What was Gelasius's two - swords theory?

Answer 1

According to Gelasius, God had created two symbolic swords. One of the swords was religious and the other was political. The pope should listen to the emperor in political matters, and the emperor ahould listen to the pope in religious matters. With that two leaders could share the power in harmony.

Answer 2

There are two powers by which chiefly this world is ruled: the sacred authority of the priesthood and the authority of kings. And of these the authority of the priests is so much the weightier, as they must render before the tribunal of an account even for the kings of men." While this might at first seem to support the position of Gregory VII, it was widely believed that the Gelasian "two swords" theory maintained that these two powers-political and religious-should not be held by the same person.

Answer 3

Gelasius's two-swords theory referred to the dual authority of the pope, holding spiritual power (represented by one sword) and the emperor, holding temporal power (represented by the other sword). This theory asserted that both the Church and the state had separate but complementary roles in governance.