Popes Through History
Irenaeus commended the Church at Rome for their Apostolic succession, which is an unbroken line of Bishops in the Churches since the apostles. Irenaeus, who was only the third from the Apostles (through Polycarp to John), wrote:
- Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority,(3) that is, the faithful every-where, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those faithful men who exist everywhere.
Another translation of the last statement of this is:
- "On account of the chief magistracy [of the empire], the faithful from all parts, representing every Church, are obliged to resort to Rome, and there to come together; so that [it is the distinction of this Church that], in it, the tradition of the apostles has been preserved by Christians gathered together out of all the Churches."
Despite this apostolic succession, which Irenaeus reckoned was present in most churches, Irenaeus himself traveled to Rome to rebuke two Bishops during his lifetime (much like Paul did to Peter) and both submitted to his rebuke.
Heresies arise within established Churches when they do not take correction. This history shows how the heart of the Church at Rome was lost to sin, while retaining its pious exterior. Apostolic succession is no replacement for repentance and conversion.
67 A.D. to 200 A.D.
| Name | Start | End | Significant activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linus | 67 | 79 | Taught that women should cover their heads. |
| Anacletus | 79 | 88 | Ordained a number of priests |
| Clement I | 88 | 98 | Wrote a letter to the Corinthians |
| Evaristus | 98 | 105 | None known |
| Alexander I | 105 | 115 | None known |
| Sixtus | 117 | 126 | Decreed that
|
| Telesphorus | 126 | 137 | Started to celebrate Easter on the Sunday after Passover |
| Hyginus | 138 | 140 | Defined the grades of ecclesiastical hierarchy |
| Pius | 140 | 154 | None known |
| Anicetus | 154 | 167 | Moderately condemned the heresy of Montanism, Gnosticism and Marcionism. Met with Polycarp and accepted that the date of the celebration of Easter should be decided by churches individually. |
| Soter | 167 | 174 | Decreed that marriage is only valid if blessed by a priest. |
Footnotes