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St. Peter and Rome
Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 11-15-04 | Amy Barragree

Posted on 10/27/2006 8:14:39 PM PDT by Salvation

St. Peter and Rome
11/15/04

Dear Catholic Exchange:

Why did St. Peter establish the Church in Rome?

Ed


Dear Ed,

Peace in Christ!

We do not know why Peter went to Rome. The Church has always maintained, based on historical evidence, that Peter went to Rome, but has never taught why this happened. In speculating on this matter, there are two primary considerations.

First, at the time of Jesus and the early Church, the Roman Empire controlled the lands around the Mediterranean, a large portion of what is now Europe, and most of what is now called the Middle East. Rome was one of the biggest, most influential cities in the Western world. It was the center of political authority, economic progress, cultural expression, and many other aspects of life in the Roman Empire. This may have played a role in Peter’s decision to go to Rome.

Second, Jesus promised the Apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them. Scripture shows Peter following the promptings of the Holy Spirit throughout his ministry. It somehow fits into God’s providence and eternal plan that His Church be established in Rome. Peter may have gone to Rome for no other reason than that is where the Holy Spirit wanted him.

Historical evidence does show that Peter did go to Rome and exercised his authority as head of the Apostles from there. The earliest Christians provided plenty of documentation in this regard.

Among these was St. Irenæus of Lyons, a disciple of St. Polycarp who had received the Gospel from the Apostle St. John. Near the end of his life St. Irenæus mentioned, in his work Against Heresies (c. A.D. 180-199), the work of Peter and Paul in Rome:

Matthew also issued among the Hebrews a written Gospel in their own language, while Peter and Paul were evangelizing in Rome and laying the foundation of the Church (Book 3, Chapter 1, verse 1).
The African theologian Tertullian tells us that Peter and Paul both died in Rome in Demurrer Against the Heretics (c. A.D. 200):
Come now, if you would indulge a better curiosity in the business of your salvation, run through the apostolic Churches in which the very thrones of the Apostles remain still in place; in which their own authentic writings are read, giving sound to the voice and recalling the faces of each.... [I]f you are near to Italy, you have Rome, whence also our authority [i.e., in Carthage] derives. How happy is that Church, on which the Apostles poured out their whole doctrine along with their blood, where Peter endured a passion like that of the Lord, where Paul was crowned in a death like John’s [i.e., the Baptist], where the Apostle John, after being immersed in boiling oil and suffering no hurt, was exiled to an island.
Tertullian was certainly not the only ancient author who testified that Peter was crucified in Rome. An ancient, orthodox historical text known as the "Acts of Saints Peter and Paul" elaborates on the preaching and martyrdom of the two Apostles in Rome. The dating of this document is difficult, but historians cited in the Catholic Encyclopedia placed its probable origins between A.D. 150-250.

One of the earliest thorough histories of the Church was Bishop Eusebius of Cæsarea’s Ecclesiastical History. Most of this work was written before Constantine became emperor in A.D. 324, and some portions were added afterward. Eusebius quotes many previous historical documents regarding Peter and Paul’s travels and martyrdom in Rome, including excellent excerpts from ancient documents now lost, like Presbyter Gaius of Rome’s "Disputation with Proclus" (c. A.D. 198-217) and Bishop Dionysius of Corinth’s "Letter to Soter of Rome" (c. A.D. 166-174). Penguin Books publishes a very accessible paperback edition of Eusebius’s history of the Church, and most libraries will probably own a copy as well.

For more ancient accounts of Peter’s presence in Rome, see the writings of the Church Fathers, which are published in various collections. Jurgens’s Faith of the Early Fathers, volumes 1-3, contains a collection of patristic excerpts with a topical index which apologists find very useful (Liturgical Press). Hendrickson Publishers and Paulist Press both publish multi-volume hardcover editions of the works of the Church Fathers. Penguin Books and St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press publish a few works of the Fathers in relatively inexpensive paperback editions.

More treatments of Petrine questions may be found in Stephen K. Ray’s Upon This Rock (Ignatius); Jesus, Peter, & the Keys by Butler, Dahlgren, and Hess (Queenship); Patrick Madrid’s Pope Fiction (Basilica); and in the Catholic Answers tracts “Was Peter In Rome?” and “The Fathers Know Best: Peter In Rome.”

Please feel free to call us at 1-800-MY FAITH or email us with any further questions on this or any other subject. If you have found this information to be helpful, please consider a donation to CUF to help sustain this service. You can call the toll-free line, visit us at
www.cuf.org, or send your contribution to the address below. Thank you for your support as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”

United in the Faith,

Amy Barragree
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)



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TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Judaism; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholiclist; rome; stpeter
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To: Campion
In other words, our salvation depends on accepting the fallible interpretations of men. Not men like the Pope, but men like you.

That's not it and you know it...Like I said earlier, get personal with God and ask Him to open the bible for you...While you study it...

What you mabye don't realize is that you (if you're saved) have the same Spirit and power IN YOU that raised Jesus from the dead...That's the same Spirit that reveals the scripture to you...

541 posted on 11/02/2006 5:01:10 PM PST by Iscool
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To: HarleyD

Then why haven't Lutherans changed their position? Why did John Wesley believe the same way more than two centuries later? Do you honestly believe that Mary and Joseph would have felt "reproached" if their parenting was limited to caring for the Son of God?


542 posted on 11/02/2006 5:02:50 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: Iscool; Campion
That's not it and you know it...Like I said earlier, get personal with God and ask Him to open the bible for you...While you study it...

What were the mainly illiterate people supposed to do prior to the invention of the printing press when Bibles were incredibly expensive and nearly impossible to get?

543 posted on 11/02/2006 5:07:00 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: Lil Flower
Oh, I see, your playing God today. No one, not even Iscool, can judge another persons soul. That is for God and God alone.

Nope...That's why I emphasazed MY OPINION...God is the judge but we are told to judge all things...Not to determine one's future destination but for fellowship...

I suspect from yur response you don't have a personal testimony...

544 posted on 11/02/2006 5:08:11 PM PST by Iscool
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To: adiaireton8
God says very clearly not to add or remove from His word. If you don't like Jeremiah, how about:

That seems rather clear to me.

Tell me, since you don't believe my verses from Jeremiah of the "false prophets who lead people astray with their reckless boasting" are sufficient, how do you determine who is speaking the truth and who isn't? What criteria do you use? Based upon some council of men who tell you they have the Spirit of God?

545 posted on 11/02/2006 5:11:14 PM PST by HarleyD ("A man's steps are from the Lord, How then can man understand his way?" Prov 20:24 (HNV))
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To: wagglebee
What were the mainly illiterate people supposed to do prior to the invention of the printing press when Bibles were incredibly expensive and nearly impossible to get?

This is what your church tells you...Why would copies of the scripture be expensive??? Sure, they didn't run off a million copies at a time, but they had enough copies to spread their beliefs far and wide...

546 posted on 11/02/2006 5:14:37 PM PST by Iscool
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To: Iscool
This is what your church tells you...Why would copies of the scripture be expensive???

Are you actually that naive about the availability of books prior to the invention of the printing press? And do you think the Catholic Church somehow conspired to accomplish this? Do you have any idea how long it takes to transcribe a Bible by hand? And finally, the overwhelming portion of the people was illiterate. Why would God create so many insurmountable obstacles to Salvation?

547 posted on 11/02/2006 5:19:07 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee
Then why haven't Lutherans changed their position?

Why did John Wesley believe the same way more than two centuries later?

Do you honestly believe that Mary and Joseph would have felt "reproached" if their parenting was limited to caring for the Son of God?


548 posted on 11/02/2006 5:26:16 PM PST by HarleyD ("A man's steps are from the Lord, How then can man understand his way?" Prov 20:24 (HNV))
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To: annalex; Uncle Chip; wmfights; HarleyD; William Terrell; Iscool
What does Simon Magus have to do with the Teaching Magisterium of the Church? -- nothing, besides the alliteration.

Simon was indeed a special person in scripture. The Book of Acts was written in about 62 A.D. by Luke....and have you ever wondered why Luke spent so much time (2/3 of a chapter) telling us about him? [Acts 8] Have you ever wondered why the Bible is so silent on the activities of the other apostles but tells us quite a bit about Simon....a wanna be?

A false religious system had begun....almost immediately after Pentecost [II Thessalonians 2:7][Jude 4] and Luke is making sure we know what caused it. Luke and Paul, spending most of their time in and about Asia Minor, Greece and Rome indicate to us that this was the location where much of the early heresies were emanating from.

Hasting's Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, Volume 2, page 496 says: "It seems beyond question that Luke knew the reputation which Simon Magus acquired, and that he regarded the subsequent history of Simon as the natural result of what occurred in the beginning of his connection with the Christians." Luke was attempting to expose Simon and indicate to us that he was never a part of God's Church! By 62 A.D. this was obviously a major problem as Simon had many followers running around calling themselves Christians!

Simon was a Samaritan [Acts 8:9]. Simon used sorcery [Acts 8:9]. Simon had the entire population of Samaria regarding him a a God [Acts 8:10]. Simon was a descendant of Babylonians [II Kings 17:24] and practiced "their" mystery religion.

Simon tried to buy his way in [Acts 8:18-19] and was rejected by Peter. Peter used a prophecy in doing this by using the phrase "Gall of Bitterness". These words to a first century Jew meant someone who is worshiping idols and the abominations of the heathens [Deuteronomy 29:16-18]. "Make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison."

It has been shown conclusively in this thread that Simon went to Rome about 42 A.D., greatly influenced the Romans, had a statue erected to himself, was known far and wide as Simon "Pater" or Father Simon and II Kings 17:40-41 tells us what the Babylonians did after being resettled in Assyria. These are the folks Simon Magus called ancestors.

Much of what the Magisterium teaches can be found in the roots of this poison.....this gall of bitterness.

549 posted on 11/02/2006 6:05:35 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Diego1618
Among the heresies brought into the church by Simon Magus was the earliest form of Replacement Theology with its deep disdain for the Jewish roots of our Christian heritage, and the allegorical interpretation of Scripture. For others that are with us today patriarch Irenaeus' Against Heresies is an eye opener for those who are genuine truthseekers.
550 posted on 11/02/2006 6:22:07 PM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
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To: Uncle Chip
This is what Eusebius has to say about Simon Magus in his "History of the Church", Book II, Chapter XIII, Paragraph 6.

Sounds familiar????

551 posted on 11/02/2006 6:28:05 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Diego1618

Post #549 should say in the second to last paragraph: "Resettled in Samaria....not Assyria!


552 posted on 11/02/2006 6:38:39 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Uncle Chip
Against Heresies is an eye opener for those who are genuine truth seekers.

Yes, I am always amazed that such available material just doesn't seem to "Sink In" with the very people who most often quote it......as the "Work of the Early Fathers."

553 posted on 11/02/2006 6:44:04 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: annalex
This is getting us nowhere. For one who dismisses scripture only, you certainly insist that the very notion be precisely scriptural, correctly worded, at that.

Ideas are God inspired. The idea of "Use The Scriptures" was communicated by the passage in question. I don't think you can reasonably say that, at the time, the practice or guideline was to think up a great idea, then teach it as doctrine, and this was accepted practice.

You must give me evidence that the Old Testament was treated like that by the Levities, or any Israelite.

My references to the Catholic clergy is stained with fact the the fathers of the church tell you to pray to dead humans when every word in the Bible states or implies that people pray to God, and with the new covenant, through the Christ in faith and belief, only.

As I said before, the smaller the number of books, down to the maximum of them that can be absolutely trusted as accurate, is the best way. Christ's message was very simple.

You give the church Holy Ghost authority using the scriptures with only labored interpretation, and some on conjecture. This is why you endlessly get an argument. If you had anything compelling, it would have been settled long ago.

Not everybody agrees that what the church calls the Apocalypse was divinely inspired. The four Gospels, Acts, Letters everyone agrees was inspired. Let's leave it at that. God promised some exquisite consequences to those who follow false doctrine. I not so sure He would consider the lessor offense of having been duped.

Yes, you don't go by scripture alone. So, what do you think God thinks about praying to dead people? He's OK with it, do you think? Is Christ the Lord? Based on what we know this Spirit has said, that is written down, like scripture?

But I get it! You don't go by scripture alone, so you don't have to have scripture to say you need not use scripture. What a great con; my hat is off.

Again you ask me for scripture, when you are saying scripture is not necessary. Because Protestants believe in scripture only so we should follow our own example? Ah, but if not needing scripture is Truth, it is Truth for anyone.

But not for the Catholic church, of course. They have scripture to prove it. Why should they need scripture to prove it if scripture is not necessary?

Why not just publicly claim up front and in all writings the notice that the Catholic church is the only true church, the only true interpreter of God's word, old and new covenants, whose word is law and whose authority is the voice of God Himself and anyone who departs from its doctrine is eternally damned to hellfire?

Each point above proceeds directly from the premise that holy scriptures can be no governor to one, and only one, church.

The church is not in the scripture. The Bible is, and always has been about individuals, not some preeminent, huge corporation that controls the world's access to God.

The Body of Christ is all the individuals that believe in the Christ and His teachings. I imagine there are a number of them in the Catholic church.

Read it again and try to think like an individual soul of God and not like a corporation.

The perfection of men of God could and can be achieved by any individual then or now, with or without a church, or any other corporate structure. The word of God is for MANKIND!

Where does the scripture teach you don'thave to go by scripture? I ask you again, where is even the custom or practice in the Old or New testament that allows men disregard the need for the authority of the scriptures?

Or are you guys just freewheelin' it?

554 posted on 11/02/2006 6:47:33 PM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: wagglebee
The word til means nothing, it does not presume any subsequent event.

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:

Oh? It's not suggestive?

I guess not by someone with so much to loose if she didn't stay a virgin.

Myself, I'm just curious. It's important that she be a virgin when she bore Jesus, but of no particular importance that she stay so. Unless you need to worship he, I guess.

555 posted on 11/02/2006 6:55:46 PM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: Diego1618
Irenaeus'Against Heresies: Book I: Chapter 23:

"He then not putting faith in God a whit the more, set himself with still greater zeal to the study of the whole magic art, that he might the better bewilder and overpower multitudes of men. Such was his procedure in the reign of Claudius Caesar, by whom he was honoured with a statue on account of his magical power. This man was glorified by many as if he were a god, and he taught that it was himself who appeared among the Jews as the Son, but descended in Samaria as the Father, while he came to other nations in the character of the Holy Spirit. He represented himself, in a word, as being the loftiest of all powers, that is, the Being who is the Father over all, and he allowed himself to be called by whatsoever title men were pleased to address him."[Vs 1]

"Now this Simon, from whom all sorts of heresies derive their origin . . . conferred salvation upon men . . . for men are saved through his grace, not on account of their own righteous actions." [Verse 3]

"Thus then, the mystic priests belonging to this sect both lead profligate lives and practice the magical arts, each one of them to the extent of his ability. They use exorcisms and incantations. . . and whatever othe curious arts can be had recourse to, are eagerly pressed into their service. They also have an image of Simon fashioned after the likeness of Jupiter, and another of Helena in the shape of Minerva; and these they worship. In fine they have a name derived from Simon, the author of these impious doctrines, being called Simonians; and from them, 'knowledge falsely so-called' received its beginning, as one may learn from their assertions." [Verse 4]

"The successor of this man was Menander, also a Samaritan by birth, and he too was a perfect adept in the practice of magic. He affirms . . . that he himself is the person who has been sent forth from the presence of the invisible beings as a saviour for the deliverance of men . . . He gives too as he affirms, by that magic which he teaches, knowledge to this effect, that one may overcome those very angels that made the world; for his disciples obtain a resurrection by being baptized unto him, and can die no more, but remain in possession of immortal youth." [Verse 5]

This magician Simon who sat in a sacerdotal chair in Rome for 25 years? whose followers were "called Christians", was called by these "so-called Christians" many appellations including: the Father {Pater}, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and others ..... conferring "salvation by grace" unto those who were "baptized unto him". Where is the magisterium of this ancient religious sect founded by Simon the Magician today? Still in Rome?

556 posted on 11/02/2006 7:57:43 PM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
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To: Uncle Chip; kerryusama04; wmfights; Iscool
This magician Simon who sat in a sacerdotal chair in Rome for 25 years? whose followers were "called Christians", was called by these "so-called Christians" many appellations including: the Father {Pater}

Interesting word....Pater.

Peter, Pator, Patre, Padre, Patora, Preter was the name given to many ancient heathen Gods. The term always meaning "inter"preters" of sacred knowledge. In many ancient cultures the father was the chief priest of the family and became known as Pator. The head Pator was the Arch Pator....or the "Patriarch".

The early Roman writer "Lucilius" mentions that Neptune, Liber, Saturn, Mars, Janus and Quirnus were all Paters.... Chief Gods......especially Ju-Piter. Jupiter was the Roman way of saying "Zeus Peter" and was the chief god of the Greeks.

The pagan God, Artemis is pictured standing by a stone pillar....a phallic symbol which became known as Petras....or simply a "Peter". Yes, there was a Peter in Rome.....early in the first century.....for about 25 years. It was not the Apostle Peter....it was Simon "Pator" Magus.

557 posted on 11/02/2006 8:44:30 PM PST by Diego1618
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To: Diego1618; Uncle Chip; wmfights; HarleyD; William Terrell; Iscool
Much of what the Magisterium teaches can be found in the roots of this poison.....this gall of bitterness

Except the only connection between the Magisterium and Magus is in the first three letters and in your head.

558 posted on 11/02/2006 8:54:48 PM PST by annalex
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To: William Terrell
For one who dismisses scripture only, you certainly insist that the very notion be precisely scriptural, correctly worded, at that.

I am proving you wrong. If the scripture be the sole source of Christian truth, then this fact better be right there in the scripture, black on white, inambiguous. It is not.

Why not just publicly claim up front and in all writings the notice that the Catholic church is the only true church, the only true interpreter of God's word, old and new covenants, whose word is law and whose authority is the voice of God Himself and anyone who departs from its doctrine is eternally damned to hellfire?

Why not? Of course the Catholic Church is the only true Church, established by Christ, His only mystical body and bride, outside of which there is no salvation. Christ has one body and one bride, and so there is one Church and one Church only, amen.

And your incredulous gasps are just your opinion.

559 posted on 11/02/2006 9:01:49 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex; William Terrell
Why not? Of course the Catholic Church is the only true Church, established by Christ, His only mystical body and bride, outside of which there is no salvation.

Is this Vatican I or Vatican II teaching? I keep forgetting and get them mixed up.

560 posted on 11/03/2006 2:17:57 AM PST by HarleyD ("A man's steps are from the Lord, How then can man understand his way?" Prov 20:24 (HNV))
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