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How Peter Became Pope, W Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Hadrian I, 772-795, had his rival Paul Afiarta executed. When the Lombards again besieged Rome, the Pope called Karl the Great, who overthrew King Desiderius and annexed his kingdom. Karl visited the Pope, kissed the stairs of St. Peter's as he went up, and ratified and enlarged the gift of his father Pepin in 774. In 781 Karl had to help again, and rumor had it he planned to depose the Pope.

Till December 1, 781, the Pope had counted his office from the years of the rule of the Greek emperors; now he dated it from the years of …

How Peter Became Pope, W Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Hilary, 461-408, took the title "Vicar of Peter, to whom, since the resurrection of Christ, belonged the keys of the kingdom.” He admitted, however, that his vast authority had a civil origin. In time the "Vicar of Peter'' grew into the ''Vicar of Christ."

Simplicius, 468---483, appointed a permanent legate in Spain.

When Emperor Augustulus was deposed, in 476, the division of the Eastern and Western empires ended. In the following century the Goths were put down by J' Justinian’s generals Belisarius and Narses, and Italy was subject to the emperor at Constantinople and ruled by his exarchs at Ravenna, …

How Peter Become Pope, W Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

"The Papacy, such as the West knew it in a later age, had not yet 'been born" - in the fourth century, says Duchesne. For stating this historical truth the French Catholic scholar’s History of the Chruch was placed on the "Index.''

Julius I, 337-352, called a synod to Rome in 340, but the Orientals sent an insulting refusal. When he, in 341, reproved some Eastern bishops for calling a synod at Antioch without his permission, they laughed and told him Christianity arose in the East, and if there were any question of superiority, such belonged to the elder, Oriental, …

How Peter Became Pope, W Dalhmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Waiving discussion, let us assume that Peter came to Rome shortly before· his death.

This humble "elder" begs his fellow-elders to feed the flock of God and not to be "lords over God's heritage, but examples to the flock." 1 Pet. 5, 1-3. How· did this humble elder grow into the infallible Pope who holds the place of God on earth?

Rome was the capital of the world, and the bishop naturally shared in the glory that was Rome’s.

All roads lead to Rome, and Christiana from all parts of the world came to Rome and become acquainted with the …