Oyakhilome: Peter In The Bible Was Not Really The Bishop Of Rome. They Killed Him In Rome. Even Paul

In a recent video on YouTube, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has offered a critical reflection on the traditional narrative surrounding the role of Rome in early Christianity, urging believers to reconsider long-held assumptions about the leadership and martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul.

According to his analysis, Peter was not the Bishop of Rome, as often claimed in traditional Christian teachings. Both Peter and Paul were executed in Rome, but they were not sent there to pastor or lead churches. Instead, they were taken there to be killed—an event that he emphasized should be remembered as a somber reflection on the cruelty and persecution faced by early Christians.

Pastor Chris explained that the garments and symbols associated with the office of the pope often reflect the legacy of Peter and Paul. However, he maintained that this symbolism is deeply tied to their martyrdom rather than ecclesiastical service within Rome itself. The presence of these figures in Rome, he noted, was not a result of mission or leadership assignment but of brutal persecution under Roman rule.

He pointed out that while Christianity did spread into the Mediterranean world and eventually reached Rome, the faith’s true origins were rooted in Jerusalem. From that point, it gradually moved westward and, over time, influenced and ultimately dominated Rome culturally and spiritually.

According to him, “Peter was not really the Bishop of Rome. They killed him in Rome, and they killed Paul in Rome— The two that part of the dressing of the pope symbolizes. He has a symbol for Peter and Paul—whom they killed in Rome. Just remember: they didn’t go to Rome to pastor; they were taken to Rome to be killed. So, it’s not really a great memory—it’s a painful reminder of the wickedness of men when we think of Peter in Rome and Paul in Rome. So, um…But the fact is, Christianity moved from….Jerusalem into the Mediterranean. And it’s wonderful that it dominated Rome in the process of time.