Cynical bear writes: (SOURCE: Iraeneus Against Heresies, Volume I, Book III, Para 3)
THIS FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS WRONG! YOU SHOULD READ MORE OF THIS IRAENEOUS.
"Did you notice that it was Paul who made mention of Linus, not Peter? With no indication of Peter ever being in Rome nor any indication that Peter in fact was the head of the Apostles there can be no legitimate claim that Peter was the first Pope or that the RC was built on Peter."
SINCE YOU LIKE TO QUOTE IRAENENOUS TO TRY TO PROVE SOMETHING. HERE HE STATES PETER IN ROME.
Here is Iraeneus on Peter and Paul together in Rome.
AGAINST HERESIES BOOK 3 Chapter 3 "Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [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; as also means of the successions of the bishops...
HE EVEN KNEW POLYCARP. But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true...Read More[Read More]
Adversus Haereses (Book III, Chapter 1)
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul Were Preaching AT Rome, and Laying the Foundations of the Church...Read More[Read More]
Adversus Haereses (Book III, Chapter 3) Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [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; as also means of the successions of the bishops...Read More[Read More]
Adversus Haereses (Book III, Chapter 10) Wherefore also Mark, the interpreter and follower of Peter, does thus commence his Gospel narrative: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way...