The History Of The Popes: From The Foundation Of The See Of Rome, To The Present Time - Softcover

Archibald Bower

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0371898676 ISBN 13: 9780371898673

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

The History Of The Popes: From The Foundation Of The See Of Rome, To The Present Time by Archibald Bower. This work offers a historical-critical introduction to a multi-volume history of the popes, adopting a Protestant polemical stance that seeks to expose what is seen as the growth of Papal power and to challenge claims of papal supremacy, infallibility, and universal jurisdiction. The Preface outlines a method of relying on ancient sources and scrutinizing later forgeries, such as decretals, that have been used to justify authority. It argues that Papal sovereignty did not originate in the earliest centuries and traces its escalation from modest episcopal authority to a late, politically supported “plenitude of power,” aided by imperial support and various political maneuvers. The opening chapters examine the very beginnings of Petrine primacy, the roles of Linus, Clement, Anacletus, and other early bishops, and the evidence surrounding attestations of succession, priority, and jurisdiction. The author also surveys the reliability of sources and the dangers of forged documents, promising a corrective history grounded in ancient testimony, and notes that later medieval forgeries and donations (e.g., the Donatio of Pepin) have obscured earlier history.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0371898676
• ISBN 13: 9780371898673
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448