The roots of the papacy lie in:
A) the imperial order of Constantine at the Council of Nicea.
B) a passage from the New Testament Gospel of Matthew.
C) the Greek practice of nominating a patriarch to administer a city.
D) the general agreement among fourth-century bishops that one leader should speak for the Church.
E) modeling the Church organization after the Roman Empire with the emperor at its head.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The roots of the papacy are traditionally traced to a passage in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 16:18-19), where Jesus refers to Peter as the rock upon which the Church will be built, giving him the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." This passage is interpreted as the basis for the authority of the Pope, who is considered the successor of Saint Peter.

The Roots of the Papacy Lie In