Was Peter ever in Rome?
Peter was in Rome, and he
died there:
Fundamentalists charge that Peter could not have been the Bishop of
Rome and thus the first Pope, as the Bible does not say he was ever in
Rome. The Bible, however, does not deny that he was ever in Rome either.
However, in 1Pet 5:13, Peter writes, "The Church which is at Babylon,
chosen together with you, greets you, and so does my son Mark." Remember,
the Church was under great persecution, so the Christians used code words
to communicate. Babylon was the code word for Rome. If Peter had said he
was in Rome, he would have been in greater danger.
Let us examine early Church writings, and touch on a bit of archaeology.
Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and whoever has that position is
the Pope. His tomb was found under the altar of St. Peters Basilica in
1965. It is plainly marked with his name and there are human remains within
it. Peter did say in 1Pet 5:13, "The Church which is at Babylon (Rome),
chosen together with you, greets you and so does my son Mark."
Since the Apostles were being persecuted, and the Romans were looking for
them, they used code words and Babylon was the code for Rome. Peter, therefore
was writing from Rome. In addition, Paul wrote Colossians from Rome, and
indicates Mark was with him there in Col 4:10.
Other early writings show that Peter was martyred in Rome by being crucified
upside down in 67 A.D.. Peter being in Rome was written about by many early
Church writers, some of whom are listed here...
1. St Irenaeus in 'AGAINST HERESIES': CHAP. I.--THE APOSTLES
DID NOT COMMENCE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL... 3. "...in their own dialect,
while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations
of the Church."
2. St Irenaeus, CHAP. III.--A REFUTATION OF THE HERETICS,
FROM THE FACT THAT, IN THE VARIOUS CHURCHES, A PERPETUAL SUCCESSION OF
BISHOPS WAS KEPT UP. 2. "...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.
3. Tertullian, 'THE DEMURRER AGAINST THE HERETICS': CHAP.XXXII.--NONE
OF THE HERETICS CLAIM SUCCESSION FROM THE APOSTLES. 8. "...as the
church of Smyrna, which records that Polycarp was placed therein by John;
as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained
in like manner by Peter.
Who ordains priests? Bishops do. Clement was ordained by the Bishop
of Rome, Peter.
4. Lactantius, 'OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PERSECUTORS
DIED: This letter is addressed to Donatus. It not only shows that Peter
was actually in Rome, but that he died there also at the hands of Nero.
CHAP. II. His apostles were at that time eleven in number, to whom were
added Matthias, in the room of the traitor Judas, and afterwards Paul.
Then were they dispersed throughout all the earth to preach the Gospel,
as the Lord their Master had commanded them; and during twenty-five years,
and until the beginning of the reign of the Emperor Nero, they occupied
themselves in laying the foundations of the Church in every province and
city. And while Nero reigned, the Apostle Peter came to Rome,
and, through the power of God committed unto him, wrought certain miracles,
and, by turning many to the true religion, built up a faithful and
steadfast temple unto the Lord. When Nero heard of those things,
and observed that not only in Rome, but in every other place, a great multitude
revolted daily from the worship of idols, and, condemning their old ways,
went over to the new religion, he, an execrable and pernicious tyrant,
sprung forward to raze the heavenly temple and destroy the true faith.
He it was who first persecuted the servants of God; he crucified
Peter, and slew Paul: nor did he escape with impunity; for God
looked on the affliction of His people; and therefore the tyrant, bereaved
of authority, and precipitated from the height of empire, suddenly disappeared,
and even the burial-place of that noxious wild beast was nowhere to be
seen.
Other writings which show Peter having been in Rome...
5. Dionysius of Corinth in his letter to the 12th Pope Soter in 170
A.D.
6. Clement of Corinth in his letter to the Corinthians in 70 A.D.
7. Peter of Alexandria, in his work called 'Penance' in 311.
8. St Ignatius of Antioch, in his letter to the Romans, about 107.
I have presented eight early Church writings in this letter, and there
are many others to show that Peter was indeed in Rome, that he founded
the Church there, that he was the first Bishop of Rome, now called the
Pope, and that he died there...
See 'The Bones of St. Peter', by John Walsh.
See 'Catholicism and Fundamentalism', by Karl Keating, pg 204-205.
See 'Radio Replies', by Frs. Rumble and Carty, Vol I-370.
See the book 'Faith of the Early Fathers', by William A. Jurgens.
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