Quote:
=CutlerB;11148064]Yesterday at our Anglican Bible study (which was
the final one for me), we talked about Matthew 16:13-20 (and the
parallels in Mark and Luke). Discussion focussed on Matthews rendering,
and particularly in the additional words contained therein, which aren't
in Mark and Luke.
Interestingly, nobody really disputed that the Rock here was Peter,
which somewhat astonished me. The minister read a section from William
Barclay's commentary on that
In short, he's saying that Peter was the first Christian, the foundation
of Christendom. I don't agree with this interpretation at all, which I
made clear that evening, but still thought I'd get some comments from
CAF on how best to refute this limited understanding. I mean, surely
there is a level in that text in which Peter is the beginning of the
Christian people, but I would not argue it to be the prominent, let
alone only, meaning.
What do you have to say?
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This is a VERY poor and quite limited understanding:
READ John 21:13-17 AFFIRMATION of Peters Leadership by Christ
Also I have a doc showing 50 Peter bible first: here's an edited section
50 NEW TESTAMENT PROOFS FOR PETRINE PRIMACY AND THE PAPACY
1. Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my church; and the powers of death shall not prevail against
it."
2. Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . ."
The "power of the keys" has to do with ecclesiastical discipline and
administrative authority with regard to the requirements of the faith,
as in Isaiah 22:22 (cf. Is 9:6; Job 12:14; Rev 3:7). From this power
flows the use of censures, excommunication, absolution, baptismal
discipline, the imposition of penances, and legislative powers. Peter's
name occurs first in all lists of apostles (Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14;
Acts 1:13). Matthew even calls him the "first" (10:2). Judas Iscariot is
invariably mentioned last.
5. Peter is almost without exception named first whenever he appears
with anyone else. In one (only?) example to the contrary, Galatians 2:9,
where he ("Cephas") is listed after James and before John, he is
clearly preeminent in the entire context (e.g., 1:18-19; 2:7-8).
6. Peter alone among the apostles receives a new name, Rock, solemnly conferred (Jn 1:42; Mt 16:18).
7. Likewise, Peter is regarded by Jesus as the Chief Shepherd after
Himself (Jn 21:15-17), singularly by name, and over the universal
Church, even though others have a similar but subordinate role (Acts
20:28; 1 Pet 5:2).
9. Peter alone among the apostles is exhorted by Jesus to "strengthen your brethren" (Lk 22:32).
10. Peter first confesses Christ's divinity (Mt 16:16).
11. Peter alone is told that he has received divine knowledge by a special revelation (Mt 16:17).
12. Peter is regarded by the Jews (Acts 4:1-13) as the leader and spokesman of Christianity.
14. Jesus Christ uniquely associates Himself and Peter in the miracle of the tribute-money (Mt 17:24-27).
17. Peter is specified by an angel as the leader and representative of the apostles (Mk 16:7).
21. Peter takes the lead in calling for a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:22).
23. Peter works the first miracle of the Church Age, healing a lame man (Acts 3:6-12).
24. Peter utters the first anathema (Ananias and Sapphira) emphatically affirmed by God (Acts 5:2-11)!
26. Peter is the first person after Christ to raise the dead (Acts 9:40).
29. Peter instructs the other apostles on the catholicity (universality) of the Church (Acts 11:5-17).
30. Peter is the object of the first divine interposition on behalf of
an individual in the Church Age (an angel delivers him from prison -
Acts 12:1-17).
32. Peter presides over and opens the first Council of Christianity, and
lays down principles afterwards accepted by it (Acts 15:7-11).
36. Peter's name is always the first listed of the "inner circle" of the
disciples (Peter, James and John - Mt 17:1; 26:37,40; Mk 5:37; 14:37).
37. Peter is often the central figure relating to Jesus in dramatic
gospel scenes such as walking on the water (Mt 14:28-32; Lk 5:1 ff., Mk
10:28; Mt 17:24 ff.).
38. Peter is the first to recognize and refute heresy, in Simon Magus (Acts 8:14-24).
39. Peter's name is mentioned more often than all the other disciples
put together: 191 times (162 as Peter or Simon Peter, 23 as Simon, and 6
as Cephas). John is next in frequency with only 48 appearances, and
Peter is present 50% of the time we find John in the Bible! Archbishop
Fulton Sheen reckoned that all the other disciples combined were
mentioned 130 times. If this is correct, Peter is named a remarkable 60%
of the time any disciple is referred to!
40. Peter's proclamation at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41) contains a fully
authoritative interpretation of Scripture, a doctrinal decision and a
disciplinary decree concerning members of the "House of Israel" (2:36) -
an example of "binding and loosing."
42. Peter is the first to preach Christian repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38).
43. Peter (presumably) takes the lead in the first recorded mass baptism (Acts 2:41).
44. Peter commanded the first Gentile Christians to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48).
47. Peter acts, by strong implication, as the chief bishop/shepherd of the Church (1 Pet
5:1), since he exhorts all the other bishops, or "elders."
50. Peter wrote his first epistle from Rome, according to most scholars,
as its bishop, and as the universal bishop (or, pope) of the early
Church. "Babylon" (1 Pet 5:13) is regarded as code for Rome.
In conclusion, it strains credulity to think that God would present St.
Peter with such prominence in the Bible, without some meaning and import
for later Christian history; in particular, Church government. The
papacy is the most plausible (we believe actual) fulfillment of this