Historical Theology · Patristic Database

The Christian
Belief Map

What the first five centuries believed — and who still believes it today.

217
Belief Records
46
Figures
500
Years
6
Traditions
Reset
Doctrines
Christology 8 Ecclesiology 81 Eschatology 22 Mariology 14 Petrine Ministry 32 Pneumatology 6 Prayer & Devotion 5 Scripture & Tradition 33 Soteriology 7 The Eucharist 30 The Priesthood 11 The Sacraments 31

PETRINE MINISTRY

17 records · 5 hostile witnesses
What the early Church fathers taught on this doctrine
Affirmed (17)
Which modern traditions agree with the early Church on this doctrine?
Dark bar = identical/convergent · Light = partial agreement
Catholic
82% 14/17
Orthodox
29% 5/17
Lutheran
12% 2/17
Reformed
12% 2/17
Baptist
18% 3/17
Evangelical
18% 3/17
By Era
2
Apostolic
4
Ante-nicene
1
Nicene
10
Post-nicene
Figures Attesting
17 Belief Records
CR Clement of Rome c. AD 96
The church of Rome intervenes in the affairs of the church at Corinth
affirmed
CR Clement of Rome c. AD 96
Clement of Rome intervenes in the Corinthian church to restore deposed elders — the letter is authoritative
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
The apostles founded the Church at Rome and committed the episcopate to Linus their successor
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Every church must agree with the Roman Church on account of its preeminent authority and the apostolic tradition preserved there
affirmed
TT Tertullian c. AD 200
Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the head of the apostolic college
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
TT Tertullian c. AD 217
The Church's authority includes binding and loosing on earth — what she binds is bound in heaven
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
CN Council of Nicaea AD 325
The bishop of Alexandria exercises regional authority parallel to Rome's authority in the West
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
JJ Jerome c. AD 384
Jerome appeals to the chair of Peter in Rome as the doctrinal authority for settling disputes
affirmed
PI Pope Innocent I AD 416
Nothing done in remote provinces should be regarded as finally settled unless it has come to the notice of this See
affirmed
PI Pope Innocent I AD 416
Pope Innocent I teaches that all major causes of the Church must be referred to the Roman see
affirmed
PI Pope Leo I c. AD 444
Leo I teaches that Peter lives on in his successors and continues to exercise his primacy through them
affirmed
PI Pope Leo I c. AD 445
The faith confessed by Peter persists in his successors, the bishops of Rome
affirmed
CC Council of Chalcedon AD 451
The bishop of Rome cannot summon a universal council alone — imperial authority was required for all four great councils
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
PI Pope Leo I AD 451
The council fathers acclaimed: Peter has spoken through Leo
affirmed
PI Pope Gelasius I c. AD 494
Gelasius I asserts that spiritual and temporal authority are distinct — priests bear greater weight because they answer for kings
affirmed
GG Gregory the Great c. AD 590
Gregory the Great teaches that the pope is servant of all, not lord — and rebuke is required when rulers sin
affirmed
GG Gregory the Great c. AD 595
Pope Gregory the Great refuses the title Universal Bishop as the precursor of Antichrist
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
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