Why Does the CC “Assume Peter in the Center of Christ New Covenant”
[QUOTE]Hi Patrick,
By what basis does the Catholic Church assume that the Pope is the valid centre of the covenant of Jesus Christ?
Warmest regards
????[/QUOTE]
It’s a good and a fair question. Thanks for asking.
One ought not be too surprised to find the answer within the Bible and Sacred Tradition; which too is biblical.
1. Traditions must be accepted both as a historical fact and as a necessity for the bible to even exist. First, the Old Testament is entirely based on mouth to mouth Traditional Beliefs being passed from father to son and so on, until it was finally recorded over time.
The New Testament is grounded in the Old Testament Teachings and practices; and because the bible would not be completed until the end of the First Century or early in the second Century; and it would be another couple of hundred years for it to be put is “Canon Form”; that interim had to also rely on Word of Mouth [traditions] for learning and sharing the Faith under the New Covenant. Major communities may have had and used parts of the bible; but much of the evangelized world did not.
1 Cor. 11 2: 2 “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain thetraditions even as I have delivered them to you”
2 Thess. 2: 13 “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren,stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thess 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us
2 Thess. 2: 15-17 “ So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
2. Is understanding a bit about the Devine and Perfect Nature of our God. God does not change. Alter; perhaps, but not “change.”
Malachi) 3:6 “For I am the Lord, and I change not”
James 1:17 “Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration”
3. From these two understandings we can look at a historical foundation for what we term today; ‘the papacy”
First: we ask what is the purpose; the reason for the papacy to exist? The answer seems apparent enough. Ruling and Authoritive Governance.
Second: we ask: Is this an innovation of Christ and or of the Apostles? No, not at all.
Throughout the entire history of man and the “Chosen people” [singular here is signifient]
Exodus 6:7 “And I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the work prison of the Egyptians”
Exodus 16:12 “I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel: say to them: In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.”
God is perfect; unable to error; and has freely Himself chosen “a man” [singular: also signifient] to lead his “chosen people.”
Noe; Abram; Moses, The Judges; Kings like David; Joshua; the Prophets leading up to the High-Priest and then John the Baptist and then Jesus Christ Himself. All men; all singular leaders; All chosen by God to lead His Chosen people
Genesis 6:22 “And Noe did all things which God commanded him”
Genesis 12:4, 7 “So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him: Abram was seventy-five years old when he went forth from Haran. … And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him: To thy seed will I give this land. And he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Genesis 17:5 “Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because I have made thee a father of many nations.” [BUT One people].
2 Samuel 8:11 “And king David dedicated them to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all the nations, which he had subdued”
John.15: 16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you”
Third: We then ought not be surprised that Christ followed what God [he] had already long established. Single man-Leadership, for his chosen people [again singular.]
Forth: We then ask what is the significance “One chosen people” being led by “One God” and God- Chosen man?
The answer lies in the fact that God IS “Perfect and ALL -Knowing.” There is no better; no more sure way of identifying and acepting only One God, with is One set of Faith-beliefs; with His One-chosen people; than to have them led by ONLY One chosen; protected and God-Guided man. “only-ONE” is the critical understanding. There is with “only one,” no room for debate or argument. … How many Gods? ONE! How many chosen people? One; How many Leaders IN CHARGE: Always One. That is the key to Gods way of trying to prevent descent, and otherwise, inevitable errors.
Fifth: Your question suggest a lack of understanding of what the bible; quite clearly makes evident. The fact that the “bible” [which too is a word not appearing in “the bible“]; certainly does not mean or imply that the Lesson is not therein taught.
Matthew 16:15-19 “Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I [God] say to thee: [singular /alone] That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, [singular] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee[singular] the keys of the kingdom of heaven. [ALL of them] And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven”
Critical points of right understanding of this passage. [I will not get into a “pebbles /rock debate here] Christ Spoke Aramaic; and the ONLY translation IS “ROCK.”
1. Jesus ask “All of them”
2. Peter presumes to Speak on Their behalf
3. Jesus confirms; then AFFIRMS this by informing Peter that HE was just “Divinely Inspired”
4. Jesus changes Simons name to “Peter” [meaning “ROCK”]
5. Christ announces that He [our Perfect God] WILL build “his church**] upon Peter [and later adds the other Apostles Mt. 18:18] NOTE: “My church” is singular: “ONE”
** ”church” this is the first use of the term “church” in the bible. Highly signifient because it is saying: “I AM” [Exodus 3:14] starting a New Covenant; a New set of mandated Faith-beliefs; and a New Religious organization“.
Pagans would have their Temples
Jews their Synagogues
MY followers [Christians] their will have “MY-church,” Singular and CLEARLY indicative of a new covenant and a new set of mandated Faith-beliefs; UNDER the leadership of One God chosen man: Peter.
6. Satan will not conquer it! [It is Holy Spirit John 14:16-17; John 20:21-22 AND Christ Personally John 17:15-19 Protected] MY churches teaching on all matters of Faith-beliefs and Morals simply cannot be wrong; cannot be in error: I Christ prohibit it and am warranty for it.
7. “In giving “the keys [plural]” to Peter; Christ is saying that ALL access to heaven WILL BE through him [and successors].
8. The terms “Binding” and Loosing” have two very different meanings: 1. The power and Authority to Forgive sins [John 17:18 & John 20:19-23] 2. Unlimited Power of Governance; answerable to ONLY “the King” {Jesus Himself]. NOTE: This was practical, as well as a Divine mandate. Christ would soon be Crucified; Die; Rise again on the 3td. Day and then after 40 days return “to the Father.” The Incarnation; the Passion and the Resurrection and Ascension, would have been of little value if Christ had not set into place a organizational structure to insure its continuance.
Nowhere does the bible and or history give evidence of arguments about Peters Authority, I am attaching a document showing 50 “Peter First” and another on the early Church Fathers on the primacy; and a third document explaining in great detail “The Key’s” significance.
My friend; if after reviewing all of this you still think “catholics assume” the role of thr papacy; please let me know why?
God Bless you,
Pat Miron
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