What is Christianity, and what makes a Christian a Christian?

[JacobEzra.]

The List of Popes

See also POPE, PAPAL ELECTIONS, ELECTION OF THE POPE.

St. Peter (32-67)
St. Linus (67-76)
St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
St. Clement I (88-97)
St. Evaristus (97-105)
St. Alexander I (105-115)
St. Sixtus I (115-125) Also called Xystus I
St. Telesphorus (125-136)
St. Hyginus (136-140)
St. Pius I (140-155)
St. Anicetus (155-166)
St. Soter (166-175)
St. Eleutherius (175-189)
St. Victor I (189-199)
St. Zephyrinus (199-217)
St. Callistus I (217-22) Callistus and the following three popes were opposed by St. Hippolytus, antipope (217-236)
St. Urban I (222-30)
St. Pontain (230-35)
St. Anterus (235-36)
St. Fabian (236-50)
St. Cornelius (251-53) Opposed by Novatian, antipope (251)
St. Lucius I (253-54)
St. Stephen I (254-257)
St. Sixtus II (257-258)
St. Dionysius (260-268)
St. Felix I (269-274)
St. Eutychian (275-283)
St. Caius (283-296) Also called Gaius
St. Marcellinus (296-304)
St. Marcellus I (308-309)
St. Eusebius (309 or 310)
St. Miltiades (311-14)
St. Sylvester I (314-35)
St. Marcus (336)
St. Julius I (337-52)
Liberius (352-66) Opposed by Felix II, antipope (355-365)
St. Damasus I (366-83) Opposed by Ursicinus, antipope (366-367)
St. Siricius (384-99)
St. Anastasius I (399-401)
St. Innocent I (401-17)
St. Zosimus (417-18)
St. Boniface I (418-22) Opposed by Eulalius, antipope (418-419)
St. Celestine I (422-32)
St. Sixtus III (432-40)
St. Leo I (the Great) (440-61)
St. Hilarius (461-68)
St. Simplicius (468-83)
St. Felix III (II) (483-92)
St. Gelasius I (492-96)
Anastasius II (496-98)
St. Symmachus (498-514) Opposed by Laurentius, antipope (498-501)
St. Hormisdas (514-23)
St. John I (523-26)
St. Felix IV (III) (526-30)
Boniface II (530-32) Opposed by Dioscorus, antipope (530)
John II (533-35)
St. Agapetus I (535-36) Also called Agapitus I
St. Silverius (536-37)
Vigilius (537-55)
Pelagius I (556-61)
John III (561-74)
Benedict I (575-79)
Pelagius II (579-90)
St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604)
Sabinian (604-606)
Boniface III (607)
St. Boniface IV (608-15)
St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18)
Boniface V (619-25)
Honorius I (625-38)
Severinus (640)
John IV (640-42)
Theodore I (642-49)
St. Martin I (649-55)
St. Eugene I (655-57)
St. Vitalian (657-72)
Adeodatus (II) (672-76)
Donus (676-78)
St. Agatho (678-81)
St. Leo II (682-83)
St. Benedict II (684-85)
John V (685-86)
Conon (686-87)
St. Sergius I (687-701) Opposed by Theodore and Paschal, antipopes (687)
John VI (701-05)
John VII (705-07)
Sisinnius (708)
Constantine (708-15)
St. Gregory II (715-31)
St. Gregory III (731-41)
St. Zachary (741-52)
Stephen II (752) Because he died before being consecrated, many authoritative lists omit him
Stephen III (752-57)
St. Paul I (757-67)
Stephen IV (767-72) Opposed by Constantine II (767) and Philip (768), antipopes (767)
Adrian I (772-95)
St. Leo III (795-816)
Stephen V (816-17)
St. Paschal I (817-24)
Eugene II (824-27)
Valentine (827)
Gregory IV (827-44)
Sergius II (844-47) Opposed by John, antipope (855)
St. Leo IV (847-55)
Benedict III (855-58) Opposed by Anastasius, antipope (855)
St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-67)
Adrian II (867-72)
John VIII (872-82)
Marinus I (882-84)
St. Adrian III (884-85)
Stephen VI (885-91)
Formosus (891-96)
Boniface VI (896)
Stephen VII (896-97)
Romanus (897)
Theodore II (897)
John IX (898-900)
Benedict IV (900-03)
Leo V (903) Opposed by Christopher, antipope (903-904)
Sergius III (904-11)
Anastasius III (911-13)
Lando (913-14)
John X (914-28)
Leo VI (928)
Stephen VIII (929-31)
John XI (931-35)
Leo VII (936-39)
Stephen IX (939-42)
Marinus II (942-46)
Agapetus II (946-55)
John XII (955-63)
Leo VIII (963-64)
Benedict V (964)
John XIII (965-72)
Benedict VI (973-74)
Benedict VII (974-83) Benedict and John XIV were opposed by Boniface VII, antipope (974; 984-985)
John XIV (983-84)
John XV (985-96)
Gregory V (996-99) Opposed by John XVI, antipope (997-998)
Sylvester II (999-1003)
John XVII (1003)
John XVIII (1003-09)
Sergius IV (1009-12)
Benedict VIII (1012-24) Opposed by Gregory, antipope (1012)
John XIX (1024-32)
Benedict IX (1032-45) He appears on this list three separate times, because he was twice deposed and restored
Sylvester III (1045) Considered by some to be an antipope
Benedict IX (1045)
Gregory VI (1045-46)
Clement II (1046-47)
Benedict IX (1047-48)
Damasus II (1048)
St. Leo IX (1049-54)
Victor II (1055-57)
Stephen X (1057-58)
Nicholas II (1058-61) Opposed by Benedict X, antipope (1058)
Alexander II (1061-73) Opposed by Honorius II, antipope (1061-1072)
St. Gregory VII (1073-85) Gregory and the following three popes were opposed by Guibert ("Clement III"), antipope (1080-1100)
Blessed Victor III (1086-87)
Blessed Urban II (1088-99)
Paschal II (1099-1118) Opposed by Theodoric (1100), Aleric (1102) and Maginulf ("Sylvester IV", 1105-1111), antipopes (1100)
Gelasius II (1118-19) Opposed by Burdin ("Gregory VIII"), antipope (1118)
Callistus II (1119-24)
Honorius II (1124-30) Opposed by Celestine II, antipope (1124)
Innocent II (1130-43) Opposed by Anacletus II (1130-1138) and Gregory Conti ("Victor IV") (1138), antipopes (1138)
Celestine II (1143-44)
Lucius II (1144-45)
Blessed Eugene III (1145-53)
Anastasius IV (1153-54)
Adrian IV (1154-59)
Alexander III (1159-81) Opposed by Octavius ("Victor IV") (1159-1164), Pascal III (1165-1168), Callistus III (1168-1177) and Innocent III (1178-1180), antipopes
Lucius III (1181-85)
Urban III (1185-87)
Gregory VIII (1187)
Clement III (1187-91)
Celestine III (1191-98)
Innocent III (1198-1216)
Honorius III (1216-27)
Gregory IX (1227-41)
Celestine IV (1241)
Innocent IV (1243-54)
Alexander IV (1254-61)
Urban IV (1261-64)
Clement IV (1265-68)
Blessed Gregory X (1271-76)
Blessed Innocent V (1276)
Adrian V (1276)
John XXI (1276-77)
Nicholas III (1277-80)
Martin IV (1281-85)
Honorius IV (1285-87)
Nicholas IV (1288-92)
St. Celestine V (1294)
Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
Blessed Benedict XI (1303-04)
Clement V (1305-14)
John XXII (1316-34) Opposed by Nicholas V, antipope (1328-1330)
Benedict XII (1334-42)
Clement VI (1342-52)
Innocent VI (1352-62)
Blessed Urban V (1362-70)
Gregory XI (1370-78)
Urban VI (1378-89) Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII"), antipope (1378-1394)
Boniface IX (1389-1404) Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII") (1378-1394), Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes
Innocent VII (1404-06) Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes
Gregory XII (1406-15) Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417), Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), and Pietro Philarghi ("Alexander V") (1409-1410), antipopes
Martin V (1417-31)
Eugene IV (1431-47) Opposed by Amadeus of Savoy ("Felix V"), antipope (1439-1449)
Nicholas V (1447-55)
Callistus III (1455-58)
Pius II (1458-64)
Paul II (1464-71)
Sixtus IV (1471-84)
Innocent VIII (1484-92)
Alexander VI (1492-1503)
Pius III (1503)
Julius II (1503-13)
Leo X (1513-21)
Adrian VI (1522-23)
Clement VII (1523-34)
Paul III (1534-49)
Julius III (1550-55)
Marcellus II (1555)
Paul IV (1555-59)
Pius IV (1559-65)
St. Pius V (1566-72)
Gregory XIII (1572-85)
Sixtus V (1585-90)
Urban VII (1590)
Gregory XIV (1590-91)
Innocent IX (1591)
Clement VIII (1592-1605)
Leo XI (1605)
Paul V (1605-21)
Gregory XV (1621-23)
Urban VIII (1623-44)
Innocent X (1644-55)
Alexander VII (1655-67)
Clement IX (1667-69)
Clement X (1670-76)
Blessed Innocent XI (1676-89)
Alexander VIII (1689-91)
Innocent XII (1691-1700)
Clement XI (1700-21)
Innocent XIII (1721-24)
Benedict XIII (1724-30)
Clement XII (1730-40)
Benedict XIV (1740-58)
Clement XIII (1758-69)
Clement XIV (1769-74)
Pius VI (1775-99)
Pius VII (1800-23)
Leo XII (1823-29)
Pius VIII (1829-30)
Gregory XVI (1831-46)
Blessed Pius IX (1846-78)
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
St. Pius X (1903-14)
Benedict XV (1914-22) Biographies of Benedict XV and his successors will be added at a later date
Pius XI (1922-39)
Pius XII (1939-58)
Blessed John XXIII (1958-63)
Paul VI (1963-78)
John Paul I (1978)
John Paul II (1978-2005)
Benedict XVI (2005—)

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: List of Popes

 

[Katzpur]

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI is an apostle? :biglaugh: I bet even he doesn't know that! Why don't you find me something on a Catholic website that says he's an apostle. That I'd love to see. So who are the other apostles? I believe there were always twelve in the beginning.

Look, Jacob, I really don't want to get into a huge argument with you. I would almost always rather debate with a Catholic than with a Protestant. Generally speaking, I find that they show greater respect for other religions than most Protestants. You can go right ahead and believe that your pope is an apostle if you like and I'm not even going to try to change your mind. I probably wouldn't have even gotten into it with you except that it annoyed me to have you call me a heretic, when I know myself to be every bit as much a Christian as you are. I don't care how you want to spin it, implying that my beliefs are so heretical as to by almost Muslim is a real slap in the face.

 

[JacobEzra.]

All you're saying is that the Catholic Church in 325 A.D. decided that from then on, everybody had to believe in the Nicene Creed and that if they didn't, they weren't Christians. Of course you know what they did to the non-Christians, don't you? Kind of made belief in the Creed a no-brainer. It was actually quite a bit like it would be today to try to be a practicing Christian in Iraq.

Well the catholic Church was the only instituted and defined Church.

There was still heresies around and heretical sects lol. Even with inquisitors.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Pope Benedict XVI is an apostle? :biglaugh: I bet even he doesn't know that! Why don't you find me something on a Catholic website that says he's an apostle. That I'd love to see. So who are the other apostles? I believe there were always twelve in the beginning.

They are successors of Apostles and who the Apostles ordained. Lol what do you not get by Apostolic succession?

 

[Katzpur]

Well the catholic Church was the only instituted and defined Church.

I totally disagree.

 

[JacobEzra.]

I totally disagree.

And what other church was?

Remember the schism didn't happen until after the Nicene creed

 

[Katzpur]

And what other church was?

The Church Christ founded ceased to exist shortly after after the deaths of His Apostles, and saying that a bishop is the same thing as an apostle doesn't change a thing. An apostolic church is led by apostles, not by popes, cardinals and arch-bishops.

Remember the schism didn't happen until after the Nicene creed

"The schism" may not have happened until many years later, but you apparently have no idea how many branches of Christianity existed even by the end of the first century. Your church is simply one of many. It may have been the largest, most powerful one, but that simply does not translate into it being the right one.

 

[Falvlun]

Suppose a person has never felt alienated from Jesus? I'm thinking of my own relationship with Him. I was taught that He loves me from the time I was old enough to understand the concept. I can't remember a time when I ever felt alienated from Him.

Perhaps that's because you had always accepted Jesus as a Savior figure?

 

[Katzpur]

Perhaps that's because you had always accepted Jesus as a Savior figure?

Oh, I'm sure that's the case. I just don't think that all non-Christians are necessarily "alienated" from Jesus. They may not fully understand His Atonement, and may believe in and have a deep love for someone they perceive to be their Creator. But the word "alienated" seems to me to imply a conscious choice to reject something once it has been made clear.

Also, I am always pretty intrigued to hear people (mostly evangelicals) say something like, "I became a Christian on September 19th, 2011 at 4:37 P.M." It's just so foreign to my whole worldview. I first started learning about Jesus Christ when I was about three years of age. I have grown in my knowledge and understanding of Him ever since, and my gratitude for what He did for me is forever expanding. But could I tell you the moment when I "became a Christian"? No, I couldn't. Because I couldn't, some people take that to mean that I must not really be one. How little they know.

 

[JacobEzra.]

The Church Christ founded ceased to exist shortly after after the deaths of His Apostles, and saying that a bishop is the same thing as an apostle doesn't change a thing. An apostolic church is led by apostles, not by popes, cardinals and arch-bishops.

LOL No. Historically and accurately no, your wrong.An Apostolic church is a Church that is led by thous the Apostles left, through Apostolic succession.

Popes, Cardinals and Arch-Bishops carry apostolic authority through Apostolic succession.

"The schism" may not have happened until many years later, but you apparently have no idea how many branches of Christianity existed even by the end of the first century. Your church is simply one of many. It may have been the largest, most powerful one, but that simply does not translate into it being the right one.

Again, none of them were as you said, as big, and of course none of them had Apostolic succession

You apparently have no idea about what your talking about.

 

[JacobEzra.]

The Church Christ founded ceased to exist shortly after after the deaths of His Apostles, and saying that a bishop is the same thing as an apostle doesn't change a thing. An apostolic church is led by apostles, not by popes, cardinals and arch-bishops.

Also, if you say is true, then you mean, the Christian church died out?

Also, would make Jesus a liar.

[16] Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven

 

[Katzpur]

LOL No. Historically and accurately no, your wrong.An Apostolic church is a Church that is led by thous the Apostles left, through Apostolic succession.

The Catholic Church is not led by Apostles today. Don't kid yourself. Reminds me of something Abraham Lincoln once said. "How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one." Calling an archbishop, a cardinal or a pope an apostle doesn't make him one. Is a cardinal the same thing as the pope today? Is a bishop the same thing as a cardinal? Why would you think that any of these is the same thing as an apostle?

Popes, Cardinals and Arch-Bishops carry apostolic authority through Apostolic succession.

Nonsense. What actual historic records can you direct me to that proves that any of the original apostles ordained Linus to the Apostleship? Absolutely none.

Again, none of them were as you said, as big, and of course none of them had Apostolic succession

Not even yours.

You apparently have no idea about what your talking about.

Oh, I have much, much more of an idea what I'm talking about that you do.

 

[Katzpur]

Also, if you say is true, then you mean, the Christian church died out?

In the sense that it no longer functioned under the authority He gave His Apostles, yes.

Also, would make Jesus a liar.

No it wouldn't. Jesus is not a liar, but what He said doesn't mean what you think it means. Tell me what you believe He would have meant by the phrase "the gates of hell." Make sure you explain the phrase in the context of what it would have meant to Jesus' apostles, since it was to them that He was speaking.

 

[JacobEzra.]

In the sense that it no longer functioned under the authority He gave His Apostles, yes.

No it wouldn't. Jesus is not a liar, but what He said doesn't mean what you think it means. Tell me what you believe He would have meant by the phrase "the gates of hell." Make sure you explain the phrase in the context of what it would have meant to Jesus' apostles, since it was to them that He was speaking.

That his church would not be destroyed

 

[Katzpur]

That his church would not be destroyed

You didn't answer the question. You interpreted the entire statement ("the gates of hell shall not prevail against it") and you did so in light of what it means to you personally. I want to know what you believe just the phrase, "the gates of hell" to mean? Does it mean the forces of Satan? Does it mean the powers of evil? What does it mean -- that one phrase, "the gates of hell"? What would it have meant to a first-century Jewish follower of Jesus Christ?

 

[Shermana]

The original word "Christian" was a deragotory insult used by outsiders against the Jewish sect, which was counted as Jews in the Roman census. The word "Christian" used to be like "Lion Chow" and it eventually became a title of self designation later.

Bible Dictionary
Christian definition


the name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).

 

[ChristineES]

I am little wary of Christians who say that other Christians of different denominations either "Not true Christians" or "heretical Christians". We Christians need to stand together- we shouldn't be pointing our fingers and saying "that person is not a true Christian because "so and so". Now, I am not lecturing anyone, I am just stating my opinion.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And what other church was?

Remember the schism didn't happen until after the Nicene creed

There was little to no doctrinal unity in Christianity before the Council of Nicea. In fact, the whole point of the Council was to put an end to the doctrinal disputes that were threatening the Church's survival.

 

[Villager]

'The gates of hell' refers to the power of 'death' to condemn. Isaiah referred to the work of Jesus here:

'He will swallow up death forever.' Isa 25:8 NIV

Hosea wrote of it here:

'"I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?"'

Hos 13:14 NIV

Paul quoted them here:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"'

1 Co 15:54-55 NIV

There was no guarantee given that the church would always exist.

 

[Katzpur]

'The gates of hell' refers to the power of 'death' to condemn. Isaiah referred to the work of Jesus here:

'He will swallow up death forever.' Isa 25:8 NIV

Hosea wrote of it here:

'"I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?"'

Hos 13:14 NIV

Paul quoted them here:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"'

1 Co 15:54-55 NIV

There was no guarantee given that the church would always exist.

You are absolutely right, although I wouldn't have put it exactly that way. To Jesus' Apostles, "the gates of hell" would have had no sinister connotations. It would not have referred to Satan or to the forces of evil. It would simply have been interpreted as the entrance to the world of departed spirits, the realm where the spirits of the dead awaited their judgment. Jesus was never promising that the Church he established would last unchanged forever. He was saying that even death would not prevail against the promise of salvation found in His gospel.