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Is the Pope the Pontifex Maximus over the Church of Christ? The title "Pontifex Maximus"
was not initiated by the Roman Catholic Church. It was derived from
Roman pre-Christian paganism. Originally the title designated the most
important priest in Roman polytheistic paganism. But under Caesar
Augustus, the Roman Emperor also assumed the title of Pontifex Maximus.
It became sort of a "church - state" function, despite the fact that
there was as yet no church.
The Catholic Church tends to ignore the pagan origin of the title and prefers to associate it with the High Priest of Old Testament and New Testament Israel. I believe there are problems on several counts. First, etymology. The Latin title "Pontifex Maximus" leads directly to Roman pagan religion, not to Israeli religious practices. Second, history. The relationship between the Pontifex Maximus and the College of Pontiffs in pre-Christian Rome and the relationship of the Pope, whose title is Pontifex Maximus, to the College of Cardinals in Roman Catholicism is too similar to be an accident of history. Third, and most important, the Bible. What does the Bible say about priesthood? It cannot be denied that there was a priesthood in Biblical Israel. Biblical priests had to be descendants of Aaron, himself a member of the Tribe of Levi. Those were the official priests. However, the individuals of the nation were assigned to be individual, unofficial priests. The whole nation was to serve as a "kingdom of priests" (Exod. 19:5-6). Their primary function as individual priests was to constitute a holy people, especially and uniquely aligned with Yahweh among all the peoples of the world. I believe it was God's purpose that the citizens of Israel would serve as holy magnets, drawing people from among the pagan nations of the world into a close relationship with the God of Israel. The New Testament Church also is given that same title. We are described as a "holy priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:5) and a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9). Jesus Christ has made us to be "a kingdom, priests to His God and Father" (Rev. 1:6). Once again, we New Testament Christians have been given the assignment of drawing people from among the nations of the world to faith in and service of Jesus Christ, the King (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). What do Catholics say about the Pope as the Supreme Pontiff, the Supreme Priest? The Catholic Encyclopedia, in an article entitled, "The Pope", contains two entries on two titles of the Pope that help identify the origin and meaning of the title, Pontifex Maximus. Those two entries are repeated here verbatim: TitlesPopeThe most noteworthy of the titles are Papa, Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, Servus servorum Dei. The title pope(papa) was, as has been stated, at one time employed with far more latitude. In the East it has always been used to designate simple priests. In the Western Church, however, it seems from the beginning to have been restricted to bishops (Tertullian, On Modesty 13). It was apparently in the fourth century that it began to become a distinctive title of the Roman Pontiff. Pope Siricius (d. 398) seems so to use it (Ep. vi in P.L., XIII, 1164), and Ennodius of Pavia (d. 473) employs it still more clearly in this sense in a letter to Pope Symmachus (P.L., LXIII, 69). Yet as late as the seventh century St. Gall (d. 640) addresses Desiderius of Cahors as papa (P.L., LXXXVII, 265). Gregory VII finally prescribed that it should be confined to the successors of Peter. PontiffThe terms Pontifex Maximus, Summus Pontifex, were doubtless originally employed with reference to the Jewish high-priest, whose place the Christian bishops were regarded as holding each in his own diocese (Epistle of Clement 40). As regards the title Pontifex Maximus, especially in its application to the pope, there was further a reminiscence of the dignity attached to that title in pagan Rome. Tertullian, as has already been said, uses the phrase of Pope Callistus. Though his words are ironical, they probably indicate that Catholics already applied it to the pope. But here too the terms were once less narrowly restricted in their use. Pontifex summus was used of the bishop of some notable see in relation to those of less importance. Hilary of Arles (d. 449) is so styled by Eucherius of Lyons (P.L., L, 773), and Lanfranc is termed "primas et pontifex summus" by his biographer, Milo Crispin (P.L., CL, 10). Pope Nicholas I is termed "summus pontifex et universalis papa" by his legate Arsenius (Hardouin "Conc.", V, 280), and subsequent examples are common. After the eleventh century it appears to be only used of the popes. But what does the New Testament say? One looks in vain in the New Testament for a priesthood identical to the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Church continues to maintain priests on the order of the Levitical priesthood. They forgive sins and they offer incense. In Roman Catholic terminology, the Pope is the Pontifex Maximus, meaning he is, in their view, the Supreme Priest. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, there is only one supreme priest, and He is not a mere human. It is Jesus Christ Himself. He offered Himself as a once-for-all sacrifice and now sits as eternal High Priest (Psalm 110:4; Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-16; 5:5-6, 10; 6:20; 7:26-28; 8:1-6; 9:11-12; 10:19-22) at the right hand of the Father, where He ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25). Therefore, there can be no such thing as a merely human Supreme Pontiff or Pontifex Maximus. That title, once and for all, belongs only to Jesus Christ. Let not a mere man presume to take that title for Himself. Only Jesus, the Great High Priest is the Pontifex Maximus. No pope of whatever era can rightly claim that title. Is the Pope the Pontifex Maximus over the Church of Christ? The only correct answer is, "Never!" Only Jesus Christ Himself is the Pontifex Maximus, the Great High Priest over the Church of Christ. Sources: New World Encyclopedia entry Pontifex
Maximus
Biblical Catholic entry The Title Pontifex Maximus Catholic Encyclopedia entry The Pope YouTube video The Pontifex Maximus Wikipedia article College of Cardinals Return to The Bible and
Roman Catholicism
See also Comparative Theology: Items Evaluating Roman Catholicism |
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