The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-07-07
(From the Christian Intelligencer)
The Representative Apostles
BY REV. pHILIP scHAFF D. D.

BY REV. PHILIP sCHAFF, D. d.
Peter was the chief actor in the first
stage of apostolic Christianity and full
filled the prophecy of his name in lay
ing the foundation of the church among
the Jews and the Gentiles. In the Sec
ondi stage he is overshadowed by the
mighty labors of Paul; but after the
apostolic age he stands out again most
prominent in the memory of the Church
He is chosen by the Roman communion
as its special patron saint and as the first
pope. He is always named before Paul
10 him most of the churches are dedi-
Gated. In the name of this poor fisher
man of Galilee, who had neither gold nor
silver, and was crucifed like malefactor
and slave, the triple-crowned popes de-
posed kings, shook empires, dispensed
blessings and curses on earth and in pur-
gatory, and even now claim the power to
settle infallibly all questions of Christian
doctrine and discipline for the Catholic
world
Paul was the chief actor in the second
stage of the apostolic church. the apostle
of the Gentiles, the founder of Christian
ity in Asia Minor and Greece, the eman-
cipator of the new religion from the yoke
of Judaism, the herald of evangelical free
dom, the standard-bearer of reform and
progress. His controlling influence was
felt also in Rome, and is clearly seen in
the genuine Epistle of Clement, who
makes more account of him than of Peter
But soon afterwards he is almost forgot
ten, except by name. He is indeed as
ISOLATED with Peter as the founder of the
Church of Rome, but in a secondary line I;
his Epistle to the Romans is little read
and understood by the Romans even to
this day; his church lies outside of the
walls of the eternal city, while st. Peters
is its chief ornament and glory. In At
RIGA alone he is appreciated, first by the
rugged and racy Tertullian, more fully
by the profound Augustine, who passed
through similar contrasts in his religious
experience; but Augustine Pauline doc
trines of sin and grace had no effect what
ever on the Eastern Church, and were
practically overpowered in the Western
Church By Pelagian tendencies. For a
long time Pauls name was used and
abused outside Of the ruling orthodoxy
and hierarchy by anti-catholic heretics
and sectaries in their protest against the
new yoke Of traditionalism and ceremo-
nialism. But in the sixteenth century
he celebrated real resurrection, and in
spired the evangelical reformation. Then
his Epistles to the Galatians and Romans
were republished, explained, and applied
with trumpet tongues by Luther and
Calvin. Then his protest against Juda-
izing bigotry and legal bondage was re-
newed, and the rights of Christian liberty
asserted on the largest scale. Ofall men
in Church history, ST. Augustine not ex-
cepted, Martin Luther, once a contracted
monk, then a prophet of freedom, has
most affinity in word and work with the
apostle of the Gentiles, and ever since,
Paul's genius has ruled the theology and
religion Of Professionalism
st. John, the most intimate companion
Of Jesus, the apostle oflove, the seer who
looked back TO the ante-mundane begin
ming and forward to the post-mundane
end Of all things, and who is to tarry till
the coming Of the Lord kept aloof from
active part in the controversies between
Jewish and Gentle Christianity. He ap-
pears prominent in the Acts and the Epfs-
ties to the Galatians, as one Of the pillar
apostles, but not word of his is reported
He was waiting in mysterious silence
with q reserved force, for his proper time
which did not come till Peter and Pau
had finished their mission. Then, after
their departure, he revealed the hidden
l Il h. - H. L