A Hidden Crisis of Authority
Have you ever wondered why some Christians follow a pope, while others don’t?
Many believers wrestle with questions like, “Is the pope really the leader of all Christians?” or “Does the Bible support the idea of a papacy?” I used to wonder the same thing. With a Bible in one hand and curiosity in the other, I dove deep, and what I found might surprise you.
I’m a Bible teacher with years of experience guiding people through tough questions. Today, I want to take you on a journey through history and Scripture to discover the truth: Is the papacy biblical? Let’s dig in.
What Is the Papacy?
To begin, the word “pope” comes from the Latin papa, meaning “father.”
In the early church, this term referred to respected bishops in many cities, not just Rome. For centuries, churches in Alexandria, Carthage, and Antioch had their own “popes.” The idea that only Rome’s bishop should have supreme authority came much later.
Eventually, during a time of political chaos and military threat in the West, Bishop Leo I of Rome stepped in to protect his city. He negotiated peace, provided order, and claimed he had this right because he was Peter’s successor.
Thus, the idea of papal authority began not from Scripture, but from survival.
But Didn’t Jesus Call Peter the Rock?
Yes, Jesus did say, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).
However, this verse has sparked centuries of debate. Was Jesus referring to Peter himself or to Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah?
The Bible helps answer that.
Later in Scripture, Peter doesn’t act like a pope. He calls himself a “fellow elder” (1 Peter 5:1). At the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), he speaks, but so do others James, Paul, and Barnabas. No one defers Peter as the final authority.
Even Paul publicly rebuked Peter for doctrinal error (Galatians 2). That wouldn’t happen if Peter held supreme, unquestioned leadership.
So, while Peter was a leader, he wasn’t the leader.
When Did the Papacy Begin?
Historically, the first recognized pope was Leo I in the 5th century.
Before that, no single bishop held universal authority. The early church was led by groups of elders and apostles working together. In fact, churches in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire never accepted the pope’s authority.
It wasn’t until the 15th century, after internal church divisions and political power plays, that the papacy became more defined and centralized.
Therefore, the modern papal system developed long after the New Testament was written.
Why Did So Many Churches Break Away?
Because they believed the teachings of the papacy were unbiblical.
During the 16th century, a wave of bold reformers stood up against what they saw as spiritual corruption and doctrinal error. This was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation a massive movement away from the authority of the pope and back to the authority of Scripture.
Churches that broke away from Rome include:
Lutheran Church – founded by Martin Luther, who posted his 95 Theses in 1517.
Anglican Church – separated under King Henry VIII over papal interference in civil matters.
Presbyterian Church – rooted in the teachings of John Knox, inspired by Calvin.
Methodist Church – emerged from Anglicanism, led by John and Charles Wesley.
Baptist Churches – focused on believer’s baptism and local church autonomy.
Reformed Churches – followed the teachings of John Calvin and Zwingli.
These churches believed salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works, indulgences, or obedience to a pope. They viewed the papal system as a distortion of biblical Christianity.
What About Revelation? Is the Papacy the “Mother of Harlots”?
Some Christian groups believe so.
They point to Revelation 17, where a figure described as “Babylon the Great, the mother of Harlots” rides a beast and influences kings and nations. Some Protestant theologians, especially in earlier centuries, identified this woman with the Roman Catholic Church, and more specifically, the papacy.
A mother is a woman who has children, and a harlot is a woman who engages in sexual activity with many men. The Mother of Harlots refers to the false church with many false churches or children coming out from it. Even though many churches broke off from the papacy, they kept the papacy’s prime doctrine that God is a trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct personalities who all agree as one.
Which is contrary to the teaching of the bible that there is only one God, who is a spirit and was manifested in the flesh, and we beheld his glory as the Son of God. John 14 made this mystery very clear: “Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
This confuses many believers, however, 2 Corinthians 5:19
Gives some clarification: “to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Also Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” This verse highlights how God’s glory is revealed through Jesus Christ, the light shining in the darkness.”
I know because the many teachings that we have received over the years have caused great confusion. Note these 2 points
- Satan desire is to make himself equal with God, which would mean that there is more than one God, so satan has placed in the minds of most people that there is more than one God, which is contrary to the truth.
- God is a Spirit who is eternal. He created a son when He touched the womb of Mary by His Spirit, and she gave birth. This means the son is not eternal; he was born at a specific time in history.
God, who is a spirit, placed Himself into the body of flesh that He called His son. Two things happened when He did this:
- God the Spirit began to feel what we feel in our flesh, now we understand why the bible says he was touched with the feeling of our infirmity, and 2. the second thing that happened was the Son had to subject his will and desire to the will and desire of the Spirit this explains the saying that He learned experience by the things he suffered.
My friends, Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh. The only true God. Jesus is the first and the last. He is not the second person in the Godhead, as the papacy and all her children teach.
Because of the Church’s historic wealth, global influence, persecution of dissenters, and departure from core Gospel truths. These Christians see the papal office not just as unbiblical, but as spiritually dangerous.
That interpretation remains controversial. Still, it’s held today by various Bible prophecy teachers and churches such as:
Seventh-day Adventists
Independent Baptist Churches
Some Pentecostal and Evangelical groups
Historic Reformation scholars like Wycliffe, Luther, and Tyndale
These groups urge believers to return to Scripture and reject what they see as religious compromise and political power masked as spirituality.
Can We Still Learn from the Catholic Church?
Yes, we can.
The Catholic Church has upheld key moral values like the sanctity of life and biblical marriage. These positions deserve respect. But we must separate valuable truth from unbiblical tradition.
You don’t have to accept papal authority to applaud moral clarity.
Let’s be faithful to both Scripture and grace.
Real-Life Example: A Conversation That Changed My View
Years ago, I sat across from a Catholic friend. He truly loved Jesus, but when I asked about the pope’s authority, he said, “Because Peter was the first pope.” That’s what he was taught but he couldn’t point to a single Bible verse to prove it.
That moment opened a door.
We studied together, asked tough questions, and compared notes. Over time, he began to see that church history and the Bible don’t line up with the traditional claims of the papacy.
Truth set him free and it can set you free too.
Let’s Interact: What Do You Believe?
Take this 30-second quiz to test your knowledge!
📖 Quick Quiz: Is the Papacy in the Bible?
Who was the first recognized pope in history?
- A) Peter
- B) Leo I
- C) Constantine
- D) Paul
What does the word “pope” mean?
- A) Prophet
- B) Priest
- C) Father
- D) Teacher
In Acts 15, who had the final word at the Jerusalem Council?
- A) Peter
- B) James
- C) John
- D) Barnabas
📝 Answers: B, C, B
🙋♀️ Mini Poll: What’s Your View?
“Do you believe the papacy is biblical?”
✅ Yes
❌ No
🤔 Not sure
Final Thoughts: Christ Alone Leads the Church
In the end, Scripture—not tradition—must guide our faith.
We honor history, but we follow Jesus. There is no pope in the Bible, but there is a risen Savior who leads His people with grace, truth, and power.
Let’s stay rooted in the Word.
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