Before Constantine, the bishop of Rome's authority was recognized but not exercised in the form of later papal monarchy. The Roman church's prominence derived from its location in the imperial capital, its apostolic foundation through Peter and Paul, and its reputation for sound doctrine — factors that made its voice influential without establishing legal jurisdiction. Irenaeus grounded authority in the faith the Church received from the apostles, while Eusebius records Peter's martyrdom in Rome as the anchor of its apostolic dignity. Later, Augustine would argue directly that Peter's primacy in the original college was undeniable, but that supremacy over his fellow apostles was disproved by all antiquity and Scripture alike.
"Faithfully and strenuously shalt thou resist them in defence of the only true and life-giving faith, which the Church has received from the apostles and imparted to her sons" — Irenaeus grounds Roman authority in apostolic transmission rather than jurisdictional supremacy.
"That he was facile princeps in the original college, nobody denies; that he had any supremacy over his brethren, all antiquity, as well as Holy Scripture, disproves. The keys were equally given to the others" — Augustine's direct challenge to papal supremacy claims, insisting Peter's honor was first among equals, not sovereign over the apostolic college.
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