A) PETER, THE FIRST POPE.

B) TWO OTHER TEXTS TO CONSIDER.

C) MATTHEW 16:18.

D) MATTHEW 16:19.

E) MATTHEW 18:18.

F) JOHN 20:23.

G) ON A SIDE NOTE.

 

 

A) PETER, THE FIRST POPE

 

 

First, did you know that the Official Roman Catholic church, in their officially established doctrinal publication, “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Ignatius Press, page 116 (page 129 in 2nd edition by “Doubleday”), and in “St. Athanasius De Inc.” 54, 3: PG 25, 192B; “St. Thomas Aquinas, Opusc.” 57:1-4; and “St. Irenaeus, Adv. Haeres,” 3, 19, 1:PG71, 939, states, “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.”  Apparently, the Mormons learned this false doctrine from the Roman Catholics.

 

In my understanding of Catholicism, Peter, Mary, and others are only “mediators” for the believers.  However, the Word of God teaches, “For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”  First Timothy 2:5.

 

It is argued by Roman Catholics that Peter is the acknowledged leader of the infant Church.  By contrast, the Bible presents an entirely different picture in regards to Who had the ultimate responsibility of deciding the course in which the Church was to go (understanding that the Supreme guide is always The Holy Spirit).

 

In Galatians 2:9, we find three prominent figures portrayed as “pillars,” or rather leaders if you will, of the Church (“James, Cephas, and John”).  In Acts 12:17, we read:  “But he [Peter], beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.  And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren.”  It is interesting to note that Peter specifically emphasized to them that they should tell “James.”  We learn why he singled out “James” from Acts 15:13, where “James” is the spokesman for the Church and clearly the leader from what he says in verse 19:  “Wherefore my sentence is. . .”  This is judgment language, which places “James” as the acknowledged leader of the fledgling Church; and NOT Peter.

 

In Acts 21:18, is another indication that “James,” and not Peter, is still in charge and understood as the main leader in the Church:  “And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.”  Note that “all the elders were present,” but “James” is the one singled out once again.  Paul never lost sight of the fact that as far as he was concerned, “James” was clearly the leader of the Church.  For he states it again in First Corinthians 15:7:  “After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.”  Notice again how Paul singles out “James” as being the leader of the fledgling Church.  Now if we continue on with the narrative in Galatians, Chapter 2, we find in verse 12, that it is “James” that has the authority to tell Peter where to go; and not the other way around:  “For before that certain came from James. . .”  The narrative is clear that “that certain” is referring to Peter.  Other verses that show this to be the case are Acts 12:17; 21:18; Galatians 2:9 (mentioned first; typical of Jewish authority); Galatians 2:12.

 

All of these references would lead us to KNOW that “James” stood in a position of supreme authority in the mother-Church at Jerusalem, the oldest Church of Christendom.  He presides in the assemblies of the Church.  He speaks the final and authoritative word.  Peter and Paul defer to him.  And Paul mentions his name before that of Peter and John.  When he was exalted to this leadership we do not know, but all indications seem to point to the fact that at a very early period “James” was the recognized executive authority in the Church at Jerusalem; which was the Church of Pentecost and the Church of the Apostles.  All Jews looked to Jerusalem as the chief seat of their worship and the central authority of their religion.  All Christian Jews would look to Jerusalem as the primitive source of their organization and faith.  Moreover, they would recognize the head of the Church at Jerusalem as their chief authority.

 

 

B) TWO OTHER TEXTS TO CONSIDER

 

 

TWO OTHER TEXTS need to be considered in the Bible in regards to Peter as being the authority figure of the newly established Church:  MATTHEW 16:18 & 19.  Let’s look at Matthew 16:18 first:

 

 

C) MATTHEW 16:18

 

 

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon This Rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

 

The first “and” that we come to, in the original Greek is “Kai,” and could be translated “but.”  Now let’s see how the text reads “if” this rendering is closer to the original and compare its meaning with the rest of Scripture to make sure we are not creating a new thought contrary to the rest of God’s Word.  “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, But [instead of “and”] upon This Rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  This makes it clear that “This Rock” is Christ referring to Himself as the “Rock.”

 

Peter himself presents the clearest evidence of all and points us to the true “Rock,” Christ Jesus.  He “speaks” of Christ as the foundational “Rock” in Acts 4:10-12b, where we read:  “(10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the Stone [certainly no one will say that Peter here refers to the “lame man,” Acts 3:2 & 11, yet they must, if the same reasoning is to apply when trying to assert the assumption that Peter is the “Rock” in Matthew 16:18-19] which was set at nought of you builders which is become the Head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  And that “Name” is not Peter, but “Jesus.”

 

Also, Peter writes of this in First Peter 2:6-8 & 21:  “[6] Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner Stone [Peter is not here directing his readers to himself, but to Christ as our ONLY Savior], elect, precious; and he that believeth on Him [Jesus, NOT Peter] shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe He [Christ] is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone [NOT Peter] which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, [8] And a Stone [Christ] of stumbling, and a Rock [Jesus] of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed [WHY?]. [21] For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us [Here Peter clearly identifies Who the Stone is], leaving us an example, that ye should follow His [NOT Peter’s] steps.”

 

Immediately after Peter’s great confession of Christ as the Son of God, Jesus spoke the Words of this text, “Thou art Peter” and Jesus used the same Greek word that is used 161 times in the New Testament for Simon Peter -- “Petros.”  In fact, the word “Petros” is never used for any other purpose in the New Testament than to designate Peter.  The name means “pebble” or “rolling stone,” (see Romans 9:33 and First Peter 2:8) and also a “large stone,” such as that used in John 1:42 of Peter.  But then, after Jesus called Peter by his name “Petros,” He stated, “upon This Rock I will build My Church.”  Noticing that here Christ used the word “petra,” for the word translated “Rock.”  In the Bible no human being is ever called “petra,” meaning “solid rock, large stone,” except Jesus.

 

The word “petra” denotes a very large, unmoving boulder; a veritable Gibraltar!  This word is usually used to describe Jesus Christ (see Rom. 9:33; 1Co. 3:11; 10:4) as the unmovable “Rock” of Scripture, and not Peter, as Peter himself testifies (see above paragraph again).  That “This Rock” is referring only to God, let’s look at First Samuel 2:2:  “There is none Holy as the LORD:  for there is none beside Thee:  neither is there any Rock [Peter not even being alive yet] like our God.”

 

In Isaiah 28:16, the same reference is made:  “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone, a sure foundation.”  It is the same “Stone” to which reference is made in Luke 20:17-18:  “(17) And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?”  Now who was rejected, Peter or Christ?  Continuing:  “(18) Whosoever shall fall upon that Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”  This is the Work of Christ.  Also in Mark 12:10-11:  “(10) And have ye not read this Scripture, The Stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner [a clear reference to Christ]. (11) This was the Lord’s doing [Who’s doing? Surely not Peter’s], and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

 

These texts prove conclusively that Christ is the only “Rock” upon which the true Church is to be built upon.  And in His address to Peter, Christ referred to Himself as the “Rock” that is the true foundation of the Church.  In other words, the Church was not built upon the unstable “Petros” (Peter), or any other human of fallibility.  Even a few verses later (Mat. 16:23) we find Peter being rebuked for his unstableness.

 

In considering Christ’s statement in Matthew 23:8, we can be assured that Peter (nor any man) was never to incur headship, for:  “Jesus addressed these Words to the twelve, in the hearing of the multitude.  And while they were also designed to impress the disciples with the great truth, that should be felt in all coming time, that Christ is the only head of the Church.”  PY:400 & PY:464 (James White).

 

“This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world, -- the question of apostolic succession.  Descent from Abraham was proved, not by name and lineage, but by likeness of character [John 8:39].  So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority, but upon spiritual relationship.  A life actuated by the apostles’ spirit, the belief and teaching of the truth they taught, this is the true evidence of apostolic succession.  This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel.”  DA:467.

 

“Had Jesus delegated any special authority to one of them, we would not find them so frequently contending among themselves as to who should be greatest.”  2SP:273.2.

 

 

D) MATTHEW 16:19

 

 

Our SECOND Bible text to consider is MATTHEW 16:19:  “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven:  and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven:  and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”  To take this passage literally, as ROMAN Catholics do in regard to the “keys,” is also to ascribe to Peter that he is literally Satan (see verse 23), and therefore all ROMAN Catholics must also follow with the Biblical fact that Peter equals Satan!  We shall not go so far as to be that ridiculous.

 

Christ is the only One Who has the authority to give the “keys,” because they were given to Him (see Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7).  He gives to all, not just Peter, the keys “of knowledge” of what is required for salvation.  Luke 11:52 states:  “Woe unto you, lawyers!  For ye have taken away the key of knowledge:  ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”  As the apostles went forth to proclaim the Gospel, according to the commission entrusted to them (see Mat. 28:19-20), they were to teach converts “to observe all things whatsoever” Matthew 28:20, Christ had commanded them, no more and no less!  Therefore, remember that Christ is here speaking of the “key” in Matthew 16:19, in the same manner of speech as the “key of knowledge” in Luke 11:52.  In other words, how to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, of which the “key” is to be given to every believer, not just Peter.  “The words of Christ. . . were not just addressed to Peter alone, but to the disciples, including those who compose the Christian Church in all ages.”  2SP:273; 3ST:495.

 

As with all Scripture, we must compare “line upon line; here a little, and there a little,” Isaiah 28:10, and understand God’s Word by “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” First Corinthians 2:13.  Therefore, any similar texts must be considered when evaluating this one, such as Matthew 18:18 and John 20:23.

 

 

E) MATTHEW 18:18

 

 

Matthew 18:18 states:  “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”  The original Greek for this text should literally be translated as:  “Truly I say to you, whatever things ye bind on the earth shall be, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever things ye loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.”  In other words, if it was already approved in Heaven, then whatsoever you “bind” under those preapproved conditions of Heaven, will also be approved by our Lord on earth.

 

Before this statement our Lord had said, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”  Matthew 18:15.  From the context it is INDISPUTABLE from any standpoint that this Scripture applies to any individual Christian against whom a brother may trespass.  Then follows this conclusion, addressed to the Christian, whoever he may be, to whom the foregoing admonition may apply:  “Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be (having been) bound in Heaven.”

 

The question is, BOUND TO WHAT?  The answer is, you have bound your brother to you in Christian Love, by the power of the Holy Spirit through obedience to our Lord’s Word.  Therefore, you have bound him to Christ!  “And whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be (having been) loosed in Heaven.”  LOOSED FROM WHAT?  Loosed from the sin of trespassing against a brother, which means a trespass against Christ (see Mat. 25:34-46).

 

 

F) JOHN 20:23

 

 

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”  John 20:23.  “. . .who can forgive sins but God only?”  Mark 2:7.  Because of Mark’s statement, we can know that “sins” in John 20:23, should be translated as, “trespasses,” against a brother, not his “sins.”

 

It is the privilege of every Christian to be instrumental in loosing souls from the thralldom of sin, and in binding them to Jesus.  Therefore, in John 20:23, the matter of sins being remitted or retained must be decided by the action of those who hear the Gospel, whether they believe or reject the calling of the Holy Spirit.  This is all that the Christian can do, even though he is an apostle, or “an angel from Heaven,” Galatians 1:8.  Our original verse of Matthew 16:19 may now be more clear to us as read in the original Greek:  “whatever things ye bind on the earth shall be, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever things ye loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.”  In other words, you are only, and should only, be doing the Will of God.  That is, whatsoever He has approved of in Heaven you can now support and authorize upon earth.

 

“[244] Jesus, in giving the disciples their first commission, had said, ‘I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou (referring to responsible men who should represent His Church) shall bind upon earth shall be bound in Heaven. . .’  In renewing the commission of those to whom He had imparted the Holy Ghost [ONLY], He said, [John 20:23] ‘Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. . .’  Jesus did not, by this assurance, give the apostles or their successors power to forgive sins, as [245] His representatives. . . The Saviour taught that His is the Only Name given under Heaven whereby men shall be saved. . .

 

“No man was to exercise an arbitrary power over another man’s conscience.  Christ gave no ecclesiastical right to forgive sin, nor to sell indulgences, that men may sin without incurring the displeasure of God, nor did He give His servants liberty to accept a gift or bribe for cloaking sin, that it may escape merited censure.  Jesus charged His disciples to preach the remission of sin in His Name [ONLY] among all nations; but they themselves were not empowered to remove one stain of sin from the children of Adam. . . Whoever would attract the people to himself as one in whom is invested power to forgive sins, incurs the wrath of God, for he turns souls away from [246] the Heavenly Pardoner to a weak and erring mortal.

 

“Jesus showed His disciples that only as they should partake of His Spirit, and be assimilated to His merciful character, would they be endowed with spiritual discernment and miraculous power.  All their strength and wisdom must come from Him. . . [247] 

 

“The Church is empowered to absolve sins only in the sense of assuring the repenting sinner of the forgiving mercy of the Saviour. . . Such a remission is ratified by Heaven.”  3SP:244-247.

 

The most important thing to remember here, according to the Word of God Itself, only God has the power to forgive man of his sins (see Mat. 9:6; Mark 2:7 & 10; Luke 5:21 & 24; otherwise, you titter on “Blasphemy”).  The true sense of this forgiveness that our Lord was speaking of is found in the principles and context of Luke 17:3-4 (see also 2Co. 2:7).  This is the only power given to man to “forgive” any other man his trespasses against another; but not their sins.  However, see the following.

 

The key to understanding John 20:23, is found in the two verses proceeding it.  “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”  John 20:21.  How had the Father sent the Son into the world?  Was it to speak His Own Words?  Jesus said, “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a Commandment, what I should Say, and what I should Speak.”  John 12:49.

 

Again, Christ said, “I do nothing of Myself:  but as My Father hath taught Me, I Speak these Things.”  John 8:28.  And still again our Lord states:  “My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.”  John 7:16.  Continuing on:  “I came down from Heaven not to do Mine Own Will but the Will of Him that sent Me.”  John 6:38.  Clearly then, Jesus sent His disciples as the Father sent Him.  They were not to speak their own words, but Christ’s only.  Therefore, “who can forgive sins but God only?”  Mark 2:7.  For us to then place any of this type of authority upon mere man is to totally misunderstand this passage.  Read Mark 2:7 again.

 

The apostle Paul said that he was only an “ambassador” for Christ (1Co. 5:18-20).  An “ambassador” cannot speak his own words, but only the words of the One he represents.  As an “ambassador” for Christ, one can only carry Christ’s Word to the people.  This is the only way any one can remit anyone’s “sins/trespasses.”  He can pass along Christ’s Word about forgiveness and assure them of acceptance as they meet the requirements of the Word (Law of God).

 

Thus, we can see that Jesus was speaking of the influence of the Holy Spirit that would draw all men to Christ and direct the disciple’s decisions.  And “whosesoever sins ye retain. . . are retained” because, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin:  but now they have no cloak for their sin.”  John 15:22.  Their sins “are retained” because they refuse the invitation of the Holy Spirit, and what Jesus’ sacrifice makes available for them.  Not because of anything mere man has said or could do for a fellow man.  “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  James 4:17.

 

“The lesson here given to the disciples means that wise men, truely taught of God, possessing the inward working of the Holy Spirit, are to act as representative men, samples of the whole body of believers.  These are to show themselves capable of preserving due order in the Church; and the Holy Spirit will convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement.  But the remission of sins is to be understood as the prerogative of God alone.  The warnings in the Seventh Chapter of Matthew [Mat. 7:1-2] forbid men to pronounce judgment on their fellow men.  God has not given His servants power to cast down or to destroy.  The apostles were unable to remove the guilt from any soul.”  RH, June 13, 1899.

 

“Christ here [John 20:23] gives no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others.  In the Sermon on the Mount [Mat. 7:1-2] He forbade this.  It is the prerogative of God.  But on the {TRUE} Church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for the individual members.  Toward those who fall into sin, the {TRUE} Church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore.  ‘Reprove, rebuke, exhort,’ the Lord says, ‘with all long-suffering and doctrine.’  2Ti. 4:2.”  DA:805.

 

“Let the repentance of the sinner be accepted by the {TRUE} Church with grateful hearts.  Let the repenting one be led out from the darkness of unbelief into the light of faith and righteousness.  Let his trembling hand be placed in the Loving hand of Jesus.  Such a remission is ratified in Heaven.  Only in this sense has the {TRUE} Church power to absolve the sinner.  Remission of sins can be obtained only through the merits of Christ.  To no man, to no body of men, is given power to free the soul from guilt.  Christ charged His disciples to preach the remission of sins in His Name among all nations; but they themselves were not empowered to remove one stain of sin.  The Name of Jesus is the only ‘Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’  Acts 4:12.”  DA:806.

 

 

G) ON A SIDE NOTE

 

 

According to Hilton William Cooper, in his book, “Behold A Pale Horse,” “During World War II a Polish salesman working for G. Farben Chemical Company, sold cyanide, Zyklon B and malathion to the Nazi’s to help exterminate the Jews at Auschwitz.  After the war he feared for his life, so he joined the Catholic church and became a priest in 1946.  In 1958 he was ordained as Poland’s youngest bishop.  In 1978, after just 33 days, Pope John Paul (Albino Luciani) was assassinated and he [the Polish salesman] became Pope John Paul II.”

 

G. Farben later became “Bayer Aspirin.”  Bayer Aspirin later in 1901, became “Monsanto;” the greatest violator of chemicals against human rights; among the first to genetically modify a plant cell.