Roman Catholic Claim
The apostles, fulfilling Jesus’ will,
ordained bishops, priests, and deacons and
thus handed on their apostolic ministry to
them—the fullest degree of ordination
to the bishops, lesser degrees to the priests
and deacons. Jesus gave Peter special authority
among the apostles (John 21:15-17) and signified
this by changing his name from Simon to Peter,
which means ‘rock’ (John 1:42).
He said Peter was to be the rock on which
he would build his Church (Matt. 16:18).
In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, Simon’s
new name was Kepha (which means a massive
rock). Later this name was translated into
Greek as Petros (John 1:42) and into English
as Peter. Christ gave Peter alone the "keys
of the kingdom" (Matt. 16:19) and promised
that Peter's decisions would be binding in
heaven. He also gave similar power to the
other apostles (Matt. 18:18), but only Peter
was given the keys, symbols of his authority
to rule the Church on earth in Jesus’
absence.
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Christian Response
Rome confidently
claims this interpretation as if it had been the uniform
historical interpretation of the Church. But it is
not. For evidence of this, contemplate the interpretations
of Origen and Augustine on these verses and ask yourself,
“How could Origen and Augustine be so wrong
about something that had been clear since apostolic
times? Had they missed a universal truth? Or had that
universal truth not been ‘discovered’
yet?”
“And if
we too have said like Peter, "Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God," not as
if flesh and blood had revealed it unto us, but
by light from the Father in heaven having shone
in our heart, we become a Peter, and to us there
might be said by the Word, "Thou art Peter,"
etc. For a rock is every disciple of Christ of whom
those drank who drank of the spiritual rock which
followed them, and upon every such rock is built
every word of the church, add the polity in accordance
with it; for in each of the perfect, who have the
combination of words and deeds and thoughts which
fill up the blessedness, is the church built by
God. But if you suppose that upon that one Peter
only the whole church is built by God, what would
you say about John the son of thunder or each one
of the Apostles? Shall we otherwise dare to say,
that against Peter in particular the gates of Hades
shall not prevail, but that they shall prevail against
the other Apostles and the perfect? Does not the
saying previously made, "The gates of Hades
shall not prevail against it," hold in regard
to all and in the case of each of them? And also
the saying, "Upon this rock I will build My
church"? Are the keys of the kingdom of heaven
given by the Lord to Peter only, and will no other
of the blessed receive them? But if this promise,
"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom
of heaven," be common to the others, how shall
not all the things previously spoken of, and the
things which are subjoined as having been addressed
to Peter, be common to them? For in this place these
words seem to be addressed as to Peter only, "Whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,"
etc; but in the Gospel of John the Saviour having
given the Holy Spirit unto the disciples by breathing
upon them said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit,"
etc. ...And if any one says this to Him, not by
flesh and blood revealing it unto Him but through
the Father in heaven, he will obtain the things
that were spoken according to the letter of the
Gospel to that Peter, but, as the spirit of the
Gospel teaches, to every one who becomes such as
that Peter was.” (Origen, Commentary on Matthew,
12:10-11)
“But whom
say ye that I am? Peter answered, ‘Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ One
for many gave the answer, Unity in many. Then said
the Lord to him, ‘Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjonas: for flesh and blood hath not revealed
it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.’
Then He added, ‘and I say unto thee.’
As if He had said, ‘Because thou hast said
unto Me, ‘Thou art the Christ the Son of the
living God,” I also say unto thee, ‘Thou
art Peter.” For before he was called Simon.
Now this name of Peter was given him by the Lord,
and in a figure, that he should signify the Church.
For seeing that Christ is the rock (petra), Peter
is the Christian people. For the rock (petra) is
the original name. Therefore Peter is so called
from the rock; not the rock from Peter; as Christ
is not called Christ from the Christian, but the
Christian from Christ. ‘Therefore,’
he saith, ‘Thou art Peter; and upon this Rock’
which thou hast confessed, upon this rock which
thou hast acknowledged, saying, ‘Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God, will I build
My Church;’ that is upon Myself, the Son of
the Living God, ‘will I build My Church.’
I will build thee upon Myself, not Myself upon Thee.”
(Augustine, Sermon 26).
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