How the Roman Church Rose
The Roman Catholic Church was not founded whole by Christ on Peter. It grew over centuries as bishops rose over local churches, the church joined the Roman state, and Rome's bishop claimed rule over all, while Christ's free churches stood apart.
The lesson walks through the topic one card at a time. The full study is the complete written article, with its sources.
How the New Testament churches were ordered, including the church at Rome
How bishops, emperors, and the bishop of Rome shaped the state church from the second century to Gregory I
How the medieval papacy claimed rule over kings, from Gregory VII to Unam Sanctam
How Christ's free churches stood apart from the institution in every age
Why a church is measured by the apostles' doctrine, not by its age, size, or line of bishops