- Defining The Issues:
-The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ made the Apostle Peter its first pope and that He had built His church upon him. It is also asserted that Jesus gave Peter a unique position of authority over His church, which was supposed to get passed on through "apostolic succession" to present-day popes (thereby establishing the concept of an infallible church). These claims to authority made by Rome have spewed a great deal of controversy with the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches.
- General Absence Of The Papal Office Throughout The New Testament:
-The New Testament contains various passages discussing the types of offices and qualifications necessary for obtaining such positions in the church (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 2 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Timothy 5:1-19; Titus 1:5-9). Yet, the concept of a pope is absent in these contexts. Paul does not distinguish Peter from the other apostles in the lists where that specific role is mentioned. Scripture describes individual congregations as being ruled by pluralities of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:28; 1 Timothy 5:17). Moreover, the New Testament says nothing regarding the establishment or existence of a one-head bishop hierarchical church structure. There is no mention of a single human leader rightly claiming to have been bestowed a gift of infallible teaching authority.
- General Absence Of Papal Titles Throughout The New Testament:
*Some may argue that the Apostle Peter avoided these titles because he was humble and modest. But if that is the case, then why do modern popes refuse to follow Peter's example? The truth of the matter is that the Lord Jesus Christ forbade the practice (Matthew 23:8-12).
*Jesus is the "Chief Shepherd" of the "flock" (John 10:10; 14-16), not the pope.
*Christ is the "head of the church" (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15; 5:23-25), not the pope. Roman Catholics believe that he is the "visible" head of the church and that Christ is the "invisible" head. However, Scripture reserves no such position for any man. The kingdom of God is spiritual and so does not require a single earthly leader to guide it.
*Jesus is the "Chief Shepherd" of the "flock" (John 10:10; 14-16), not the pope.
*Christ is the "head of the church" (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15; 5:23-25), not the pope. Roman Catholics believe that he is the "visible" head of the church and that Christ is the "invisible" head. However, Scripture reserves no such position for any man. The kingdom of God is spiritual and so does not require a single earthly leader to guide it.
- The Apostle Peter Did Not Behave As If He Were A Pope:
- The Absence Of Papal Office In Contexts Relating To Church Unity:
-Paul never mentioned the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church as being the means of preserving ecclesiastical unity in passages relating to that very topic (Ephesians 4:4-7; Philippians 4:2-3). Jesus Christ does not refer to a Papacy in His prayer to God for unity amongst brethren (John 17). That should make one doubt whether the papal office existed in the first century.
- The Apostle Peter Viewed Himself As Having No Supremacy Over The Church:
*Peter did not seem to recognize himself as having an exalted position over other elders in the church, but instead spoke as if he had the same authority as they did. He certainly was not aware of any special authority bestowed upon him by Christ if he did, in fact, have it. This casts doubt on any idea that he was the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Peter Was Sent By Others To Travel And Preach The Gospel:
*It the Apostle Peter was the first pope, then why would he take orders from men who were allegedly lower in the chain of command than himself?
- The Apostle Paul Worked Harder Than Peter:
-"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10).
*If the Apostle Peter was the first pope, then why did he not write more Scripture?
- The Apostle Peter Was Only Known As The Apostle To The Jews:
- The Apostle Paul Rebuked Peter As Though He Were His Equal:
- Paul Never Mentioned Or Greeted "Pope Peter" In His Epistle To The Romans:
- The Apostle Peter Himself Seemed To Be Unaware Of Apostolic Succession:
-"I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder." (2 Peter 1:13)
-"And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind." (2 Peter 1:15)
-"This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles." (2 Peter 3:1-2)
*How come Peter failed to mention his papal office in the two epistles that he authored?
-"And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind." (2 Peter 1:15)
-"This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles." (2 Peter 3:1-2)
*How come Peter failed to mention his papal office in the two epistles that he authored?
- The Apostle Peter Did Not Exclusively Exercise Authority In Church Government:
-"In Acts 11 Peter is called to answer for his actions in going to Cornelius' house. Does he give evidence of Papal prerogatives here? Does he answer as Innocent III, or Alexander VI? Hardly. There is no mention of his position as Pope. Instead, rather than pleading his position as Vicar of Christ, Peter relates the supernatural vision and direction that had been given to him to proclaim the gospel message to the Gentiles. This no more makes Peter a Pope than Paul's guiding vision in Acts 16." (James R. White, The Roman Catholic Controversy, p. 112)
The popes actually took their titles from Constantine. Constantine was known as the “vicar of Christ” (another Christ - representative of Christ) and the papacy took over this title. He was also the head of the pagan priesthood, with the title of Pontifex Maximus, another title taken by the papacy.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Jesse!
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about Peter not using any exalted title of himself because he was just being humble. And you asked, then why don't modern popes do the same?!!!
Yeah, great question!
Keep up the good work.