Does the Bible teach the Doctrine of the Papacy?

 

Affirmative Opening Statement

 

Ben Rosado

 

 

 

Dear Moses,

 

I am glad to have passed through the first stage in our dialog.  At the least, I do feel that we ahve both come to the conclusion that we are both zealous for the Lord and both feel that His true message should be proclaimed.  And neither one of us is insincere about this.

 

So, as promised, the next chapter will be about the papacy.  I have much to say to about this, and I hope you can understand what I want to show.  May love guide our hearts into this sharing between us both.

 

So without further adieu, my apologetics on the papacy to you.

 

 

 

As you righty brought up, this conversation has a good stage set using the verses from Matthew 16, 13-19. 

 

In verse 18 we find:

 

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

 

Now mauc has been said about this as any faithful apologist can show.  I beleive that it is my duty to defend the catholic assertion that Jesus changed Simon's role in the community when He changed his name. 

 

Here are the reasons why I believe that this name change signifies a special role for Simon:

 

1) When Jesus spoke this phrase, He was speaking aramaic.  In aramaic, there is not difference betwwen the words stone or rock.  So there is only the word rock.  Jesus really did say both the same thing when we said Peter and rock.  Jesus used the same word in the verse above. 

 

So for someone to say that these are two different things that Christ is talking about leads me to an unclear reading of the scripture.  I must at this point tell you Moses, that I am now about to use to my best ability, the very thing you have been saying all along in my defense.

 

You have said over and over again that the scriptures are clear and easy to understand.  Their meaning is clear and straightforward.  If that is the case, you can read this verse in a very straightforward way.  What I mean to say to you is this:

 

Jesus says to Simon:  I change your name to rock.

 

                                And on this rock I will build my church.

 

                                                    Can anything be more straightforward and unclear than that?

 

Jesus says to be as children.  Does this mean to be unwise?  No of course not.  It does mean something else though.  It means to accept the kingdom like child.  I don't know about you, but I have a neice.  She is three years old.  I try to tell hear about things.  Now if I tried to tell her that what Jesus said in verse 18, using Jesus own language (aramaic).  I'll bet you that she would beleive that the rock that Jesus was building His kingdom upon was Simon.  Because his name was changed in this verse.  Why in this verse?  Why not somewhere else in scripture?  But why, for heavens sake, did Jesus change Simon's name to rock and then right afterwards say

 

and upon this rock I will build my church.

 

This should be considered deception if it meant anything other than that Jesus meant He would build His church upon Simon Peter.

 

This is because the word and connects those who parts of the sentence.  This makes the connection between upon this rock fall upon the previous part: I change you name to rock. 

 

For me, as simple as I am, this verse means what is says.  It means that Jesus changed Simon's name right here for a purpose, because He was doing something for him.  Jesus was blessing Simon.

 

And do you know that that name rock was never given to a human being before this day?  That name, rock, was reserved for God alone.  The Jewish people called God their rock.  And naturally because God is our great defense and help, our stronghold.  But brother, my point is easy to see:

 

Jesus gave Simon the name that had once been only used for God.  Why would Jesus do such a thing???  How awful it must have been for the jews to hear Jesus use such a word for a mere human.  It seemed to be equating Simon with being the Rock, the fortress and safety of the people. 

 

So, there is a great thing being done to Simon when his name is changed to rock. 

 

And notice my argument is only so far about the fact that his name was changed to rock.  Simply that.  Something new happened to Simon.  Jesus was blessing Him, and He wasn't done yet.

 

So let me ask you a question about what I have brought up so far Moses.

 

Can you really claim that Jesus wasn't speaking clearly in this instance?

 

I hope that you are praying for conversion to take place.  I promise you that I am.

 

with love,

Ben