Throughout their ministry, the apostles of Jesus Christ constantly strengthened the church and put down heresies due to the spread and influence of false teachers who were teaching false doctrine within the church. The apostles repeatedly warned the members about them and the coming Apostasy.

(1) Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

(2) 2 Cor 11:12-15 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

(3) Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

(6) 2 Th 2:3,7 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition ... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who hath letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

(8) 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

(9) Tit 1:10-16 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

(10) 2 Pet 2:1-3 (2:1-22) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

(12) 1 Jn 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

(14) Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

(15) Rev 2:2,4 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars … Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

(16) Rev 3:14-16 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

(1) Acts 20:29-31. Paul warned the members that after he leaves, there will be grievous wolves (false teachers) who will join (or already joined) the church and will not spare the flock by drawing disciples after them (pervert the members from the truth). He even mentions that for the past three years he has been warning them every day and night with tears. Why? If the church was going to last forever, why the fear Paul displays for the welfare of the members? He should've just warned them that some of them may fall away from the church and if they would, it's their loss because the church cannot fail. Instead, he prophesies that when he is gone, false teachers are going to lead the church (who else could be in the position that draws disciples from the truth and can destroy the flock [church]?) and this coming event causes him to fear for the members.

(2) 2 Cor 11:12-15. Paul mentioned the existence of false apostles, who pretended they were apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness. His usage of the descriptions “apostles” and “ministers” denote these false teachers were in positions of authority over the Christians. Who then could they be? Did they miraculously lose their influence when the genuine apostles of Christ vanished or did they only become stronger and more influential?

These early members left the true church and joined a different version of the Gospel or a religion that had the appearance of original Christianity but was an apostate group. This passage also shows that there were apostate groups in existence while Paul was still alive and the haste of the Apostasy startled Paul. He knew it was going to happen, but not as soon as it did.

(4) Gal 2:4. This verse shows that there were people who joined the church under false pretexts in order to bring the members into bondage. How? Was it physical bondage because Christianity wasn't recognized by the government, or was it spiritual bondage by getting control of the churches and introducing heresies to lead the members astray?

(6) 1 Th 2:3,7. This passage gives a very clear statement that the Second Coming will not occur until after a falling away (Gr. apostasia) first takes place. In verse 5, Paul reminded them that when he was among them he taught them about the Apostasy and verse 7 mentions that the Apostasy was already going on during their time.

(7) 2 Tim 1:15. Paul's statement shows the Apostasy was already deepening its hold during his time. All of the members in Asia (today's Turkey) already apostatized from the truth. This caused Paul and Timothy to despair “even of life”(2 Cor 1:8).

As shown in the beginning of this letter, all the members were already in apostasy in Asia (1:15) and in the immediate future, the members in the area where Timothy resides will likewise follow suit. Paul laments that all men forsook him (4:16). Pail was in despair because he was doing the best he could to maintain the church intact (also see 1 Cor 11:18-19; 1 Tim 1:6-7) but no matter what he did, he could not prevent the slide of the members into the abyss of the Apostasy. He encourages Timothy to follow his example by never giving up despite the futility of their effort.

This situation is identical with Mormon's encouragement to his son Moroni when the Nephites were in the irreversible state of apostasy (Moro 8:28-29; 9:6, 21-26). The true disciples of Christ must never cease striving to save others despite the utter futility of their effort.

(9) Tit 1:10-16. This passage shows the existence of false teachers and false prophets during Paul's time. Titus must rebuke them and make them return to the truth. Was Titus going to be successful in bringing these false teachers back to the truth? The passage doesn't make any prophecies, only an observation and an order for a course of action.

(10) 2 Pet 2:1-3 (2:1-22). This passage gives a clear statement that the earthly church will go into apostasy and another (or more than one) will replace it. There will be false teachers who shall bring in damnable heresies. Since the teachers were also the leaders in the early church, if they were apostate and teaching their own apostate views to their flock, what then would be the state of the members? It would naturally be apostate as well. In verse two, Peter said,

(11) 2 Pet 3:17. This shows that the writings of Paul and other sacred writings were used by these apostate teachers, but they twisted them to suit their own heresies (v.18). Peter warned the remaining true believers not to fall in the same trap these apostates have got themselves into.

(12) 1 John 2:18-19. This gives a statement that there were many antichrists present during their time and the church was in its last days in the first century, showing that the apostasy was nearly completed. Who are those antichrists? Verse 19 provides the answer:

(14) Jude 1:3-4. This passage has Jude exhorting the recipient of this letter to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the members. Why would he say that? He would only say that if there was another false gospel that the Christians were currently following. He also mentioned that there were people who joined the church who changed the true doctrine of the gospel and replaced it with another.

(17) Rev 13:7. This passage gives a very clear statement that Satan will be able to overcome the members of the church. How was this so? Was it physical death or spiritual? It was a combination of both. The majority of the members apostatized and the members who remained faithful to the true gospel were killed by persecution. This verse says very clearly that Satan was given power to make war against the church and to overcome it just as the beast was able to overcome the two servants of God in Jerusalem (Rev 11:7-12) and Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33).

Satan was successful in destroying the true earthly church and the martyrs of the first century were to wait until the death of all the righteous members of their era before God will judge their cause to the detriment of the apostates and those responsible for their murders (Rev 6:9-11). Instead of completely eliminating all traces of the church a counterfeit church having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof emerged in the middle of the second century (2 Tim 3:5).

(18) 1 Pet 4:7. This has Peter mentioning the end of all things is at hand in the first century. What is “all things” referring to? The world? The universe? Obviously not since we're still here 2,000 years later. Acts 3:21 & 2 Pet 1:3 show it means the fullness of the Gospel. Because of this, it becomes discernable that Peter viewed the end of the gospel or church was already at hand in the first century. The time of judgment had begun starting with the church (1 Pet 4:17).

(20) Luke 10:3 (Matt 10:16). These passages mention Christ sending his followers out into the world like lambs among wolves. What happens to lambs when they are placed in the midst of wolves? They are torn to pieces and killed. Could any lamb survive living among wolves? No. Consequently, since Christ's true followers are like lambs among wolves, this means they aren't going to survive very long on the earth.

(21) Rev 14:6 & (22) Acts 3:21. These passages don't talk about an apostasy but they talk about the coming restoration. The gospel was brought back to the earth by an angel to preach to the inhabitants (Rev 14:6). Why would it be necessary for this angel to bring the gospel to the earth if it was already present? He would only do so if there were an Apostasy. Acts 3:20-21 mentions Christ will be in heaven until the Time of Restitution of All Things. Restitution means to bring back or return something to its original state. If the Apostasy did not take place, Christ cannot return to the earth.

(23) Eph 1:10. This mentions that “in the dispensation of the fullness of times” the heavenly portion will merge with the earthly portion of God's kingdom, clearly showing the separateness of the earthly church from the heavenly church during the first century and if the Apostasy overcame the earthly portion, the heavenly portion was unaffected and continued intact.

As can be seen, the Bible shows the early Christian Church was rushing into the Apostasy during the time of the apostles,2 who labored in vain trying to prevent the members from sliding into that abyss. Their despair is discernable throughout the New Testament narratives. It is highly unlikely that when all the apostles died, the members and apostates had a miraculous change of heart and the majority decided to remain true to the original teachings when the apostles were the only things preventing all the members from going apostate. Naturally, when the last impediments are removed, the force runs unabated.

“(Hegesippus said) the church continued until then as a pure and uncorrupt virgin; whilst if there were any at all, that attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel, they were yet skulking in dark retreats; but when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct, and the generation of those that have been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom, had passed away, then also the combinations of impious errors arose by the fraud and delusions of false teachers. These also, as there were none of the apostles left, henceforth attempted, without shame, to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth.”4

The church was disintegrating rapidly during the time of the apostles and at their passing, matters only became worse.5 Why expect the bishops of individual churches after the death of the apostles to succeed in preserving the church when the apostles themselves failed? After all, it was the bishops and teachers of the churches who led the Apostasy while the apostles were alive (who else would be in a position to lead the churches astray?). This transformation of the church was completed by the end of the first century with the second century churches drastically different from their mid-first century predecessor.

An argument against an apostasy by Roman Catholic apologists is the absence of a single passage in the Bible that says straight out that there will be a complete apostasy from the church. A number of things need to be pointed out if a Mormon encounters this argument. First, if the Apostasy didn't occur, why was it necessary for a restoration of all things? (Acts 3:20-21) Any dictionary will show that a restoration means to bring back something that was lost. Why was it necessary for an angel to bring the gospel to the earth if it was already present (Rev 14:6)? Second, it is impossible for a clear statement of the Apostasy to be present in the Bible because one of the criteria determining which books to include in the Bible was that it had to adhere to fourth century Catholic dogma. For them to recognize a book as authoritative that contains clear statements of the Apostasy would be tantamount to shooting themselves in the head (more later). Finally, we can use the same argument against them and ask them to furnish a passage in the Bible that explicitly states the church will never fall into apostasy that can't be understood to have reference to the apostles or their faith or the heavenly church.

The anti-Mormons say our doctrine of the Apostasy contradicts our other doctrine that the priesthood will always remain on the earth. There's an easy answer to this argument. The three Nephites (3 Ne 28:4-9) and John the Revelator (John 21:21-23; D&C 7:1-6) remained on the earth and the priesthood continued through them. However, they were not authorized to organize the church. Christianity didn't vanish; but the earthly true church with all its authority did. The authentic Apostolic Succession was discontinued upon the earth but continued in heaven both in the city of Enoch and in paradise.

Early Christianity in its first two or three decades is often described as a movement that envisioned the “end-of-the-world” was at hand.7 This has often puzzled researchers because what the early Christians expected never came (destruction of the world/church) and what they least expected to happen was what really happened (survival of the church). In addition, some scholars have been puzzled at the lack of any original letters of Jesus and his Apostles and pose the question namely that if Jesus and his followers founded a surviving church, why is it that none of their writings shows any evidence of existing into the second century?8 Why didn't they embark on building a single house of worship,9 to show the stability and future existence of their religion? Instead, the early Christians met in homes of certain members (Acts 12:12; Rom 16:15;1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Plm 2)10 and displayed all the characteristics of people expecting to be on the earth for a very short time. It isn't until the beginning of the fourth century that Christians unmistakably abandoned homes for churches.11

Because the first century church held a negative concept of the future, they didn't create a self-perpetuating organization designed for a permanent institution in order to continue the authority of the apostles.12 This has lead to a shocking realization among religious scholars who are unaware of the Apostasy: The structure of the New Testament church was deliberately a temporary organization!13

If the church was to remain intact upon the earth for a long time and the bishops were to be the successors of the apostles, why is it that the apostles never created a monarchical structure of authority in the church so that all Christians would know whom the real successors of the apostles were? This would've eliminated the confusion prevalent in the late first, second and third centuries with the Gnostics and other “heretics” mainly because there wasn't a recognized structure of authority among the Christians. Why didn't the apostles devolve their authority down to the ecclesiastical leaders and create offices like the LDS Church's Stake Presidency and the High Councils to ensure the survival of the church?14

The monarchical episcopate didn't exist until the beginning of the second century (with Ignatius and Polycarp), didn't become prevalent until the second half of the second century and didn't become universal and the sole source of authority among the “orthodox” Christians until the fourth century.15

The original bishops and deacons mentioned in the New Testament weren't in a monarchical structure but “were to serve the prophetic initiatives of the Spirit within it [the churches].”16 They were more in a collegiate structure under the charismatic leaders (apostles, prophets, teachers [seventy]) and followed the directions of the charismatic leaders.

The fact that the apostles deliberately created a church hierarchy that would collapse at their removal shows they had no expectation of the continuation of the church's existence after their deaths. Because of this, any continued existence by certain churches, which created their own hierarchy to supplant the authority of the charismatic leaders will definitely be an apostate organization.

There is no evidence that the members in the first century utilized and understood the so-called “Church will never fail” passages to mean exactly that. Why not? Catholic apologists of our century interpret them as such, why didn't the martyrs in the arena ever take comfort that they were dying for the church and despite their deaths, the church will continue forever? The concept of the future of the church was always negative. All the Apostolic Fathers viewed their time as being the end-times.17 It wasn't until the end of the first century that the regular Christians viewed the church as remaining in the world for quite some time,18 and wasn't until bishop Stephen of Rome in 254 A.D., an astonishing 200 year gap, that Matt 16:18 was used in the understanding that the church will never fail.19

Why did the earlier Christians have a negative outlook of the future of the church? They viewed their generation as living in the last days (Acts 2:16-17; Heb 1:2; 1 Pt 1:20; 1 Jn 2:18-19; Rev 1:1,3) and were awaiting the Lord's imminent return (Rev 3:11; 14:7; 22:7,12,20).

One reason why scholars view early Christianity as being an end-of-the-world movement,20 is there are passages throughout the New Testament that talk about the end of the world which is known as the Last Days (John 6:39-40,44,54; 11:24; 12:48; 1 Th 5:1-11; 2 Tim 3:1 ff; Jas 5:3; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Pet 3:3 ff) but there are other passages that use the same term (Last Days) to refer to a period during the first century:

1 Jn 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

These show the first-century leaders considered their generation to be in the Last Days. However, a problem exists if the Last Days are only in reference to the end of the world since it obviously hasn't happened 2000 years after the prophecy was given.

Could the apostles be mistaken about the Last Days occurring in their generation? If they understood all instances of the last days to mean the end of the world, then yes, they were definitely mistaken. But since they were the Apostles, and were taught by Christ himself, is it conceivable they would have made such a serious error in attributing the Last Days to their era instead of thousands of years into the future? The non-religious scholars that have researched this topic believe this is the case. However, there is another more plausible possibility.

If the apostles didn't make a mistake in attributing the Last Days to their generation, and the Last Days (in the sense of the end-of-the-world) still hasn't arrived, then it is obvious that “the Last Days” can be used to refer to two different events. The first refers to the end-of-the-world and the second refers to the end-of-the-church. If the apostles were not mistaken about the Last Days occurring in their generation then the only possible understanding of what they meant is not the “end-of-the-world” but the “end-of-the-church.”

If all references to the Last Days are about the end-of-the-world then the apostles, Peter, John and Paul were mistaken in attributing that period to their generation. The Second Coming didn't occur in the first century and still hasn't 2000 years later. This fact cannot be argued. We have absolute certainty the end-of-the-world didn't occur during the first century because we are alive in the 21st and all the things that were supposed to happen prior to and after the end-of-the-world haven't occurred yet.

If we approach from the position that the Last Days (end-of-the-world) hasn't occurred yet and the church Christ organized didn't fall into apostasy and was replaced by another in the late-first century; then the only possibility is the apostles, Peter, John and Paul (if he was the writer of Hebrews) were mistaken.

If such a scenario is unacceptable, then only one possibility is left. The end-of-the-world hasn't happened in the first century and since the Apostles couldn't make such a big mistake, the only possibility left is the Last Days Peter, John and Paul were referring to that occurred in the first century was the Last Days of the church and the Apostasy really did occur. If the Apostasy really did occur, then all the so-called proofs Catholic apologists use in trying to deny the Apostasy have to be understood in the sense of Christ addressing his Apostles and not the church since both possibilities are equally valid.

For example, Ignatius of Antioch while on his way to be killed around 107 A.D. mentioned that he was among the last of the faithful in Syria.22 He also said that his time was the last days.23 Barnabas also believed he was living in the last days24 and so did Hermas.25

1 Cor 7:26-29 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But this I say, brethren the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they have none.

Why did Paul preach against getting married (1 Cor 7:27-29) and why did Jesus say that some become eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God (Matt 19:12)? These passages have always been troubling to Christians since the late first century. Did Jesus and Paul oppose marriage, which would be odd considering all the other passages that emphasize its importance (Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:9; 1 Cor 11:11; 1 Pet 3:7; etc.)? Or could it be something else, not marriage itself but the consequence that such a relation brings during perilous times?

What was “the present distress” the church was going through? Why did Paul say, “… the time is short?” Why did he say that those members who would marry during that time will “have trouble in the flesh?” Finally, why did he say, “but I spare you?” Spare them of what? Paul (also in 2 Th 2:6-7) follows the other New Testament writers in using enigmatic and cryptic words to those who understand what he's hinting.26 Scholars who are unaware of the Apostasy are puzzled at this habit and some say “it is impossible to guess what lies behind the scanty phrases.”27

I believe Jesus and Paul were following an ancient pattern of advising against marriage during times when the chosen people are about to be overcome by a hostile force because if they were to get married, they would have children, and their children will be enslaved and destroyed by their enemies. By comparing these sayings of Jesus and Paul with Jeremiah in Jer 16:1-4 causes it to be evident that this indeed is the case:

Jer 16:1-4 The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying, Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place. For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land; They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth; and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

The similarities between both texts are sufficient to convince the honest investigator that Paul was talking about an imminent destruction that was about to befall the church and he used a concept taught by Jeremiah 600 years before to avoid having the children of the chosen people enslaved or murdered. Both passages advised against getting married. Both passages mention those who get married will suffer in the flesh (die). Both passages talk about a crisis going on. Both warn of an approaching destruction. During Jeremiah's time, enemies from the outside will overcome the chosen people; during Paul's time enemies on the outside and inside will overcome the chosen people. It is also clear that Paul wasn't against marriage just as Jeremiah wasn't against marriage. They said these things to warn the people of the horror that is just around the corner because the children who would be the result of marriage will suffer severely if they were to be born. Finally, Paul said, “I spare you” obviously means he wasn't going to remind them of the horror that is coming, “sparing” them of mental anguish.

Based upon the evidence, it is obvious that Paul was advising the Christians to remain celibate, or not have any children if they're married, because the time is short,28 the imminent end of the church is at hand. Why marry and have children when the end is imminent?29

2. Other passages have also been cited in defending the LDS belief in the Apostasy (such as Matt 17:11; 24:4,9-13,24; John 16:2-3; Acts 1:6-7; 1 Cor 1:10-13; 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-9,12-13 and 2 Pet 3:3) but I disagree with their usage since they are actually discussing other things instead of the Apostasy in the first century.

14.The offices of the Stake Presidency and the Stake High Council did not exist in the early church. This neglect of creating offices designed for a permanent institution shows the apostles didn't expect the church to survive after their deaths. The structure of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' hierarchy devolves authority down to the individual stake and causes each stake to be a microcosm of the church hierarchy with the Stake Presidency mirroring the First Presidency and the Stake High Council mirroring the Council of the Twelve Apostles. This will ensure the survival of the LDS church's authority in the event of only one stake surviving an unforeseen cataclysm. In fact, this devolution can theoretically continue down to the Ward level with the Bishopric automatically becoming the First Presidency.

Because of this devolution of authority that the early church didn't have, even if a nuclear attack were to wipe out all the General Authorities during General Conference, the surviving Melchizedek Priesthood holders and leaders of the church possess a collective authority that legitimizes any new selection of General Authorities.

18.A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Walker). pp. 55, 64; THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION (Pelikan). 1:98-99; THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY (Brown). p. 6; PAGANS AND CHRISTIANS (Fox). pp. 333-334; THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY (Carmichael). pp. 126-129; A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD (Manschreck). pp. 33-34; THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Davies). pp. 98-99; THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY (Frend). p. 128; SAINTS AND SINNERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH (Frend). p. 39; THE PAPACY (Schimmelpfennig). p. 2; THE SEE OF PETER (Shotwell & Loomis). p. 219.

20.WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS (Smith & Hoffman). p.169; THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION (Pelikan). 1:123; THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY (Carmichael). pp.126-129,135,152-153; A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD (Manschreck). pp.33-34; THE SEE OF PETER (Shotwell & Loomis). pp.63-64; HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY (Conzelmann). pp.119-120.

21.A HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Walker). pp.55,64; THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION (Pelikan). 1:98-99; THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY (Brown). p.6; PAGANS AND CHRISTIANS (Fox). pp. 333-334; THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY (Carmichael). pp.126-129; A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE WORLD (Manschreck). pp.33-34; THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Davies). pp.98-99; THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY (Frend). p.128; SAINTS AND SINNERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH (Frend). p.39; THE PAPACY (Schimmelpfennig). p.2; THE SEE OF PETER (Shotwell & Loomis). p.219.