| So what was the early church in Rome really like? Initially, you can safely say it was an unorganised heap of people. And hardly any structure's there. A large group, a growing group within the city of Rome, but not united. And there are differences of opinion about how to worship, where to worship. And gradually, eventually, you have those single figures of authority rising to the fore. The Bishop, who can pull it all together. So where did the early Bishops of Rome get their authorities from? From a fairly early point onwards, they're beginning to place themselves in one line with the Apostle, Peter, who was the right hand of Christ, who supposedly was the first Bishop of Rome. Where that tradition comes from is not entirely clear, but that tradition, "I'm the successor to Peter", gives them an enormous source of authority. |
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