And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). In reading this verse, many will claim that this is the verse that establishes Peter as the pope of the church. There are many in the sect that has claimed Peter as being the first pope. However, let us examine this and consider the question if Peter was the first pope.
Who is the head?
According to many, the Pope is the head of the church. I have yet to discover any verses that say the pope is the head of the church. I have searched the scriptures even to the point of seeing if Peter is the head of the church. Nothing has pinpointed this at all. However, what we do know is that all authority has been given to Jesus on heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18-20). This leaves no authority for anyone else if all authority has been given to Jesus. We read in Ephesians 4:15 that Christ is the head of the church. It goes on to say in Ephesians 1:22 that Jesus is to be head over the church. The body is represented by the members (you and me). How then can authority be given to the pope or even Peter (as the first pope)? Consider this in thinking about the head of the church. Who is to be the head? Is it Christ or man?
Qualifications for pope
According to man the pope is not to be married have children or anything like this. Priests, cardinals, bishops etc. all fall under this same category and circumstance about being married or having children. Again considering Peter and if he was the first pope think about this: how can he then already be married (Mark 1:29-31). Jesus came and healed Peter’s mother-in-law. How does one have a mother-in-law? I am not trying to sound as if I do not understand but what I do know is that in order for one to have for instance a mother-in-law is that one must be married. Thus if Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law then Peter must have been married.
Paul goes on to talk about apostles taking their wives along with them throughout their traveling in preaching and spreading the gospel. As we read in I Corinthians 9:5 Paul mentions, Peter (also known as Cephas) as being one whom then took his wife on his journeys in preaching the gospel.
Paul also mentions in I Timothy 3 about the qualifications of elders (or bishops) and deacons. Notice what is mentioned in both: A deacon has to be married and also have children. The qualification of an elder is one who is married and has faithful children. This is a direct contradiction of qualifications for a priest, bishop, cardinal, or pope. These individuals according to Catholicism cannot be married nor have children. Wouldn’t this disqualify Peter as being a pope? Wouldn’t this make man changing the law? If Peter had this great authority then they were already pointing out the flaws of Peter. Thus, he couldn’t be a pope according to Catholic doctrine.
Considering the Authority
Again, Jesus states that all authority has been given to him on heaven and earth leaving no authority for man in the religious world. However, man has decided to say that he does have authority. Again looking at Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus states that on this rock I will build my church. Notice it is not churches. Then he goes on to say that, Peter is given the keys. This did not mean that Peter was given the authority over the church. As we just discussed Christ is still the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).
When Christ gave Peter the keys, he was given the power to continue on with the work that Jesus came in this world to do. He came in to establish the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15) which he did in giving his life on the cross. The apostles still had work to do in establishing the physical kingdom that we see today. They taught the doctrine of Christ and told others to do what Jesus commanded while He was here in this world. He told them to believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of sins. This is what Peter and the apostles had to do and set up this physical kingdom but it was all done under Christ’s authority. How can Peter then be the one in authority and control?
Was Peter the first pope? According to the scriptures, we cannot see how this is possible at all. Who is in control? It is Christ as we see throughout the Bible and not Peter! The Bible is to be our guide and I hope as we looked in this discussion that Christ is in authority and not the pope. The pope is one that is not in authority nor has it been authorized in the Bible. The qualifications are not possible but the Bible states that a bishop and preacher can be married and the authority is all with Christ!
He who has an ear to hear let him hear! (Rev. 3:6)
Daniel Sanders
Who is the head?
According to many, the Pope is the head of the church. I have yet to discover any verses that say the pope is the head of the church. I have searched the scriptures even to the point of seeing if Peter is the head of the church. Nothing has pinpointed this at all. However, what we do know is that all authority has been given to Jesus on heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18-20). This leaves no authority for anyone else if all authority has been given to Jesus. We read in Ephesians 4:15 that Christ is the head of the church. It goes on to say in Ephesians 1:22 that Jesus is to be head over the church. The body is represented by the members (you and me). How then can authority be given to the pope or even Peter (as the first pope)? Consider this in thinking about the head of the church. Who is to be the head? Is it Christ or man?
Qualifications for pope
According to man the pope is not to be married have children or anything like this. Priests, cardinals, bishops etc. all fall under this same category and circumstance about being married or having children. Again considering Peter and if he was the first pope think about this: how can he then already be married (Mark 1:29-31). Jesus came and healed Peter’s mother-in-law. How does one have a mother-in-law? I am not trying to sound as if I do not understand but what I do know is that in order for one to have for instance a mother-in-law is that one must be married. Thus if Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law then Peter must have been married.
Paul goes on to talk about apostles taking their wives along with them throughout their traveling in preaching and spreading the gospel. As we read in I Corinthians 9:5 Paul mentions, Peter (also known as Cephas) as being one whom then took his wife on his journeys in preaching the gospel.
Paul also mentions in I Timothy 3 about the qualifications of elders (or bishops) and deacons. Notice what is mentioned in both: A deacon has to be married and also have children. The qualification of an elder is one who is married and has faithful children. This is a direct contradiction of qualifications for a priest, bishop, cardinal, or pope. These individuals according to Catholicism cannot be married nor have children. Wouldn’t this disqualify Peter as being a pope? Wouldn’t this make man changing the law? If Peter had this great authority then they were already pointing out the flaws of Peter. Thus, he couldn’t be a pope according to Catholic doctrine.
Considering the Authority
Again, Jesus states that all authority has been given to him on heaven and earth leaving no authority for man in the religious world. However, man has decided to say that he does have authority. Again looking at Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus states that on this rock I will build my church. Notice it is not churches. Then he goes on to say that, Peter is given the keys. This did not mean that Peter was given the authority over the church. As we just discussed Christ is still the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).
When Christ gave Peter the keys, he was given the power to continue on with the work that Jesus came in this world to do. He came in to establish the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15) which he did in giving his life on the cross. The apostles still had work to do in establishing the physical kingdom that we see today. They taught the doctrine of Christ and told others to do what Jesus commanded while He was here in this world. He told them to believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of sins. This is what Peter and the apostles had to do and set up this physical kingdom but it was all done under Christ’s authority. How can Peter then be the one in authority and control?
Was Peter the first pope? According to the scriptures, we cannot see how this is possible at all. Who is in control? It is Christ as we see throughout the Bible and not Peter! The Bible is to be our guide and I hope as we looked in this discussion that Christ is in authority and not the pope. The pope is one that is not in authority nor has it been authorized in the Bible. The qualifications are not possible but the Bible states that a bishop and preacher can be married and the authority is all with Christ!
He who has an ear to hear let him hear! (Rev. 3:6)
Daniel Sanders
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