Eusebius schreef dat Linus twaalf jaar bisschop van Rome is geweest (van ca. 66 tot 78) en zag hem als tweede bisschop die door Petrus als opvolger was benoemd. Ireneüs schreef dat Linus door de apostelen Petrus en Paulus het bisdom overhandigd kreeg. Katholieken vatten dit zo op dat hij de tweede paus was. Oosters-orthodoxen geloven dat hij de eerste bisschop van Rome was tijdens het leven van de apostelen. Augustinus van Hippo plaatste Linus eveneens na Petrus in de opvolging van de bisschoppen van Rome, net als Hiëronymus van Stridon en Optatus van Mileve, terwijl Epiphanius van Salamis hem na Petrus en Paulus gezamenlijk plaatste. Tertullianus beschouwde Clemens als opvolger van Petrus.
1234Ireneüs van Lyon(1995).The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1: The Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Second printing. Christian Literature Publishing Company,'Book III, Chapter 3.3'.Geraadpleegd op 25 juli 2026"The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric."
1234Eusebius van Caesarea(1953).'Ecclesiastical History, Books 1–5'. The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C.,'Book III, Chapter 2',p. 139.ISBN 9780813214450"After the martyrdom of Paul and of Peter, Linus was the first to succeed to the episcopacy of the Church at Rome. Paul, when writing from Rome to Timothy, makes mention of him in the salutation at the end of the Epistle."
12Epiphanius van Salamis(2009).'The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Book I (Sects 1–46)', 2e herziene en uitgebreide editie. Brill, Leiden en Boston,'27.6.2',p. 113.ISBN 9789004170179"For the bishops at Rome were, first, Peter and Paul, the apostles themselves and also bishops—then Linus, then Cletus, then Clement, a contemporary of Peter and Paul whom Paul mentions in the Epistle to the Romans."
↑Augustinus van Hippo(1951).'Letters, Volume 1 (1–82)'. Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C.,'Letter 53 to Generosus',245–251.ISBN 9780813215563"For, if the order of succession of bishops is to be considered, how much more surely, truly and safely do we number them from Peter, to whom, as representing the whole Church, the Lord said: "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." For, to Peter succeeded Linus, to Linus Clement, to Clement Anacletus, to Anacletus Evaristus, to Evaristus Sixtus, to Sixtus Telesphorus, to Telesphorus Hyginus, to Hyginus Anicetus, to Anicetus Pius, to Pius Soter, to Soter Alexander, to Alexander Victor, to Victor Zephyrinus, to Zephyrinus Callistus, to Callistus Urban, to Urban Pontian, to Pontian Antherus, to Antherus Fabian, to Fabian Cornelius, to Cornelius Lucius, to Lucius Stephen, to Stephen Sixtus, to Sixtus Dionysius, to Dionysius Felix, to Felix Eutychian, to Eutychian Gaius, to Gaius Marcellus, to Marcellus Eusebius, to Eusebius Melchiades, to Melchiades Sylvester, to Sylvester Marcus, to Marcus Julius, to Julius Liberius, to Liberius Damasus, to Damasus Siricius, to Siricius Anastasius. In this order of succession not a Donatist bishop is found."
↑"Post Petrum primus Ecclesiam Romanam tenuit Linus" (Chronicon, 14g (p. 267))
↑Optatus van Mileve(1917).Against the Donatists,'Book 2.3',57–119"To Peter succeeded Linus, to Linus succeeded Clement, to Clement Anacletus, to Anacletus Evaristus, to Evaristus Sixtus, to Sixtus Telesphorus, to Telesphorus Hyginus, to Hyginus Anacetus, to Anacetus Pius, to Pius Soter, to Soter Alexander, to Alexander Victor, to Victor Zephyrinus, to Zephyrinus Calixtus, to Calixtus Urban, to Urban Pontianus, to Pontianus Anterus, to Anterus Fabian, to Fabian Cornelius, to Cornelius Lucius, to Lucius Stephen, to Stephen Sixtus, to Sixtus Dionysius, to Dionysius Felix, to Felix Marcellinus, to Marcellinus Eusebius, to Eusebius Miltiades, to Miltiades Silvester, to Silvester Marcus, to Marcus Julius, to Julius Liberius, to Liberius Damasus, to Damasus Siricius, who to-day is our colleague, with whom 'the whole world,' through the intercourse of letters of peace, agrees with us in one bond of communion. Now do you show the origin of your Cathedra, you who wish to claim the Holy Church for yourselves!"