord to Peter only, and will no other of the blessed receive them? But if this promise, "I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 16:19, is common to the others, how will not all the things spoken before, and the things added afterward as addressed to Peter, be common to them? For in this place these words seem to be addressed to Peter only: "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven," Matthew 16:19, and so on. But in the Gospel of John, the Savior, after giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples by breathing on them, said, "Receive the Holy Spirit,"

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

For first of all the Lord gave that power to Peter, upon whom He built the Church, and whence He appointed and showed the source of unity — the power, namely, that whatsoever he loosed on earth should be loosed in heaven.