St. Peter and Rome

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 11-15-04 | Amy Barragree

[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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[Iscool]

You are a very prideful and arrogant person, Iscool. How do you deduce from my reply that I have no personal relationship with Christ? Again playing God.

No, not at all...The opposite, in fact...

A personal testimony is when you called on the Lord and got saved...

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You'll notice that in the last verse, it says, "And it shall come to pass"...It has come to pass...Without calling on the name of the Lord, we will not have salvation or heaven...

And when people have called on the Lord for salvation, the ones I've encountered are more than happy to testify...

[Running On Empty]

"Not at all--the opposite, in fact".

It's a little hard to swallow that someone would consider himself humble.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

How many things discerned from Irenaeus's writings here are taught in the churches of Christendom today. We can start with 1]Preterism, then 2] the Allegorization of the Scriptures, then 3] Replacement Theology, then 4] an irrational disdain for and mischaracterization of Dispensational Theology, then 5] that what the prophets of the Jewish side of the Book wrote are not for today, then 6] the use of those versions of the Bible that are based upon the corrupted manuscripts that came from the hands of the disciples of Father Simon the Magician.

You're batting one for five here, Chip.

Partial Preterism is faithfully Scriptural; there are some allegories offered in the Scriptures (a map is not equal to the territory); The New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant (new wine in new wineskins); and a disdain for dispensationalism is a healthy disdain for a political agenda being superimposed over God's word in the guise of correct doctrine.

I will give you that the use of corrupted texts is a great error and a backroad to Rome, unlike the Textus Receptus which remains the most faithful rendering of God's word.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Meant to ping you, too.

[Iscool]

It's a little hard to swallow that someone would consider himself humble.Well, it is hard to be humble, especially when you look in the mirror, and you get better lookin' each day...

Yes, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doing the best that I can...

[Uncle Chip]

Read Irenaeus carefully. His writings are not Scripture but they are worth listening to. He is identifying the origin of things that are in the church today and where they come from. I'm not batting here, Irenaeus is. Try to strike him out, if you can.

[Running On Empty]

"I'm doing the best I can"

Keep working at it.

[Running On Empty]

E
"especially when you look in the mirror and you get better lookin' every day"

Remember--"we see now through a mirror darkly"

[Diego1618]

Simon the Magician, the founder of that magisterial counterfeit Roman religion that still sits there today.

The Book of Acts was a history of the Early Church and it is significant that much of Chapter Eight is devoted to the early heresy of Simon Magus. Most all the epistles mention the religion of Simon Magus, exposing errors committed by Simon and his brand of Christianity. This heresy had spread throughout the entire Church by the second century and in various schools of Gnosticism.

The Apostle John was the one who seems to have taken the battle to this false Christianity the most. John wrote his Gospel very late and knew that the teachings of our Saviour were being corrupted by this false doctrine. Notice how John stresses the importance of keeping the commandments as he well knew their doctrine included a "Libertine" approach to things spiritual.

John mentions "Samaria", the home of Simon, more than any other Gospel and not just in a geographical sense. There was something sinister about Samaria....and Samaritans. You'll find these efforts to overthrow the truth throughout his epistles and in Revelation he even tells us the names of this evil system. As the Book of Acts was history, the Book of Revelation is prophecy showing this false system's history down through the ages.

We are told in plain language that it will be the "Samaritans" that will bring us this false system. [Revelation 3:9] This "Synagogue of Satan" who claim to be Jews....and are not!" We also see these same folks spoken of in [Revelation 2:9] a synagogue of Satan....ones who call themselves Jews and are not. The Samaritans were the only people in the history of the world who did this....call themselves Jews when it was to their advantage. Remember in [II Kings 17:24] Babylonians were brought to Samaria by the King of Assyria to live where the Northern Kingdom of Israelites had dwelt. They brought their Babylonian religious system with them and continued these practices into the first century.

Simon was a Samaritan and Simon practiced the Mystery Religion of Babylon. Notice in [John 4:9-12] when Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan women....She lies about her ancestry calling Jacob, "Our Father". In Josephus, speaking of the Samaritans [Antiquities Book IX, Chapter 14, Paragraph 3] he says, "And when they see Jews in prosperity, they PRETEND they are changed and allied to them, and call them kinsmen as though they were derived from Joseph.....and had by that means an original alliance with them. But when they see them falling into a low condition they say they are no way related to them and that the Jews have no right to expect any kindness or marks of kindred from them, but they declare that they are sojourners that come from other countries."

This is one of the reasons our Saviour told the Apostles not to go into any cities of the Samaritans [Matthew 10:5-6] nor Gentiles....but only to the House of Israel.

The Samaritans knew about the prophecies foretelling a Messiah from the House of Judah(Jews) and this is why they pretended to be Jews....when it was to their advantage. Simon had convinced most of the folks in Rome that he, indeed was this Messiah. The emperor Claudius erected a Statue to Simon Magus which under Roman Law was illegal to do unless one was declared a God!

Yes, Simon (Pator) Magus was indeed a Roman God, instituted a false brand of Christianity to the Romans, was known by his reputation to the Apostle Paul, brought his Babylonian Mystery religion to the Gentiles....masquerading as a Christian....and it is still being done.

[kerryusama04]

I wish people could divorce themselves from their preconceived notions and simply read the Bible.

[Diego1618]

I wish people could divorce themselves from their preconceived notions and simply read the Bible.

If they didn't belong to the "Make it up as you go along Church"....they probably would!

[Diego1618]

I think that we can narrow down any possible visit by Peter to Paul in Rome [per Ignatius, Irenaeus, and a few others] to between 62AD when Paul was released from his first imprisonment and 64AD when Nero set fire to Rome.

After Paul's first imprisonment I believe he traveled to Spain...and then on to England before returning to Asia Minor. There is a gap between the two imprisonments and scripture does speak of him wanting to go to Spain [Romans 15:24 and Romans 15:28]. We know that his first visit to Rome was in custody so it is reasonable to believe he went on to Spain after being released. The "Sonnini Manuscript" tells of Paul's visit to Britain and Spain. This would have been the only time to accomplish this journey and I believe would have left him little time to meet Simon Peter in Rome.

[kerryusama04]

If they didn't belong to the "Make it up as you go along Church"....they probably would!

Ahhhh, if there were only one such church.

[Lil Flower]

I know what a personal testimony is, I was raised Southern Baptist.

And when people have called on the Lord for salvation, the ones I've encountered are more than happy to testify...

So are you now implying that because I have not posted my personal testimony I don't have one? Excuse me, but I don't recall seeing yours on here either.Unless of course you consider mocking other Christians' beliefs your personal testimony. Just because I haven't given my personal testimony on here does not mean I don't have one, or that I don't have a personal relationship with Christ, or that I don't know who my Savior is. I'm just not interested in placing it on here to have arrogant-behaving individuals critique it.

[Iscool]

So are you now implying that because I have not posted my personal testimony I don't have one? Excuse me, but I don't recall seeing yours on here either.Unless of course you consider mocking other Christians' beliefs your personal testimony. Just because I haven't given my personal testimony on here does not mean I don't have one, or that I don't have a personal relationship with Christ, or that I don't know who my Savior is. I'm just not interested in placing it on here to have arrogant-behaving individuals critique it.

I have in fact posted at least parts of my testimony here on FR in the past...And although no one has criticized it, I wouldn't care if they did...

Unless of course you consider mocking other Christians' beliefs your personal testimony.

I'm not mocking your beliefs...I'm trying to warn you and others...If you don't have a personal testimony, it's likely you didn't call on Jesus to save you...In which case, a person isn't saved...

[Lil Flower]

Let me clarify, you hadn't posted your personal testimony on this particular post. And anyone can give a personal testimony, but I also find that how a person acts and treats others is also part of their personal testimony as well.
You have mocked others Christianity. And have set yourself up as the "all knowing" on matters of others' personal faith.
I have had this debate with you before. You can't possibly know who has called on the Name of the Lord.
I agree with you that if a person does not confess that Christ is their Savior they are not a Christian, but your confession is more than just words you may have spoken at one time in the past, it is also how you live day to day.
How you live, how you treat others, is also part of your confession.
I have never, nor will I ever, accuse you of be saved or not, or whether or not you will end up in Heaven or hell, I am not God, there is no way I can no that. You seem to have a habit of condeming others. Maybe you should think about that.

[Uncle Chip]

The "Sonnini Manuscript" tells of Paul's visit to Britain and Spain. This would have been the only time to accomplish this journey and I believe would have left him little time to meet Simon Peter in Rome.

This Sonnini Manuscript means therefore that Peter and Paul could never have been together in Rome preaching as Irenaeus and Ignatius state, leaving us with the conclusion that they were either mistaken, or two fellows "called Peter and Paul", were together in Rome.

According to Irenaeus, Simon Magus had a companion who was also from Samaria, known as Menander, a fellow practitioner of magic. As Magus was called "Peter", Menander may have been called "Paul".

Note here the beginning of a tradition of the Roman religion descended from Simon Magus, where upon becoming head Bishop, the head Bishop assumes a saintly pseudonym and is called by that saintly pseudonym.

Furthermore, according to Irenaeus, the successor of Simon Magus was Menander. It is entirely possible that upon succeeding to the sacerdotal chair of Simon [Peter] Magus upon his death under Nero, that Menander chose the pseudonym "Linus", and thus the descent of the Papacy through a person "called Linus".

Finally, the most incredible revelation of Irenaeus thus far is that the ninth bishop in succession from Linus, was Cerdo, a follower of the doctrine of Simon Magus. That would make him the one "called Pius I". Then succeeding Cerdo [Pius I] was none other than the infamous Marcion, the 10th Bishop from the one "called Linus". That means that Marcion, one of the most dangerous heretics of all time, the greatest single propagator of the heresies of Simon Magus in the Ante-Nicene Church, was none other than the one that Roman Catholic faithful revere as Pope Anicetus.

If only they read their Ante-Nicene Fathers and quit listening to their Magisterium, they would know these things.

[Running On Empty]

It has always been the case that how we walk and talk our way through everyday life is the genuine (and lasting) testimony to our acceptance of salvation and our committment to daily Christian life. It's the only "witness" that will matter, because it will be the definition of our faith, open for all to see.

Before I became a Catholic, I remember be severely rebuked about something that was relatively benign--this rebuke came to me in the presence of others (Jesus always took people aside---except for the Pharisees, of course) and was delivered to me by a "Bible-believing" Christian.

Then I remembered the co-worker who quietly supported me in my work and treated me with respect. That person was instrumental in getting me interested in the Catholic Church.

I've heard stories just like mine from many people.

[Running On Empty]

"You must esteem the person of every man"

1Peter 2:17

[Uncle Chip]

We are told in plain language that it will be the "Samaritans" that will bring us this false system. [Revelation 3:9] This "Synagogue of Satan" who claim to be Jews....and are not!" We also see these same folks spoken of in [Revelation 2:9] a synagogue of Satan....ones who call themselves Jews and are not. The Samaritans were the only people in the history of the world who did this....call themselves Jews when it was to their advantage. Remember in [II Kings 17:24] Babylonians were brought to Samaria by the King of Assyria to live where the Northern Kingdom of Israelites had dwelt. They brought their Babylonian religious system with them and continued these practices into the first century.

II Kings 17:24 reads:

"And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon . . . and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in its cities."

Bingo!!! That makes sense and goes a long way to explain the Mystery Babylon in the Book of Revelation which is the embodiment of the magic, witchcraft,and sorcery rising from the Roman Bishopric of Simon Magus himself, and why this Roman/Samaritan/Babylonian religion perpetrated such a hatred for the Jews throughout its history and theology.

And it explains why one of the biggest proponents of expelling the Jews from the Land in Israel and filling it with Palestinians today is the Vatican in Rome itself, fulfilling the destiny of its founder with the prophesied consequences at its heels.