Papal Authority

The Catholic Church asserts that Peter was the rock on which God built the worldwide Church. Their belief is that the following scripture established Peter as the first Pope.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

However, Peter interpreted the above conversation in a different way. Peter wrote that the primary rock (cornerstone) of the Church is Jesus. He further identified Christ as being “the living stone” and believers as being “like living stones.”

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:4-6)

Peter’s interpretation was consistent with the Old Testament, which also identified the “rock” as being the Lord. Isaiah wrote, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:4)

In a similar manner, Apostle Paul identified the primary rock (cornerstone) as being Christ. Paul wrote that the Church was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20)

The infallibility of the Pope is a central Catholic doctrine. Yet the doctrine of “Pope Peter” was flawed. Had this doctrinal error continued, circumcision would be a requirement for male believers today. Concerning this error, Paul wrote, “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” (Galatians 2:11)

That Jesus made Peter the first Pope is – if nothing else – historically inaccurate.

The position of Pontifex Maximus (supreme Pontiff) was established centuries before Christ. The College of Pontiffs was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members included the highest-ranking priests and Vestal Virgins. Even today, Popes are appointed by this same group – the College of Pontiffs.

Caesar Augustus was the Pontiff at the time of Jesus’ birth. Scripture records concerning the time of Jesus’ birth… “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” (Luke 2:1)

Today, the Pope’s garments contain designer crosses and pagan symbols. Jesus ridiculed Jewish leaders who wore robes with “phylacteries and tassels” to make themselves appear holy.

“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. (Matthew 23:5-9)

Jesus described both the Pharisees (Rabbis) of yesterday, and Catholic Priests (Fathers) of today.