There’s No Such Thing as a Legitimate Pope; Peter Wasn’t the First Pope
The debates among splinter groups from the Roman Catholic Church over who the legitimate pope is, or whether there is even a legitimate pope at all now, are irrelevant due to how the Bible does not teach that Peter was the first pope nor does it give legitimacy to any papal office.
Look at the main verse which those who believe that Peter is the first pope must go to in making such a claim. Jesus tells Simon Peter in 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.”
Let’s analyze this. Peter is “Petros” in the Greek text here. Whether this should be translated as stone or rock is not the main issue because Jesus didn’t say the church would be built upon Petros. Jesus rather used a different word when He spoke of the rock His church would be built upon. That word is “Petra.” Peter was not called Petra. Petra is speaking of a very great rock. It is even used to speak of Jesus again in 1 Corinthians 10:4.
The verse that is used by many to justify the office of the pope, and to claim that Peter was the first pope, actually relates Jesus telling Peter that he would be a significant stone as Jesus built His church upon the great rock which is Himself.
The event which preceded Matthew 16:18 was Peter recognizing Jesus as the Christ due to how Peter had truly learned this of the Father. It was already implied and understood well by Peter then that Jesus Himself is the great Rock. He is the Supreme authority, the Author of salvation, the One whom all people must deal with to either their own rescue or utter destruction.
Look at what Peter himself taught the first century Christians in 1 Peter 2:4-6: “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”
Jesus Himself is the chief cornerstone of His church. Peter and other faithful believers in Him are lively stones built upon Him. It is irrational to claim that Christ’s church is built upon a man who openly acknowledged that Jesus Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone of His own church. Peter never called himself more than an Apostle of Jesus Christ and a Christian elder (see 1 Peter 1:1 and Peter 5:1).
Jesus’ Apostles defined the Christian faith in the New Testament- as He told them that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth in John 16:13. This has already been done. The faith is set forth in the Bible- available for anyone who wills to understand and walk in. That would not be the case if the gates of hell had prevailed against Christ’s authentic church. Yet the multiple Pagan elements of the Roman Catholic Church, other compromises with sin, and other unscriptural innovations therein also indicate that the gates of hell have prevailed against it.
Aaron’s email is: [email protected]
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