[Campion]

Sources?

1. Herman Ridderbos (Dutch Reformed), Bible Students Commentary: Matthew (Zondervan, 1987) p. 303
2. R. T. France (Anglican), Gospel According to Matthew (Eerdmans, 1985) p 254
3. Friedrich, Gerhard and Bromley, Geoffrey, Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the NT (Eerdmans, 1968), pp 98-99, 108.
4. Maier, Gerhard (Lutheran?) "The Church in the Gospel of Matthew: hermeneutical Analysis of the Current Debate" in D. A. Carson, editor, Biblical Interpretation and Church Text and Context (Paternoster Press, 1984) p. 60
5. Gaebelein, Frank, et al., The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 8 (Matthew, Mark, Luke) (Zondervan, 1984), p. 368.
6. Carson, Donald A., Matthew, in Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary -- New Testament, vol 2 (Zondervan, 1994), p. 78.

I have more than that.

Christ was promising that to all of us when He made that statement.

Nonsense, and I think you know it's nonsense. "Bind and loose" is rabbinic terminology for "the power to make binding decisions concerning something". The power to bind and loose is further granted to the rest of the Apostles in Matthew 18. It is nowhere granted to everyone; that wouldn't even make sense unless you think God is an anarchist.

And the "keys" hearken back to Isaiah 22:22, which is the where they are described as the emblems of power of the "grand vizier" or royal chamberlain of the Davidic monarchy. There's no possibility that they can be seen as anything but a grant of authority to Peter, personally.

Besides, Christ is speaking to Peter, using the second person singular pronoun, not to all of the Apostles, and not to all believers in general.

[billbears]

Nonsense, and I think you know it's nonsense. "Bind and loose" is rabbinic terminology for "the power to make binding decisions concerning something". The power to bind and loose is further granted to the rest of the Apostles in Matthew 18. It is nowhere granted to everyone; that wouldn't even make sense unless you think God is an anarchist.

Well just heck. God granted none of us power through prayer. I may as well not even bother praying anymore. Tell me, can I still read my Bible or do I need to have someone do that for me as well? Of course my Bible, and everyone else's for that matter, tell us God wants a personal relationship with each and every one of us. Guess all those promises of the Holy Spirit and Christ's personal relationship are just bunk then. Right...

So tell me, since I should just let priests speak for me to God (sort of tosses the whole torn veil message out the window though) should I follow the words the ones that molest children or just the ones that are dug up to be put on trial? Mind you Protestants have had sex scandals involving children in the past but for the most part those people are run out of leadership positions on a rail. Can't say as I've ever heard of someone being dug up for trial though.. And you worry about a female being pope around that same time?!? I tell you, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the Catholic Church last night. Was this pope Joan real? I don't know. But compared to some of the other history of the time, I'd be putting that decision up on a pedastal as some forward thinking instead of condemning it.