The key text for public apostolic tradition, anti-gnostic argument, and the chain from John to Polycarp to Irenaeus.
Pope Stephen I
c. 200 – 257 · b. Rome · Bishop of Rome
Bishop
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 200, Rome
- Died
- 257, Rome
- See
- Rome
- Region
- west
- Era
- ante nicene
- Significance
- Notable(2/4)
- Also known as
- Stephen
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Bishop of Rome 254-257.
- Primary source
- Cyprian, Ep. 71-75
Bishop of Rome 254-257. Disputed bitterly with Cyprian and the African church over the rebaptism of those baptised by heretics, insisting Roman tradition not require it.
Recommended reading near Pope Stephen I
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Pope Stephen I?
- Pope Stephen I (200–257) — Bishop of Rome 254-257. Disputed bitterly with Cyprian and the African church over the rebaptism of those baptised by heretics, insisting Roman tradition not require it.
- Who did Pope Stephen I correspond with?
- Dionysius of Alexandria.
- Who did Pope Stephen I oppose?
- Cyprian of Carthage.
- Who did Pope Stephen I succeed as bishop of Rome?
- Pope Lucius I.
- Who succeeded Pope Stephen I as bishop of Rome?
- Pope Sixtus II.
Sources for biography
- Cyprian, Ep. 71-75 primary
- Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.2-5 primary
documented connections(4)
- opposed (incoming) Cyprian of CarthageCyprian and the African bishops insisted on rebaptising those baptised by heretics; Stephen I forbade the practice. The dispute remained unresolved at their deaths.Cyprian, Ep. 71-75 · Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.3-5
- succeeded in see Pope Lucius IRoman episcopal succession in 254.Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.2
- succeeded in see (incoming) Pope Sixtus IIRoman episcopal succession in 257.Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.5
- corresponded Dionysius of AlexandriaDionysius wrote to Stephen urging moderation in the rebaptism dispute.Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 7.5
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Pope Stephen I).