Calvin's Institutes. 4.7-14: "Popes on the Ropes"

Calvin’s Institutes, IV.7.11-16. “Attitude of fifth- and sixth-century popes: Rome vs. Constantinople.”

IV.7.14: “Rome and Constantinople in conflict over supremacy.”

Observations.

1. Rome and Constantinople were in constant conflict over supremacy.

2. When the empire began shifting to Constantinople, efforts were under way to lift the see to the dignity of Rome.

3. Being in the centre of the Roman Empire, Rome itself: “nothing did more to bestow the primacy upon Rome than the fact that the capital of the Empire was then there.”

4. A rescript from bishop Lucius that “where metropolitans and primates ought to preside have been marked out according to the scheme of government that previously existed.”

5. Primates and metropolitans were “allocated” according to political conditions. Some places were elevated beyond those with greater dignity and authority.

6. The Roman pontiff saw the ancient dignity decline after “the seat of empire was transferred to Constantinople;” fearing declension, he opposed the plan.

Interpretation.

Historic misuse and abuse of Scripture has existed to support Papal pretensions and the repression of the Gospel when, in fact, it arose in close association with political directions and when lame people (like English Romanists, e.g. Bonner, Gardiner, ABC Williams, Tractarians) lie down like stupid sheep.