Kingdom Parables

THE KINGDOM PARABLES
the back door as Churches became powerful and pastors became
bishops with regalia.
However the rise of Roman Church and papacy was a historical
development brought about by the political conditions of the world at
that time. Being bishop of an important city naturally gave increased
stature, and Rome was (until the 4th century) the most important city in
the western world. The Eastern Churches which were in existence then
,however totally rejected the claims of the Roman Church. The Bishops
of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople and India never
accepted that claim in spite of pressures. The claim remained one sided
and gave opportunities for, bishops who were deposed by a local
churches due to heresy or moral problems to take advantage and refuge
in Roman church who were very willing to do that. It was through these
intrigues that Papacy became powerful
Epicsopos becomes Bishop
Christianity came to Rome probably as early as 49 AD. St. Paul reached
Rome in 61-63 AD and was martyred by decapitation in 67 AD. The
leaders were called Episcopos or Deacons. The name Bishop appears
only from Ad 160 onwards. The first bishop was Stephen I who was
bishop during AD 254-257. Then came Xystus II (257-258 who was
martyred by the emperor Valentinian. Marcellinus (296-304) recanted
under persecution during the reign of Diocletian and was apostacised.
Constantine's conversion made matters different. Pope Damasus I (366-
384) could now claim of Roman Church and referred it as "the
Apostolic See of Peter". In 312 the Lateran Palace was given to bishop
Miltiades as Pope’s residence by Constantine’s mother and the first
official State Church was build over the legendary site of Peter’s
crucifixion and became Vatican. But the Popes who reigned there were
mostly weak in political wielding of power till Leo I (440-461) who
claimed to be the "heir" to the throne of St. Peter. Since Peter was the
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