Mr Rogers:
Thanks for the link from Pope Benedict. I try and read everything he writes and I missed that homily of his. It is a very good read and I think Pope Benedict interpreting the scripture in a fashion that stresses both Peter and Pauls concerns, while at the same time stressing they remained in the bond of communion with each other and the other apostles.
Also, I think my post is entirely consistent with what the Pope Wrote. Again, it is clear that St. Peter was accused of being hypocritical, as the Pope notes. Also, you are you are correct, I laid the charge of envy and presumption towards St.Jerome, when he in fact was indicating it was a charge made by others and he was writing to St. Augustine to stress that both of them needed to protect both of the Apostles [Peter and Paul] from shameless blasphemies.
I thank you for catching that as I did not read the link I gave you close enough on that point. Thus, with your correction, and I appreciate the charitable manner you exhibited in pointing that out, I think we can say that St. Jerome was concerned with protecting the integrity of both St. Peter and St. Paul as apostles who both were sent by Christ to preach the Gospel and not have either of them subject to false attacks. Thus, the charges that St. Paul being envious of St. Peter are being refuted by St. Jerome and the charges that St. Peter taught false doctrine, which was the claim that others in this forum made, not you, is also being rejected by ST. Jerome.
Still, I think you would agree that what St. Paul was accusing St. Peter of, he himself also did, so in the end, I think both had to make sure that when confronted with the potential for division between the Jewish-Christians and Gentile Christians, they tried to be pastorally sensitive to not causing the Jewish Christians to reject Christianity and return back to Judaism.
Pax et bonum
Galatians was written pretty early, and I’ve always thought that if Paul wrote it at a later date, he might be a bit more careful. I’ve learned, and re-learned, and will need to relearn again, that being right avails you for naught if you are so bombastic that people tune you out after the first words.
The Pope was spot on about how a difference in ministry can lead to a difference in approach, with neither meaning harm. Apart from that, I think we’ll have to respectfully disagree with the most accurate interpretation of what happened that day in Antioch.
Cheers.