All studies done on the history have shown that the Roman church has always held a similar position, evident in the way it described itself. It's not something that suddenly appeared.
This is not true at all.
The picture as presented by mainstream historians emphasizes a gradual historical progression from local Bishop/Elder to Diocesan Bishop to Metropolitan Bishop (over diocesan bishops) to Patriarch (over Metropolitan Bishops; the latter level of Patriarchal Bishop first appearing in 381 AD; a pope *at* (much less *above*) the level of Patriarchal Bishop (or even Metropolitan or Diocesan Bishop) simply did not exist before these types of offices existed. Here is a condensed outline of the picture as it is told by mainstream historians:
I never did come back to this.
Your post responded predominately to a strawman. My point was that Rome held a 'similar position', that is in it's importance. Identical? No. Papacy? No. Similar? Yes.
How is it similar? Concisely:
-When the Roman church was young it was seen as a mother to other churches (charity). (biblical)
-The next few hundred years it was an arbiter to resolve conflict being a central hub of communion. Not as a papal head, but a source to bring notice to other bishops of heretical occurrences.
-That the church itself was always a hub of communion increase it's prestige. It then began to recognize that in its own right.
-Separation from the Imperial capital enabled more freedom of the Bishop of Rome to focus on ecclesial matters, and not be an court bishop.
-The Roman church then saw this continued prestige as a privilege as the See of Peter. (The Pope became the "Vicar of Peter".)
-The destruction of the provincial church structure in the West by the Kings lead to more Papal influence.
-The destruction of the Spanish and N. African churches, who had functioned independently and classically from Rome, made Rome the only power in the West.
-Movement to free itself from state control, the Church moves away from state/imperial influence to the Pope himself being the Imperial head.
-The last 700 years has been a battle of how much power is correct and/or appropriate for the Papacy. (The Pope became the "Vicar of Christ")
My point has nothing to do with your last post. The Bishop/Metropolitan/Patriarch structure mostly destroyed by the 7th century in the West anyways.