All through His life on earth our Lord proclaimed Himself to be the Messias foretold by the Prophets and expected by the Jews: sent by His heavenly Father with supreme authority, and exacting complete obedience of faith in His doctrine and precepts (cf. supra, § 211). The exercise of this authority, and the corresponding duty of obedience, were not to be restricted to the short period of His sojourn here below. They were to continue for all days, even to the consummation of the world. Hence no small portion of His teaching and work was devoted to the description and formation of the body which was to be invested with His authority, and to carry on the saving work of Redemption.

This subject has already been dealt with in Book I., Part I. We shall here treat briefly, first, of our Lord’s teaching during His Public Life; next, of His teaching during His Risen Life; and, lastly, we shall speak more particularly of the Visible Headship which He conferred upon St. Peter and his successors, the Bishops of Rome.