Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/561



So it happened that the authority in Rome of which Paul was speaking was pagan. And he exhorted the Christians to be patiently obedient to that authority (even though) it persecuted them for their faith. And those who have written chronicles of those days and of the Christian martyrdoms say there were thirteen emperors in Rome, from the time of Paul to the days of Constantine, and every one of them was a pagan murdering faithful Christians for their faith; they murdered Saint Peter, and thirty-five bishops after him, until the days of Sylvester, and all for faith This lasted three hundred and twenty years

(:Therefore it is wrong to construe from Paul's words that all authority is sanctioned by the Christian faith. Such assertions can be made only by priests who are intoxicated by the poison of power. Through power, they have converted faith into a lucrative business.:) And they pushed out the poor and humble Jesus; he is no more their ruler. 176*