Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 10:44 AM
Subject: (memo) Pope Fiction: Linus, Clement, Claudia, Pudens
 
I'm a jubilee convert, but I rarely see this mentioned when catholics say "We believe in the holy, catholic, _apostolic_ church."  Faith is a gift that I probably need more of, but Reason helps even when I'm not in the mood to be catholic.  The evidence is too much to deny. "Seek and you shall find."  The apostles had a special role as compared to disciples.  It is a specific gift of the holy spirit (governing teaching), although it is not a gift to be free from sin.
 
The catholic claim that Peter was the first pope was ok (no other church/denomination seems to make the same claim?).  Because of understandable fears that the pope may be the anti-christ, I wanted to make sure that when they killed Peter, that the Romans didn't put a spy in Peter's place.
 
Williams Jurgens makes small mention of the items below, excluding Claudia and Pudens.  I wish more catholics were aware of Linus and Clement, noted by the apostles in holy scripture, fitting to be successors of Peter through Jesus.
 
Subject: (memo) Apostolic Succession: Peter, Linus, Clement

Summary: Jesus, Judas, Peter, Matthi'as, Linus, Clement

This scripture helped me that the apostles had a plan for carrying on apostleship. (some of this may not be new)
{It was Peter's idea to replace Judas with another [Matthi'as]}

Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
...20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'His office let another take.'

{Qualifications: An eye-witness/follower recognized by the apostles.  Peter the Sinner is still speaking.}

Acts 1:21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." 

{Jesus showed Peter's upcoming death to Peter.  Peter could prepare for the martyrdom in Rome.}

1 Peter 1:13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder,
14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
15 And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
    * If it was Peter's idea to replace Judas with Matthi'as, then it is likely that Peter would have prepared for himself to be replaced.
{Linus, the supposed successor of Peter (2nd bishop of rome), is given one line in the bible as a companion.}

2 Timothy 4:21 - Do your best to come before winter. Eubu'lus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.
    **** Note: Claudia is a declared saint with a feastday(?). Pudens may have married Claudia.  There is interesting information on the net about these two.  I wanted to research further that Linus in the Bible is the same Linus the 2nd bishop of Rome by looking up the names mentioned alongside him: Claudia, Pudens, and Eubu'lus. I can try to compile the major sources together in another email if requested.  I am leaning in favor that Claudia was the daughter of a British king, which also helps explain Britian's early start in christianity.

{And Clement (which writings are a little more reliable, extensive and clearer about the early church), the supposed fourth bishop of rome, another companion.}

Philippians 4:3 - And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Letter of Clement to the Corinthians: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm   Because Clement is mentioned as in the book of life, he is at least a trustable source and friend of the apostles.

Seeing only one (Linus or Clement) in the Bible may have been coincidence, but two is less so.  I took my confirmation name of "Linus".  Thanks for reading.