The Catholic church did not start until 325 AD, after the Council of Nicea. Emperor Constantine is the first pope. The Catholic church cannot establish a continuity between Peter and Constantine because Catholicism did not exist yet.
2007-08-25 03:39:44
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answer #1
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answered by Aeon Enigma 4
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“Please explain how it is possible for Peter to be the "first pope" of the Catholic church, when the Catholic church didn't start until after all of the apostles had died.”
The Church started WITH the apostles, WITH the Faith Christ had given them.
“Peter had a wife (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38), he had a filthy mouth and denied Christ (Matthew 26:69-75), and he died around 67 A.D., which makes it impossible for him to be the head of a church.”
??? So his being a sinner means he couldn’t have been the pope?
“What I know of the Catholic church isn't much, but I know that priests aren't supposed to be married, though some have in recent years, and priests aren't supposed to swear, cuss, drink, use drugs, etc.”
NONE of us are supposed to swear, cuss, drink (excessively), or use drugs. Priests ARE married; they’re married to the Church. Now, there are priests who families. Usually they are converts from other faiths who converted to Catholicism and were ordained to the priesthood.
2007-08-25 16:51:31
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answer #2
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answered by Danny H 6
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Hello Kelly,
First of all, many clergy have been married throughout history. In fact, in our Eastern Catholic rites, marriage by priests is permitted. For the record, the Catholic Church does not believe it is a sin for a priest to marry. The "ideal" is to be single, though.
The Church does prefer that priests and bishops (and popes) be unmarried so they might serve the Church unfettered with other cares and interests, and so that their celibacy might be offered as a sacrifice, AND so that they might live a life similar to Christ (who never married).
Secondly, you said "priests aren't supposed to swear, cuss, drink, use drugs, etc." Let me clarify. Drinking is not a sin. Drinking to EXCESS is. Nowhere in the Catechism of the Catholic Church does it say a priest cannot drink in moderation. As to the others (swearing, using drugs) those are definitely a sin for anyone, including priests. But surely you are aware that priests, although they have a special office, are not perfect? Sometimes they will fall short. This is why Christ gave us the Sacrament of Confession.
Third, as to how Peter can be the first pope if he had a filthy mouth and denied Christ? Well again, no one said that popes were perfect, and that includes Peter! In fact, in Scripture we often see Christ using "broken vessels" to accomplish His mission (look at St. Paul's record - he was killing Christians!).
The important thing is that Peter repented with His whole heart and was forgiven. He was also given special authority by Christ in Scripture.
As to Peter's claim to the papacy, that will take a few more words but I will summarize. That Peter had primacy among the apostles is clear from Scripture. Peter is mentioned 155 times in the Bible and the rest of apostles combined are only mentioned 130 times! Peter is also always listed first except in 1 Cor. 3:22 and Gal. 2:9. He was the first to accept the divinity of Christ and is given special authority in Matt 16:16-19
There is an UNBROKEN line of succession directly from Peter to our current pope Benedict. No other institution on Earth has lasted so long!
2007-08-25 03:38:11
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answer #3
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answered by Veritas 7
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Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
In John 21:15-17 Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him (for each of the three times Peter denied Jesus). He tells Peter to "feed my lambs, "take care of my sheep", "feed my sheep".
Jesus forgave Peter for denying him and knows that we are all sinners. And to show to the rest of the world that power of forgiveness (and for other reasons God only knows), he Peter to lead his church.
The Catholic Church has evolved throughout the years. It didn't become institutionalized until the 4th century, when Constantine legalized Christianity for the first time. But that doesn't mean the church itself didn't exist prior to that time.
The idea of "church" doesn't rely on location, legality, "bricks and mortar", etc. The early Christians were persecuted greatly, so they were unable to have an institutionalized Church like it exists today.
Also, while today Catholic priests are not allowed to be married, that is a law that can change. There was once a time when Catholic priests did marry and perhaps they will be allowed to again in the future.
BTW, why do you believe that the Church began after the all the apostles died? All over the New Testament it speaks of the church. Acts 12:5 states, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Revelations 1:4 states that an angel of the lord speaks to "the seven churches in the province of Asia."
And in Acts 15, it is clearly visible there was a church (in its infancy of course) at the Council of Jerusalem. And in Acts 1 it is clear that Peter is the head of the church when the apostles gathered together to replace Judas with Matthias.
This is just a sampling of the evidence that not only was there a church during the lifetime of the apostles, but that Peter was the head of it. And there is a clear line of succession of not only popes, but bishops as well. It only makes sense, because Peter himself chose to institute a line of apostolic succession when he quoted the Psalms, "For may his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it, and may another take his place of leadership."
2007-08-25 04:13:52
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answer #4
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answered by munhasen5 2
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Peter is considered the model of how a pope should behave. He was the first to take the message of Christ to Gentiles/Non-Jews. This is the message of the church and why he is considered the first pope. His life is a testament to how Christ can change a person. If you read Acts you can see how his later life differed from his earlier life which you referenced.
Most of the rules of the church weren't put into place until 312 I think. Christianity was an underground religion until then.
Priests are supposed to be a model for how to live life. But of course they are human and not perfect either.
2007-08-25 03:40:56
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answer #5
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answered by Max Power 3
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First, you are incorrect in that teh catholic church did not start until after all of the Apostles dies. The catholic Church started on Pentacost when teh Holy Spirit came to the disciples and Peter went out to preach.
Yes, Peter had a wife and denied Christ three times. After he rose from teh dead, Jesus told Peter to feed His lambs, therby forgiving Peter and telling Him to lead the Church.
There are some mar4ied priests They are married men who were Episcopalean or Lutheran ministers before they converted to Catholicism.
True, priests are not supposed to swear, cuss, or use drugas, but some do. It is ok for a priest to drink, just not get drunk.
Please contact me if you would like to learn about Catholicism.
2007-08-25 06:43:35
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answer #6
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answered by Sldgman 7
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You're asking how it is possible... quite simply, Jesus promised HE would build His Church. He did this - He kept His promise. He didn't wait till all the Apostles died - and he certainly didn't wait until Constantine came around to build it.
Peter denied Christ, I'm not so sure that equates to a "filthy mouth," but nonetheless, he was restored by Jesus Himself in John 21:15-17, and in fact it was there where Jesus, THE Good Shepherd, passed on His role of SHEPHERD to Peter, saying "Feed my lambs..." etc.
I realize that many may disagree with this teaching - but your question was "How is this possible?" This tells you how it is possible.
2007-08-26 10:10:25
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answer #7
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answered by CathApol 3
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girl,i don't know where you get you information from.the early church was formed by the apostle's,and peter was chosen by Jesus Christ himself to feed his flock and watch over it.and as to the apostle's having human hang ups,that was all prior before they where illuminated by the holy ghost.from that time on they started the ministry and teaching of the gospel.as to some of the apostle's being married,they all left provision's for there kin and remained celibate.the reason we have problems with some of the clergy not behaving to their norm of office,is that there is a all out satanic influence that is on going;battling between the good and evil angelic forces in the spiritual realm.in the catholic church are many rites,and roman Catholic is only one of them.in the Byzantine rite it is permitted for a priest to be married.don't judge these priest's who commit scandal with in the church,but rather pray for them.
2007-08-25 05:26:34
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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The Catholic church started after the first easter. With the first apostles. YOU are correct you know very little about the Catholic church, Preists were allowed to be maried for a few hundred years. ALL the aposltes were human and being human all sinned. There not GOD there men. Go find yourself a relgion with perfect people. then join it. It will then no longer be perfect.
2007-08-25 03:41:44
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answer #9
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answered by Rich 5
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It seem you know little about the bible. The Bible says that christens fallow and then get up again which mean christens are sinners but the difference is that they try to be perfetc as Jesus Christ and repent for their sines. Ask you self who many time to you fallow a day. When do you judge wrong, lie, hate, talk bad about others, use bad words against others, envy, lust, and ect. In the bible Jesus never prevent any one form drinking wine instead he makes best wine John 2:1-11 in a wedding.
2007-08-25 18:10:47
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answer #10
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answered by Original Christian 2
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