RA Blogs the Institutes. 4.6.15-4.6.17. Petrine Supremacy

We continue evaluating Rome's claims.

1. Paul was brought to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 28.16) and was received by his brethren (28.15). Nothing about Peter.

2. Paul’s letters from prison. He greets the brethren. Nothing about Peter.

3. Paul’s letter to the Philippians from Rome. Paul affirms that Timothy is his most faithful fellow-labourer. (Phil.2.20-22). A substantial charge against Peter, if he was collocated in Rome.

4. Paul’s letter to Timothy from Rome observes that all forsook him at his trial. (2 Timothy 4.16) This would be a charge of opprobrium were Peter in Rome.

5. There is confusion among the writers as to lineage following Paul’s death and Peter’s work at Rome. Some ascribe leadership to Clement and others to Linus. A superstitious tale arose re: an alleged dispute between Peter and Simon Magus while Peter was at Rome. Irenaeus says both Paul and Peter founded the church at Rome and the lineage is Linus, Anacletus, and Clement. (Against Heresies 111.iii 3.)

6. Paul affirms that Peter’s ministry was to the Jews and, in terms of emphasis, his own to the Gentiles (Gal.2.7-9). Based on (1)-(7), the evidence for Peter’s presence is unproved, slender and inconclusive, while Paul’s is indisputable, conclusive and lengthy.

7. Jerome, in writing to Neotanius, says each church has its own bishop, archpresbyter, and archdeacon that rests on its own order. (Letters, cxx.v.56.133) There is nothing of universal, Petrine supremacy.

8. Cyprian puts the entire church under the universal church under one Head, Christ Jesus. “The episcopate is one, a `whole’ of which a part is held by each bishop. And the church is one, which is spread abroad far and wide into a multitude by an increase of fruitfulness. As there are many rays of the sun, but one light; and there are many branches of a tree, but one strong trunk grounded in a tenacious root; and since from one flow many streams, although a goodly number seem outpoured from their bounty and superabundance, still at the source unity abides undivided…So also the church, bathed in the light of the Lord, extends it rays over the whole earth; yet there is one light diffused everywhere. Nor is the unity of the body severed; it spreads its branches through the whole earth; it pours its overstreaming streams; yet there is one head and one source…” (On the Unity of the Catholic Church iii, v,, vi). That is Christ Jesus Himself as the Font, Source, Root and Head of the Church Catholic.