If you insist that Peter was the first pope, and that Jesus established a hierarchy of popes, cardinals, priests, etc., how do you deal with the historical fact that some of the popes were evil men and could hardly be called “vicars of Christ”?
“If you insist that Peter was the first pope, and that Jesus established a hierarchy of popes, cardinals, priests, etc., how do you deal with the historical fact that some of the popes were evil men and could hardly be called “vicars of Christ”?”
Two comments to buttress your post:
1) There is ZERO biblical evidence that Peter ever stepped foot in Rome.
2) No man should ever be called “Vicar of Christ.” That is a usurpation of the office of the Holy Spirit. Because there is a direct connection between the redemption of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it is a soul damning error to mistake the work of the Holy Spirit as Vicar of Christ with the position or work of any man.
Sinners, perhaps but .... evil? Just so we're on the same page, can you provide some names?
How do you deal witht he fact that one out of twelve of Jesus diciples was the one that betrayed him? How do you deaql with the fact that Jimmy Swagget cheated on his wife, Jim Bakker stole thoundsna of dollars and cheated on his wife? How about Peter Popoff(spell?) pretends to be a healer? The lsit goes on and on.
The one undeniable fact is that as bad as some of these Popes might have been in their personal life, not one, not a single one ever taught heresy.