Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists

earth and the visible head of the church. In contrast
to the Biblical view of church leadership (see
chapter 11 of this book), this doctrine was based on
the assumptions that Christ made Peter the visible
head of the church and that the pope is Peter's
successor.[12]
2. The infallibility of the church and its head
The doctrine that contributed most strongly to
the prestige and influence of the church of Rome
was that of its infallibility. The church claimed it
had never erred, and never would. It based this
teaching on the following reasoning, which finds
no Biblical support: Because the church is divine,
one of its inherent attributes is infallibility. In
addition, since God intended, through this divine
church, to lead all people of good will to heaven,
she must be infallible in teaching faith and
morals.[13] Christ, then, will preserve her from all
error through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The logical corollary, which denies the basic
corruptness of humans (see chapter 7 of this book),
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