Does the Bible teach the Doctrine of the Papacy?

 

First Cross Examination Rebuttal Statement

 

Ben Rosado

 

 

 

Dear Moses,

 

After our last series of questions and answers, I feel that I have a better understanding of what you are basing your beliefs about the Papacy upon.

 

It seems good to me to explain why we believe that the Papacy is not something made up out of thin air but is actually foretold in the old testament, shown in the new testament, revealed even more thoroughly through the writings of the early Church and finally very reasonable with regard to what people expect from a Church.

 

First of all, the Keys that Jesus gave Simon are foreshadowed in the old testament in the book of Isaiah, chapter 22 verse 22.

 

I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.

 

Here we see that in God's earthly kingdom, the Lord is still the lord but chooses an earthly representative to lead His people.  That is not bad and is what the Lord has chosen to happen for His people.

 

It would be strange to base ones argument against the teaching authority of the Church on the bible when the bible itself shows many examples of how God's people are ruled by the Lord, through His chosen leaders.

 

Now in the New Testament we find many verses which point to a church with authority given to it by God to speak and act in His name.

 

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

 

This is virtually the same blessing given to Simon Peter as that given to the chosen Leader of the Old Testament people of God. 

 

If you were a Jew who studied and loved the old testament, wouldn't you be affected by the words used here by Jesus for Simon, whom Jesus was now changing his name to Rock?

 

To say that the Old Testament blessing for the leader is not the same as to that of Peter is what you could try to speak.  But, for those who sincerely are seeking the Lord's will in this, how clear is the similarity between:

 

I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder

 

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven

 

Remember, it is God who is speaking both times.  Once for the Old Testament people and then again for the New Testament people.  The New Testament church is now to be led by the Holy Spirit along with the leaders of the church.

 

It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us      Acts 15, 28

 

The church is not led only by the holy Spirit, but the decisions on what Christians must do are brought about by the decision of the holy Spirit and the Leaders of the Church.  One cannot exist without the other. 

 

To say that the Holy Spirit can make binding decisions alone is to say that He speaks without the use of people.  It is almost like saying that the Holy Spirit spoke to you without the written bible.  But He cannot speak without the use of God's chosen instruments.

 

And a little more about these keys to the kingdom is important I believe.

 

And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

 

If what you are saying that Jesus is referring to is true:  that the rock is the confession of Jesus as the Christ, then another problem comes to light.

 

Because after that confession Jesus then says to Peter “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven."

 

 

Jesus does not say "I have given you the keys to the kingdom of heaven."  but I will give those keys to you because of your confession of me, and especially because My Heavenly Father speaks through you Simon Peter.

 

Dear one, if the keys to the kingdom of heaven is the confession of Jesus being the Christ, then Peter already has those keys.  That means Jesus would have said "you have the keys to the kingdom of heaven."  But the Lord is not saying anything of this sort.  He says:

 

Because of your relationship to my Father, and your confession in me, you are now a new person.  I change your name to Peter (meaning rock) and upon this rock I will build my church.  And therefore, I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven...

 

The keys have not yet been given.   Those keys of authority spoken of in the Old and New Testament for the leading of God's people and just that:  The power to make decisions that must be followed by all believers.  And Jesus promises them only to Peter.  The Keys are special; they are a particular role in God's earthly kingdom. 

 

But you say:

 

No Jesus gives the keys to everyone.  We all can decide what is allowed and what is not allowed.

 

But is this the example we get in the book of Acts chapter 15?  Some people (real disciples in fact) did not want the gentiles to be allowed to be saved without circumcision.  But who made the binding decision?  It was brought through the one who was given the Keys and supported by the others who God had entrusted to him.

 

For:

 

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

 

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

 

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.

 

It is here that Peter's role as the leader and the earthly community is made even more abundantly obvious.

 

Wouldn't it be funny for you to have been there and said to Jesus "hey I want that mission and authority too."  But Jesus gives this strictly to Simon, Son of Jonah.

 

and again:

 

Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

 

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."

                                                                                                    Luke 5, 3-4

 

The boat is a symbol of the church.  It is from Simon's boat that Jesus teaches and Jesus tells Simon Peter that he will be a fisher of men.

 

Another verse that makes it abundantly clear of Peter's role in the community is found in Lk 22, 31-32

 

"Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,

 

but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers."

 

Jesus prays for Peter alone, that his faith may not fail, and charges him to strengthen the rest of the apostles.

 

There are many more verses that I could bring to show Simon Peter leading the community.  If you cannot accept what has been shown so far, I will be willing to show as many as I can.

 

 

But with regard to making the decisions for the church,  how can you reply that all are commissioned to make these binding decisions when the bible shows only the leaders of the Church making these binding decisions?  And all the while Peter is always at the lead of the church.  If Peter does not lead the church, through Christ's authority, then all the things that Peter says and does seem to mean nothing to you. 

 

After all, what is your definition of leadership?  Peter does everything that a leader does.  No one else is chosen to do what he does.

 

But are you still holding on to the idea that all the apostles have equal authority and Peter included? But I really don't see any evidence of an equal authority among the apostles, the leaders of the Church.  It is Simon who is chosen to be the Chief Apostle and he fulfills that task many, many times throughout the new testament. Peter actually speaks for the group twice as much as all the other apostles combined.  And they are not ever given any specific mission as those which Jesus gives to Peter.   Doesn't this mean anything at all to you? 

 

Is he not the leader of the Apostles?  Maybe it is James since he seems to make a strong statement in Acts 15.  But actually, James is only supporting what Peter says! 

 

Well let me just say a little more.

 

If the early church letters showed a church without an earthly leader, all the while guided by the Holy Spirit, then maybe there could be some way to discourage my reasoning from the bible.

 

But if one reads what the church believed from the years 96 A.D. until lets say 300 A.D. , the church is always having a Chief Pastor, a Pope.  And the Bishops are all there during the early years of the church.

 

Now if you can still claim that there is not teaching authority of the church, then this church which existed in the years 96 A.D. until 300 A.D. cannot be the continuation of the church from the bible.

 

Because, this church believed in having a Pope and had a direct line of succession to Simon Peter and the Apostles.

 

To sum up, my evidence for the Church's authority is to be found in the old testament letters, the new testament letters, and the early church letters.

 

But where is the evidence of a church without a Pope holding the keys of the kingdom?  Does any other church exist during the years 96 A.D. - 300 A.D. ?

 

 

May God grant life giving repentance to all to whom He has chosen to belong to His people.

 

with love in Jesus Christ the Lord,

 

Ben