answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Saint Peter is traditionally thought of as the first bishop of Rome, and therefore the first pope, althogh there is no evidence that he ever visited Rome and nothing is known about his actual death.

Clement of Rome, regarded in Catholic tradition as a successor to Peter, wrote of Peter's death in general terms, but says nothing about Peter having been crucified, although he could be expected to have if this tradition already existed in his time.

The venerable Polycarp of Smyrna had tried to win an argument with the mid-second century pope Anicetus (156-166) on a matter of theology, by saying that he spoke with the authority of the apostle John. In response, Anicetus said that Peter was beheaded by Nero in Rome and that he spoke with the authority of Peter. In the first mention of Peter's death, he was beheaded, not crucified.

Then in the third century, the Church Father Origen changed the story somewhat, saying that Peter, condemned to crucifixion, felt himself unworthy to be crucified the same way as his Lord, and so chose crucifixion upside down.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why was the first pope crucified upside down?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Math & Arithmetic

Why is Simon Peter important?

Peter was chosen by Christ to be the first leader of his new Church - the first pope.


What happened to Christ's Apostles?

Judas: betrayed Jesus by handing Him over to the Chief Priest in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. After realizing what He had done, he returned the money and hanged himself.Andrew: Died by crucifixion, being suspended and crucified onto an X-shaped cross in Greece, in the town of Patrae. He was also buried in this town.Bartholomew: In India, he was badly beaten, flayed alive, and crucified upside down with his head facing downwards. He was buried in Armenia in the town of Allanum (in modern South Georgia).James the Less (Son of Alphaeus): He was stoned in Jerusalem, and buried close to the temple at the age of 94. It is said that stoning failed to kill him outright and that the Jews busted his head with a club.James the Great (Son of Zebedee): King Herod cut off his head, ten years after Stephen was stoned to death.John (brother of James): the "beloved disciple") was the only disciple who did not die a cruel death, but of old age.Matthew/ Levi: He died a violent death in Ethiopica, Naddabar, his body was chopped apart with an ax known as a halbert.Simon Peter: The first pope, was crucified by the Roman Emperor Nero in A.D. 64, upside down.Philip: Also died by crucifixion in East Turkey, where he is buried.Simon the Zealot: It is believed that he was crucified in Persia during one of his Gospel missions.Thaddaeus (Judas son of James): was crucified in Edessa.Thomas: Four soldiers thrust their spears through his body in Calamene, India, where he was buried.Paul (Saul): also excuted by the Roman Emperor Nero by beheading as he was a Roman citizen.An unbeliever or lukewarm Christian might be puzzled and surprised by the conviction of these Christians and might even call them crazy. However, a true Christian knows that the only way to heaven is to take up your cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23) and in Revelation 3:16 we find that the lukewarm Christ will vomit out of His mouth. If you find these deaths disturbing, you must truly ask yourself if you believe in Our Blessed Lord, and ask Him to increase your faith.


When and where was Simon Peter crucified?

A:Although tradition says that Simon Peter was crucified in Rome approximately 64 CE on the orders of Emperor Nero, it seems that this was unlikely to have been the case. In fact we do not know when or how Peter really died. The first known mention of the execution of St. Peter was made by the second-century Pope Anicetus who, wishing to demonstrate that he spoke with the authority of Peter, reported that Peter had been beheaded in Rome. A century later, Origen changed this to say that Peter was sentenced to crucifixion but, feeling unworthy of being crucified like Jesus, asked to be crucified upside down.Yet Clement of Rome, writing around 95 CE (1 Clement), spoke in general terms about the life and death of Peter but appears to have been unaware that he had even visited Rome and was certainly unaware that he had been executed in any way at all. We do not know when he died, but the most reasonable conclusion is that Peter probably died of natural causes.Another Answer:The Bible is silent on the where or when of the Apostle Peter's death. However, there are many pieces of ancient literature-some spurious, some factual-confirming that both Simon Magus, the false apostle, who masqueraded as Peter (presenting his false 'christian' teachings), and Simon Peter himself teaching Christ's message (of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God), died at Rome shortly after Paul's beheading, circa 67-68 A.D. In historic writings, both of these men were called 'Pater.'


What is the symbol of St. Simon Peter?

Peter, the first pope, is usually represented by two keys - the keys to the kingdom of heaven symbolically given to him by Christ.


What do the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation have to say about the Roman Catholic Pope?

It talks of the collapse of the Pope and the catholic church.

Related questions

Was the first pope of Rome murdered?

Yes, St. Peter was crucified on an upside down cross.


Why did the first pope of Rome die upside down?

Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel he was worthy of dying in the same manner as Our Lord.


What happened to the first pope?

Catholic tradition states that St. Peter was taken prisoner by the Roman Emperor Nero and condemned to be crucified. He was crucified upside down at his own request because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as Our Lord.


What remarkable events occurred in Saint Peter's life?

St. Peter was the first Pope. St. Peter was crucified upside down because he did not believe he should die in the exact same manner as Jesus did.


Why was Saint Peter famous?

Peter was chosen by Our Lord as both an apostle and also as the leader of His new Church - the first pope. He was crucified upside down on Rome under orders of the Roman Emperor Nero.


What was Saint Peter's vocation?

Roman Catholic answerHe started out life as a fisherman. He ended up as a priest, and Bishop of Rome, and the first Pope (although that name wasn't in use at the time) and died as a martyr, crucified upside down.


Is it only legend that Peter was crucified upside down?

A:Yes. In the third century, Origen was the first to say that the apostle Peter was crucified upside down. Previously, there was a somewhat different tradition that Peter was beheaded, beginning with Pope Anicetus in the second century. We know the legend does not date back to the latter years of the first century, because Clement of Rome, writing around 95 CE (1 Clement), spoke in general terms about the life and death of Peter but appears to have been unaware that Peter had visited Rome or that he had been executed in any way at all.


Who reported that Peter was crucified up side down?

A:Origen was the first to say, in the third century, that the apostle Peter was crucified upside down. Previously, there was a somewhat different tradition that Peter was beheaded, beginning with Pope Anicetus in the second century. Clement of Rome, writing around 95 CE (1 Clement), spoke in general terms about the life and death of Peter but appears to have been unaware that Peter had visited Rome or that he had been executed in any way at all.


When did the first pope in Italy die?

St. Peter was crucified sometime between 64 and 67 AD.


How was St Peter crucified?

2000 years of Catholic tradition state that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under orders of Roman Emperor Nero. He did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus so requested that the soldiers crucify him head down. Even most non-Catholic theologians agree that Peter was crucified in Rome about AD 64 but the evidence that he was crucified upside down is weak and is based on tradition passed down by the early Church fathers. For more information please click on this link.


In what verse in the Bible was Peter crucified upside down?

The Bible does not specifically mention Peter being crucified upside down. However, a tradition in early Christian writings attributes Peter's crucifixion in this manner as a request of his own, considering himself unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus. This tradition is found in texts outside of the Bible.


What was the home of the first pope?

Saint Peter, the first pope, lived in Bethsaida of Galilee when Jesus picked him to be an Apostle. While following Jesus for three years, Peter really had no home. After Jesus' death and resurrection, he stayed a time in Jerusalem and then he began some missionary trips to places like to Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea, Antioch, and Corinth. It is believed by a long tradition that Peter eventually traveled to Rome where he was crucified upside down because he said that he was not worthy to die as Jesus did.