Becoming Catholic Study Bank: The Ancient Lists and Testimonies of Popes Succeeding from Peter
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The “Becoming Catholic” blog series is a multi-part, multi-year, bite-size, fact-focused attempt at describing the journey of a lifelong protestant to the Catholic Church. You can read all the individual articles here.
Peter Paul Rubens, St. Peter (c. 1616-18)
This Study Bank on the Ancient Lists and Testimonies of Popes Succeeding from Peter is part of the Becoming Catholic series. When preparing articles, I typically engage in a substantial amount of research, and often organize it in separate documents I then use as a reference when writing the article. Sometimes these are Scripture word studies, other times they are compilations of verses or patristic and other quotes on particular subjects, etc. I have found that organizing the data often leads to a better understanding of the topic at hand.
A Study Bank, therefore, is in no way an article, or presenting an argument. It is simply a compilation of data on a particular topic.
In this Study Bank, I list every citation I have found where ancient authors testify to the presence of both St. Peter, and the first few centuries of his papal successors, in Rome. Not a single ancient author denies that Peter was in Rome. In fact, they roundly testify that Peter was in Rome; he established his episcopal throne there; he was martyred there; and his episcopal throne was filled by individual men who succeeded him.
In the Overview section, I list each Pope and the ancient authors that reference them in order to provide a quick, broad overview. In the Sources section, I list all sources that are not online. In the List of Popes section, I provide all the citations from each author.
This Study Bank will be constantly updated.
SOURCES
· St. Optatus, Mark Edwards, trans., Against the Donatists (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1997).
· Paulus Orosius, Roy J. Deferrari, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 50: Paulus Orosius: The Seven Books of History Against the Pagans (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1964).
OVERVIEW
· #1: St. Peter—St. Peter; St. Ignatius of Antioch; St. Dionysius of Corinth; St. Irenaeus of Lyon; St. Clement of Alexandria; Tertullian; St. Peter of Alexandria; Lactantius; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus; St. Jerome; Paulus Orosius
· #2: St. Pope Linus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #3: St. Pope Anacletus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus (reversed #3 and #4)
· #4: St. Pope Clement—St. Dionysius of Corinth; St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Tertullian; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus; St. Jerome; Rufinus
· #5: St. Pope Evaristus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #6: St. Pope Alexander—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #7: St. Pope Sixtus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #8: St. Pope Telesphorus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #9: St. Pope Hyginus—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #10: St. Pope Pius—St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus (reversed #10 and #11)
· #11: St. Pope Anicetus—Hegesippus; St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #12: St. Pope Soter—Hegesippus; St. Dionysius of Corinth; St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #13: St. Pope Eleutherius—Hegesippus; Martyrs of Lyon; St. Irenaeus of Lyon; Tertullian; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #14: St. Pope Victor— Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus; St. Jerome
· #15: St. Pope Zephyrinus—Gaius/Caius; Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #16: St. Pope Callistus—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #17: St. Pope Urban—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #18: St. Pope Pontian—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #19: St. Pope Anterus—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #20: St. Pope Fabian—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #21: St. Pope Cornelius—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus; St. Jerome
· #22: St. Pope Lucius—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #23: St. Pope Stephen—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #24: St. Pope Sixtus II—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #25: St. Pope Dionysius—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #26: St. Pope Felix—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #27: St. Pope Eutychian—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #28: St. Pope Caius—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #29: St. Pope Marcellinus—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #30: St. Pope Marcellus—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #31: St. Pope Eusebius—Eusebius of Caesarea; St. Optatus
· #32: St. Pope Miltiades—Eusebius of Caesarea (Pope when written); St. Optatus
· #33: St. Pope Sylvester—St. Optatus
· #34: St. Pope Mark—St. Optatus
· #35: St. Pope Julius—St. Optatus
· #36: Pope Liberius—St. Optatus
· #37: St. Pope Damasus—St. Optatus; St. Jerome
· #38: St. Pope Siricius—St. Optatus (Pope when written)
LIST OF POPES
Pope #1: St. Peter
St. Peter, First Letter
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans (c. 107)
St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to the Romans (c. 171)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 2, Ch. 25, §§5, 8)
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
St. Clement of Alexandria, Sketches/Outlines (c. 200)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 14, §6)
Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (200)
St. Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle (c. 300)
Lactantius, Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died (c. 318)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 2, Ch. 14-15; Ch. 17, §1; Ch. 25
Book 3, Ch. 2; Ch. 31
Book 6, Ch. 14; Ch. 25, §5
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §§2-3 (pg. 32)
St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (c. 392-93)
Paulus Orosius, The Seven Books of History Against the Pagans (418)
Book 7, §6 (pgs. 294-95)
Pope #2: St. Pope Linus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 3, Ch. 2; Ch. 4, §9; Ch. 13; Ch. 21, §3
Book 5, Ch. 6, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 32)
Pope #3: St. Pope Anacletus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 3, Ch. 13; Ch. 15; Ch. 21, §3
Book 5, Ch. 6, §2
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 32)
Pope #4: St. Pope Clement
St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to St. Pope Soter (c. 171)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 23, §11)
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (200)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 3, Ch. 4, §10; Ch. 15-16; Ch. 21, §2
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 32)
St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (c. 392-93)
Rufinus
Conclusion to His Translation of Origen’s Commentary on Romans (c. 407)
Pope #5: St. Pope Evaristus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 3, Ch. 34
Book 4, Ch. 1, §2
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 32-33)
Pope #6: St. Pope Alexander
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. Ch. 4
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 32-33)
Pope #7: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 4; Ch. 5, §5
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14
Book 7, Ch. 9, §§1, 6; Ch. 14; Ch. 27, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #8: St. Pope Telesphorus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 5, §5; Ch. 10
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #9: St. Pope Hyginus
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Book 1, Ch. 27, §1
Book 3, Ch. 3, §3; Ch. 4, §3
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 10; Ch. 11, §§1-2, 6
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #10: St. Pope Pius
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 11, §§1, 6-7
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #11: St. Pope Anicetus
Hegesippus, Memoirs (c. 170)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3)
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180)
Book 1, Ch. 25, §6
Book 3, Ch. 3, §§3-4; Ch. 4, §3
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 11, §§1, 7; Ch. 14, §§1, 5; Ch. 19; Ch. 22, §3
Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §§14, 16-17
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #12: St. Pope Soter
Hegesippus, Memoirs (c. 170)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3)
St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to St. Pope Soter (c. 171)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 23, §§9-10)
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 19; Ch. 22, §3; Ch. 23, §§9-10; Ch. 30, §3
Book 5, Intro., §1; Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #13: St. Pope Eleutherus
Hegesippus, Memoirs (c. 170)
Quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3)
Martyrs of Lyon, To St. Pope Eleutherus (177)
Cited/quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 5, Ch. 3, §4; Ch. 4, §2)
St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (c. 180) (Pope when written)
Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (200)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 4, Ch. 11, §7; Ch. 22, §3
Book 5, Intro., §1; Ch. 3, §4; Ch. 4, §2; Ch. 5, §9; Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 22
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #14: St. Pope Victor
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 3, Ch. 31, §2
Book 5, Ch. 22; Ch. 23, §2; Ch. 24, §§1, 9-11, 18; Ch. 28, §§3-4, 6-7, 9
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (c. 392-93)
Pope #15: St. Pope Zephyrinus
Gaius/Caius, Dialogue (unknown date)
Cited in Eusebius, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 20, §3)
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 2, Ch. 25, §6
Book 5, Ch. 28, §§3, 7, 12
Book 6, Ch. 14, §10; Ch. 20, §3; Ch. 21, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #16: St. Pope Callistus
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #17: St. Pope Urbanus/Urban
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 6, Ch. 21, §2; Ch. 23, §3
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #18: St. Pope Pontianus/Pontian
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 6, Ch. 23, §3; Ch. 29, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #19: St. Pope Anteros/Anterus
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #20: St. Pope Fabianus/Fabian
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 6, Ch. 29, §§1-3; Ch. 36, §4; Ch. 39, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #21: St. Pope Cornelius
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 6, Ch. 39, §1; Ch. 43, §§3-5, 18-19, 22; Ch. 46, §3
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (c. 392-93)
Pope #22: St. Pope Lucius
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #23: St. Pope Stephen
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 7, Ch. 2; Ch. 3; Ch. 4; Ch. 5, §§3, 6
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #24: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus II
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 7, Ch. 5, §3; Ch. 9, §§1, 6; Ch. 14; Ch. 27, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #25: St. Pope Dionysius
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 7, Ch. 26, §1; Ch. 27, §1; Ch. 30, §§1-2, 23
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #26: St. Pope Felix
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Book 7, Ch. 30, §23; Ch. 32, §1
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #27: St. Pope Eutychianus/Eutychian
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #28: St. Pope Caius
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #29: St. Pope Marcellinus
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #30: St. Pope Marcellus
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Missing from Eusebius’s Church History.
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #31: St. Pope Eusebius
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323)
Missing from Eusebius’s Church History.
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #32: St. Pope Miltiades
Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (c. 323) (Pope when written)
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #33: St. Pope Sylvester
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #34: St. Pope Mark
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #35: St. Pope Julius
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #36: Pope Liberius
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
Pope #37: St. Pope Damasus
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)
St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (c. 392-93)
Pope #38: St. Pope Siricius
St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (c. 365) (Pope when written)
Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)