Clearly, the Catholic Church (The Church whose leader, The Pope, is clearly in a line of succession from Saint Peter, who was ordained by Christ as the first pope) Is the superior Church.The Matthew verses say nothing about succession. Rome just reads into the verse a succession.
None of the early church fathers interpreted these verses that way. If I recall roughly 20% of the time the early church fathers saw Peter as the rock, the vast majority saw Peters confession that Jesus was the Christ, as being the Rock.
All other verses mentioning the Rock, indicate that it is Jesus Himself and not Peter.
Augustine leaves it up to the reader what the Matt 16:18 means! 400 years after the resurrection, Augustine knows nothing of a Pope's supremacy described by today's RCC.
Historically, there is no evidence of a universal papacy being recognized for the first 5 or 6 centuries by anyone. The Eastern Church never recognized a universal papacy.
The papal claims are a later innovation, like many other traditions of men.
Excellent post and absolutely correct.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ina the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2: 19-22
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1: 20-26
These quotes provide examples. The first one, Christ gave the apostles authority over the sacrament of confession. The second, baptism. The third, to built up a church. The fourth, (the clincher) shows that te apostles had the authority to choose successors.