Did Peter Really Found the Church in Rome?

Episode Outline:
00:00 Intro: Was Peter Really the First Pope?
00:44 Bart’s Final UNC Lecture and Retirement Celebration
02:11 Bart’s New Book and the Challenge of Research
06:14 What Did Peter Do After Jesus’ Death?
09:13 The Earliest Evidence for a Church in Rome
12:30 Were Early Churches Organized Like Later Churches?
21:14 Where Did the Peter-and-Rome Tradition Begin?
27:00 Why Would Rome Claim Peter as Its Founder?
32:38 So Who Founded the Church in Rome?
35:12 Listener Questions: Exorcism, Fantasy, Stoicism, and Apocalypticism

Episode Description

Was Peter truly the founder of the Church in Rome? This question lies at the heart of Catholic tradition and theology, but what does historical evidence actually tell us? In Episode 161, Megan Lewis welcomes Bart Ehrman, renowned Bible scholar, to scrutinize the origins of one of Christianity's most impactful beliefs.

The episode opens with the Catholic claim: Peter as first Pope. But as Bart Ehrman points out, history and scripture paint a more complicated picture. Using early sources such as the Gospels, Acts, Paul's letters, and later church fathers, Bart illustrates the gaps and inconsistencies in the narrative that Peter founded the Roman church.

You'll hear about Peter's activities after the death of Jesus, the organizational structure (or lack thereof) of early Christian communities in Rome, the evolution of church hierarchy, and the sociopolitical significance of Rome as Christianity's power center. The episode also covers vibrant discussions about how major cities vied for apostolic lineage—an issue that shaped the rise of the papacy and the structure of global Christianity.

But the conversation isn't just historical! In the Q&A segment, Bart tackles listener questions about exorcisms, mythological creatures in the New Testament, the influence of Stoicism, the development of apocalyptic views among Jews, and the relationship (or rivalry!) between Peter and Paul.

Whether you’re a student, skeptic, or believer, this episode will deepen your understanding of the complexities behind Christian origins.

3 Key Takeaways

- Thin Historical Evidence for Peter as Rome’s Founder: The earliest sources do not indicate Peter established the church in Rome. Paul’s letter to the Romans, written decades after Jesus’ death, gives no hint Peter was present or in charge.
- Origins of the Link between Peter and Rome Are Late: Traditions connecting Peter to Rome's church (and especially as its bishop) begin to emerge only in the latter part of the first century, and solidify in the second and third centuries—centuries after Peter's death.
- Authority and Apostolic Lineage Were Central to Early Christian Power Struggles: As Christianity grew, especially in major urban centers like Rome and Alexandria, communities sought legitimacy and authority through claims of direct connection to apostles—most notably Peter.

Also watch these episodes:
Was Peter a Rock or Shifting Sand? Jesus' Closest Disciple in History and Legend.
Was Peter a Rock or Shifting Sand? Jesus' Closest Disciple in History and Legend.

Were Peter & Paul Really Martyred? History vs. Legend
Were Peter & Paul Really Martyred? History vs. Legend

Is Paul the Founder of Christianity?
Is Paul the Founder of Christianity?