SIMON PETER JESUS APOSTLE AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'S BIGGEST CONTROVERSY
76ROCK OF AGES
JESUS CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION ROCK; NOT PETER
MATTHEW: 16: 13-19
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?' And they said, some say thou are John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, 'But whom do you say that I am?' And Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And i will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
From this most widely known and most famous Holy Bible Text, the Roman Catholic Church extracted the following lines: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona" (and married it with) "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."
The Roman Catholic Church may be based upon Christianity and Christian beliefs to a degree, BUT,
The Roman Catholic Church controvertially and wrongfully declares Peter as the foundation stone, the rock, upon which Christianity is founded, and the Roman Catholic Church hails Peter as its first "POPE", in an effort to subvert and usurp Christianity and steal away the powers and the following of the "Christian Movement" begun by Jesus Christ.
What Jesus is actually saying, in plain and simple English is, Good for you Simon, no mortal man, not even me, has revealed this to you, only my Father in Heaven could have revealed this to you. I will call you Peter from now on. By the way Peter, in time I will become the cornerstone of a religion, a church I will begin and build.
Let's take a look at Peter, the so called "Rock". Peter is a fisherman who is called by Jesus to follow Jesus as a witness and an observer of Jesus and Jesus teachings and miracles. Peter spends 3 years following Jesus, learning from Jesus and observing all of the miracles Jesus performs.
If Peter were indeed the "Rock" he would be a man of strong character and faith after witnessing Jesus perform so many miracles with the people. Instead he gives in to the tiniest little fear as his "Faith" crumbles when Jesus bids him to join him walking upon the water. Jesus says to Peter, "Oh yea of little faith."
If we continue a few verses farther in MATTHEW: 16: at verse 23; Jesus admonishes Peter. "But he turned, and said unto Peter, 'Get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offence unto me:"
Why would Jesus wish to establish His Church upon a man? Why would Jesus wish to establish His Church upon this man Peter, whom Jesus sees up front and close at hand, lacks Faith and Trust in Jesus and who Jesus sees as a devil, as Jesus actually calls Peter, satan. Why would Jesus find Peter offensive if Jesus thought Peter to be the "Rock" of His soon to come church? Would Jesus or any other person wishing to begin a new church want someone with little faith, and seen as offensive as the foundation to base that church upon?
Jesus knows His apostles and knows Peter as the weakest link. At the last supper Peter boasts that he will never turn against Jesus, then Jesus tells Peter, MATTHEW: 26: 34: "Verily I say onto thee, That this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice." Peter is a lose cannon, and doesn't know what to do or which way to turn.
Peter knows that Jesus is a man of peace and non-violence, yet as Jesus is being arrested, even though Peter knows what's going down and that it is being done to fulfill God's scriptures, but what does Peter do? He draws a sword and lops off the ear of one of the guards come to take Jesus.
Finally sure enough, as Jesus is being beaten and persecuted, three times Peter is questioned about his affiliation with Jesus and three times, Peter denies even knowing Jesus let alone being one of Jesus followers.
Peter this faithless, coward, is the Apostle of Jesus that the Roman Catholic Church chooses to head up the church of Rome. The Catholic Church wrongfully declares Peter, not Jesus as the "Rock" the foundation of Christianity and the Catholic Church.
How could any church take the Word of Almighty God and twist it, subverting it to suit their own purpose? How could any church elevate a man like Peter as the head of the Christian Church over its founder Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Was it not Jesus who was crucified and resurrected? Was it not Jesus the Old testament fortold? If the Catholic Church seeks to elevate Peter over Jesus as the "Cornerstone" the "Rock" upon which Christianity is based the Roman Catholic Church is wrong.
It is written: REVELATION: 22: 16, 18-19 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and the morning star. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book if this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book."
Although this warning makes reference to the book of Revelation, the Holy Bible is a book of Revelation of Almighty God and of Jesus Christ, therefore I believe the Holy Bible, not just Revelation is the book Jesus is referring to, and to take any portion of the Holy Bible, to twist it and subvert it to agree with anything that is not in agreement with the Holy Bible is a sin against God.
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i wish they had a button for "insightful"...even though i clicked useful and interesting they arent quite what i mean. there is a remnant of GODs people...HE teaches them in the spirit. i believe, from what i have read so far, you may be one of them.
The church is wrong to put any human in a place of worship. God alone is to be the focus of our faith.
However Peter was not a "faithless coward" but a man who had a moment of weakness. We cannot attack a man and distort the words of Jesus simply because he didn't live up to our expectations. Remember this man also walked on water and recognized Jesus ans the Messiah. Peter, separated, from the conncetion with the church as you mentioned is a strong, faithful and strong man of God.
Hoowantstono: I don't know if Peter can be considered as the anti-christ for according to scripture he holds the keys to heaven.
tlmcgaa: I teach nothing by my words. I merely write that which God's Holy Spirit guides me to write. There are times that I am unaware of what I have put out until I do a grammar or a spell check for mistakes, which is usually when I am finished and ready to post it.
HyphenBird: Amen: God's first and second commandments instruct us that noone and nothing should be placed infront of or before God in our worship, yet the Catholics have statues of the apostles and Mary and others which they pray to.
Yes they so and it is wrong, evil in fact. That does not mean Peter is any less or more though. He is not the problem but humans who are allowing falsehoods and Satan to remove focus from Christ.
Hi brother Dave! The Catholic church was responsible for translating the Hebrew/Greek text of the scriptures into Latin (Textus Receptus), so they KNEW the Greek words for 'rock' and 'Rock', though the English word hides the significant difference in meaning!
1 Cor 10:3 “all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock [petra] which followed them; and the rock [petra] was Christ.” (Ref Ex 17:6; Num 20:11; Ps 78:15; 105:41). Here, we see the Rock is 'petra' (Christ).
In Mat 16:18 our Rock states, “I also say to you that you are Peter [petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
The Truth is right there! I share your fervor in standing up for the truth. Peter was just as human as every human being. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. Your point is not to attack Peter as one of God's chosen Apostles, but to point out that he cannot be the 'petra' upon which the Church is founded.
Continue to share as the Lord leads, all unto His glory.
Bro' Dave, thank you for providing some thought to my daily bread. I find Peter a man, and subject to doubt among all men and their characteristics of being human. I also think there are men such as yourself who have a better concept by a great attachment spiritually than many do. I find each day I walk in fellowship with people like you my doubting phase has passed. I find in no ways do I doubt who Christ is and the why of his appearance to humanity and then his sacrifice that I have received through teachings and an open mind to hear. I have experienced the direction and favor of God on more occasions than I can count and have faith that I will be delivered to eternal life.
As for Catholicism, I regard it as BS based on their building a hierarchy of appointed saints and popes. I'm not judging them, I just recognize them as just another man made cult, that has nothing that I need to live with the Holey Spirits guidance. I thank you for strengthening my faith in the direct teachings from the Bible and your position on them as they were written, peace dusty
Hyphen: I agree with what you are saying. But I still see Peter as being weak in faith and a coward.
Very good material. I relate to Peter. I have no power to serve God but God's power and that is enough. God help us when we focus on any human rather than God. Thanks for writing.
Judah's Daughter: Indeed my point is not to attack Peter although I do see him as weak and cowardly. My point is that Jesus refers to Himself as the "Rock" not Peter.
Dusty bro: No need for thanks. When God's Holy Spirit decides to work through me to say something, I permit Him and I permit Him to say what He deems necessary to be said.
Dusty bro: No need for thanks. When God's Holy Spirit decides to work through me to say something, I permit Him and I permit Him to say what He deems necessary to be said.
Eddie-Perkins:Welcome as a newcomer and reader at my hub site. Thank you for reading and commenting. Indeed Peter does become a very strong figure in the story of Christianity after Jesus returns to heaven but he blows so hot and cold when Jesus is alive there is no consistency in the man.
Good clarification. The revelation of Jesus being the Christ is our rock. Peter (petra-pebble) was simply a chip off the old block.
i may have spoken to quickly. we are to test the spirits. while i may be mistaken, and if i am i apologize...it appears that you contradict yourself...in some responses you say you write under the influence of the Holy Spirit...while in other responses you answer as if the writing is yours completely, saying things like "my point was..." you can see how that can be confusing.
all the knowledge i have of GOD has come from years of HIM teaching me personally...through study of HIS Word. do you consider yourself a prophet? btw...i didnt say YOU were teaching anyone...i said GOD taught HIS children.
Tamarajo: That may be so but the chizeler chipped of the piece that makes peter look bad in the eyes of others.
tlmcgaa: There is no need to be apologetic. When I respond to a reader's comment, I have to be aware of what the hub is dealing with as well as what the comment of the reader is addressing, therefore I must form my opinion in order to give a positive and correct answer. In most, but not all cases I do infact write under the influence of The Holy Spirit, as a matter of fact I believe He guides every answer. If He permits me to offer my opinion I do so, and my opinion I believe agrees with his.
In answer to your question as to whether I see myself as a prophet or not. I am a child of Almighty God, given the task to write that which God asks me to write.
I see myself as sort of a second John The Baptist, a person used by God to spread the WORD of God and Jesus. Some may have seen John as a prophet, when in reality he was family to Jesus and he was fulfilling one of God's prophecies himself which he had been chosen to fulfil.
We all are chosen by God to perform different tasks to fulfil God's will. Mine is to write.
It is the Catholics who pray to the saints. I pray to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God, and the HOly Spirit. You are right. Jesus didn't mean it literally when He said he was building this church upon the man, Peter.
Dave Mathews
When Jesus said to Peter about the keys, Jesus was not actually giving the keys to Peter, but was referring to "Faith" in Christ, because he refers to "for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
Its this "Faith" that he will build the church, faith being led by the Holy Spirit indwelling and this is also the Key to the Kingdom the Holy Spirit covering, the "Key" is also the equivalent of the blood of Christ, unless one is covered by the blood as Jesus mentioned in John 3 "Born Again"
Keep up the good work
Peace
Dave Mathews. my Brother I believed the Catholic Church did not change the Bible Text,we are the Roman Catholic Church believed the Faith of Peter which the Almighty father revealed to him made the foundation, the Rock,I remind again, the faith of Peter, not Peter,became the rock, the foundation of the Church
hoowantstono: That makes sense to a point about the keys to heaven but then we have to question what Jesus meant when he referred to what ever yoou loose or bind.
Joseph my brother: The faith of Peter is shaky and tenuous at best. Peter sank while walking on the water because of lack of faith. Peter denies Jesus three times due to his lack of faith. Peter attacks the soldier cutting off his ear due to lack of faith.
This is not the kind of faith one builds upon there is no solid foundation to be found in Peter's faith.
Jesus is the "Rock" and the foundation upon which the church was and is founded upon, not Peter or Paul, or James or John or Andrew or Mark,but, Jesus.
Dave Mathews
Jesus set us free, in other words we have been loosed from things on earth that keep us in bondage Spiritually, Mentally, and Physically. Restoration has been loosed in heaven to attract sinners to God by the blood of Jesus. So the Kingdom of God has come to us by the Holy Spirit, and he gives us his abilities "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" to set man free by our preaching and teaching the Gospel.
Mankind has been living a lie since Eve was deceived by Satan, that is, sin in Gods sight and God cannot be part of it, so Jesus was the sacrifice for our transgressions, and because Jesus died sin died and when sin died we were loosed from the Law of sin. Binding things are usually spiritual lies mankind suffers from. So when one binds things like Satan and sickness in Jesus name we are effectively spiritually speaking to the "mountain" so that things will be restored.
Loosing and Binding are Spiritual Warfare in our world.
Jesus said he overcame the world for our sakes and he also said he defeated Satan at his Resurrection from death, in doing this we in Christ are free from death.
Go well
hoowantstono: I thank you so very much dear brother for clarifying that for me. I never looked upon it quite that way but you are totally right. Now that part of the quote makes perfect sense to me and it should have a long time ago. Again thank you!
Dave Mathews, I voted "interesting", and I wanted you to know that I've read here, as I've done in the past at different times; but this isn't an area in which I have the expertise or background to make additional comments that would add anything to your already thorough discussion here. (I don't limit my reading to just my own "areas". I just try to be judicious about how much I comment on areas in which others have something more worthwhile to add than I would.)
Lisa as always you are more than welcome here at God's Hub. I am merely God's hands at the keyboard. Thnak you for reading and dropping off a comment.
There are few things written in Holy Scripture less open to confusion. Jesus choose Peter with all his flaws because Peter is us. Yes, imperfect for sure in many ways.
Who could Jesus have chosen that was perfect to head his church, no one of course.
Peter obviously already knew Jesus was the son of God when no one else did and his knowledge was from God so a divine connection already had come to pass.
Just before Jesus left earth and returned to his father he appeared on the shores of Galilea cooking fish on a fire when his chosen group in a fishing boat including Peter came ashore.
They recognized him, though not at first, and they sat and ate with Jesus we are told.
Jesus spoke to Peter at that time in a similar way three times asking him.."do you love me?" If you remember Jesus responded to Peter's assurances each time by saying to him.... "feed my sheep."
Peter was the rock.. the chosen leader of Christ's church on earth clearly.
Jack: Most of what you say here is correct, except it is Jesus, not Peter who is the "Rock" the "Foundation of the Church" The church of Christianity could never be founded upon any mortal and especially not Peter.
In my estimation if a man a human were to be chosen it would be Paul, for not only does Paul persecute the Christians but then through Jesus, Paul does a complete U-Turn and becomes the most prolific leader within the Church of Christ.
HOOWANTSTONO Level 3 Commenter 9 months ago
Bro Dave
Daniel has mentioned this too, the NT calls him (Popes) Anti Christ "Pseudos Kristos"
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Peace