Contents | Index
Peter
Peter
Gr. "Petros" (a rock).
His name was formerly Simon
The Rock. "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church," etc.
"The expression this rock upon which I will build my church, has received very
different interpretations . . . in various ages.
The first is the interpretation given by the Roman Catholic Church. . . . It
affirms that the rock is Peter individually, that the commission constituted him
supreme apostle, with authority, inherited from him by the bishops of Rome.
Other constructions are more convincing.
First, as may be shown, not Peter alone, but each apostle, was a rock and a
recipient of the keys, and all were coequal in powers.
Second, were the authority conveyed to Peter alone and personally, it must
still be shown that this personal prerogative was among the successional
attributes conferred upon him.
Third, that Peter was ever bishop of Rome is without historical foundation;
and the pretense of a succession from him by the Roman bishop is a fable. It is
to be clearly noted that Peter was not given the keys of the church but of 'the
kingdom of heaven' as a sphere of Christian profession (Mt 13). Since a key
signifies power and authority (Is 22:22; Rev 3:7), the book of Acts gives the
infallible commentary on Peter's use of this special prerogative. It was Peter who
opened the door of Christian opportunity to Israel at Pentecost (Acts 2:38-40), to the Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), and to the Gentiles in Cornelius's house (Acts 10:34-46). After gospel opportunity was introduced to this age to Jew (Acts 2), Samaritan (Acts 8), and Gentile (Acts 10), there was no assumption whatever by Peter of
any other authority (Acts 15:7-11). The power of binding and loosing (Mt
18:18; John 20:23) was shared with the other disciples.