You are taking two snapshots of the Church 2000 years apart and expecting them to line up in ways that are just plain ridiculous.
It’s like you’re staring at a photo of me in 1975 and insisting I can’t be the same person. “I don’t see any beard in this pic! And the clothes are completely different!”
Whereas if you looked at a photo from 1977, then 1980, then 1985, and right on up till today it’d be pretty obvious that, notwithstanding the beard and clothes, I am in fact the same person.
You know the Church didn’t end when Paul got to Rome right? So start with Acts. Then read Clement and Ignatius. Move to Irenaeus and Cyprian. Then Chrysostom and Augustine.
One big change in 2000 years is this...Peter was NOT called The Holy Father, he would have rebuked anybody that did call him that.
2000 YEARS ago they did not pull any punches, they were very blunt, they did not play down our sins.
One big change in 2000 years is this...Peter was NOT called The Holy Father, he would have rebuked anybody that did call him that.
2000 YEARS ago they did not pull any punches, they were very blunt, they did not play down our sins.