“Matthew 16:19, among other things, Christ gives to Peter the ‘Keys to the kingdom of heaven’.”
What the verse says and how you interpret it are two
vastly different things. You have to start with a
huge assumption (that the keys were apostolic authority),
and then ASSUME that assumption also extends to include
succession.
Assumptions are interesting, but arguments from silence are
not persuasive.
Isaiah 22:19-24 - Shebna and Eliakim were real historical people, addressed in this oracle by Isaiah. It has nothing to do with Peter, apostolic succession or the Church. It does violence to the clear meaning of this passage to imply otherwise. Believe what you wish, I could not be intellectually honest and insert what isn’t there.
There isn’t anything you’ve put forth that is Biblical
evidence that the Church is to continue to have an Apostle
chosen on earth.
Nor did you answer any single issue I raised in my previous
post.
If continually choosing a new Apostle to be on earth was
true, it would be very important to the Church on earth.
If it were that important, it would be commanded to the
Church.
If it were that important, a process would be laid out that
the Church should follow.
Neither is true in the NT.
Still, thank you for responding. I wish you the best
in your life and faith,
ampu
“Isaiah 22:19-24 - Shebna and Eliakim were real historical people, addressed in this oracle by Isaiah. It has nothing to do with Peter, apostolic succession or the Church. It does violence to the clear meaning of this passage to imply otherwise. Believe what you wish, I could not be intellectually honest and insert what isn’t there.”
I never said this passage in Isaiah refers to Apostolic Succession, to the Church or to Peter.
What I did say is that Matthew refers to Isaiah.
What it does say is that the Key of David is hereditary to pass on to his sons and so on.
This is the key point. I’m not inserting anything into the passage as written. The parallelism to me is striking, between the binding and loosing and between the opening and closing.
To me that suggests that the two keys are similar.
Possibly to all and many believers have the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Many a believer in fellowship with Him have the ability to loose and to bind.
If there is any doubt of this, consider why so many Masonic and witchcraft cults seek to loose fallen angels by their ceremonies in the dark with blood letting using believers who are unaware their manipulations.
The Christian way of life is a spiritual life in all things through faith in Him. Thank You Lord.