- Introduction:
-The Roman Catholic Church interprets Jesus Christ's words, “feed my sheep,” spoken directly to the Apostle Peter, as a divine mandate granting him exclusive primacy in shepherding the household of God—the church. The Papacy asserts that Christ conferred upon Peter a unique and elevated position of episcopal authority, which is claimed to have been passed down to the Roman bishops of subsequent generations. Roman Catholic apologists frequently cite the text of John 21:15–17 as evidence that the pope has been appointed by Christ to serve in the office of “Chief Shepherd.”
-Peter himself admonished against becoming lords over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:1–5). Christ is identified as the “Chief Shepherd” (John 10:10–16), and Peter referred to Him as the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Scripture unequivocally reserves the title of “Chief Shepherd” for Christ alone. Peter was neither addressed by this title nor did he assume such a role. Therefore, this designation cannot be rightfully applied to any individual claiming to represent Christ on earth, including supposed descendants of Peter.
-John 21:15–17 does not center on conferring a special primacy upon Peter. Instead, it recounts Peter's threefold confession of faith, mirroring his threefold denial of Christ (Matthew 26:33–34). Far from exalting Peter, the passage reveals his human frailty and failure. If this text signified Peter’s promotion to a higher status, we would expect evident signs of joy or celebration—a reaction notably absent.
-While the Book of Acts showcases Peter's significant contributions to spreading the gospel, no biblical evidence supports the notion that he was granted supremacy over the church. Referring to the pope as the “Good Shepherd” constitutes outright blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ, as such a title belongs solely to Him. Assigning this honor to a human diminishes the divine majesty of Christ and robs Him of the glory that is rightfully His.
- A Refutation Of The Papal Argument From John 21:15–17:
-Peter himself admonished against becoming lords over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:1–5). Christ is identified as the “Chief Shepherd” (John 10:10–16), and Peter referred to Him as the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Scripture unequivocally reserves the title of “Chief Shepherd” for Christ alone. Peter was neither addressed by this title nor did he assume such a role. Therefore, this designation cannot be rightfully applied to any individual claiming to represent Christ on earth, including supposed descendants of Peter.
-John 21:15–17 does not center on conferring a special primacy upon Peter. Instead, it recounts Peter's threefold confession of faith, mirroring his threefold denial of Christ (Matthew 26:33–34). Far from exalting Peter, the passage reveals his human frailty and failure. If this text signified Peter’s promotion to a higher status, we would expect evident signs of joy or celebration—a reaction notably absent.
-While the Book of Acts showcases Peter's significant contributions to spreading the gospel, no biblical evidence supports the notion that he was granted supremacy over the church. Referring to the pope as the “Good Shepherd” constitutes outright blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ, as such a title belongs solely to Him. Assigning this honor to a human diminishes the divine majesty of Christ and robs Him of the glory that is rightfully His.
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