The Catholic argument for the God-given supremacy of their Pope, however, becomes perfectly reckless when we bear in mind that their banner text speaks only of Peter, but says nothing at all about Peter’s successors.  If Peter possessed the supremacy that Catholics claim for him, how and by what right did he dispose of it at his death?  How did this power become attached to Rome?  On all these questions the Bible is silent.  Catholics construct a skilful argument from fragmentary and doubtful historical records, which are not God’s Word, to show that Peter chore Rome as his episcopal see, and therewith transferred his primacy for all time to this place.  To fabricate a dogma that is to be binding on the consciences of all Christians in such a way is daring impudence.  The devout Catholic must close his eyes to all history if he is to believe that Christ really appointed a Pope.  When he reads the history of the Popes, and comes to the period of the papal schism, when the Church had not only one, but two visible heads, one residing at Rome, the other at Avignon, yea, when he reads of three contestants for papal honors, and beholds the Church as a tricephalous monster, he must stop thinking.

Luther regarded the papacy as the most monstrous fraud that has been practised on Christianity.  In its gradual and persistent development and the success with which it has maintained itself through all reverses, it impresses one as something uncanny.  It requires more than human wiliness to originate, foster, perfect, and support such a thoroughly unbiblical and antichristian institution.  Luther spoke of the papal deception as one of the signs foreboding the end of the world.  He has not spoken in delicate terms of the Popes.  His most virulent utterances are directed against the “Vicar of Christ” at Rome.  He traces the papacy to diabolical origin.  When he lays bare the shocking perversions of revealed truths of which Rome has been guilty, and talks about the foul practises of the Popes and their courtesans, Luther’s language becomes appalling.  In a series of twenty-six cartoons Luther’s friend Cranach depicted the rule of Christ and Antichrist.  The series was published under the title “Passional Christi und Antichristi.” (14, 184 ff.) By placing alongside of one another scenes from the life of the Lord and scenes from the lives of the Popes, the artist displayed very effectually the contrast between the true religion which the Redeemer had taught men by His Word and example, and the false religiousness which was represented by the papacy.  On the one side was humility, on the other, pride; poverty was shown in contrast with wealth; meekness was placed over and against arrogance, etc.  At a glance the people saw the chasm that yawned between the preaching and practise of Jesus and that of His pretended representative and vicar, and they verified the pictures showing the Pope in various attitudes from their own experience.  These cartoons became very popular, and have maintained their popularity till the most recent times.  During the “Kulturkampf” which the German government under Bismarck waged against the aggressive policy of the Vatican, the German painter Hofmann issued a new edition of the “Passionale,” and Emperor William I sent a copy to the Pope with a warning letter.