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To: Natural Law

RE: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God” Peace be with you.

OK, It is the NAB, but where in the text does it say that Peter made the final judgment? It was still James who made the final judgement. Most of all, nowhere in the text does it even INSINUATE that Peter was the head of the council of Jerusalem.


249 posted on 05/14/2012 12:11:09 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
"OK, It is the NAB, but where in the text does it say that Peter made the final judgment?"

I always find it strange to discuss this with Sola Scriptura Protestants who, because of the necessity to diminish St. Peter in defense of the Reformation, go to extremes to find things that are not in the Scriptures and to exclude things that are in the Scriptures to support their case. If you render the entire narrative of the First Council of Jerusalem you will have no choice but to concede St. Peter’s ”Petrine” role in the council.

First we have to understand the timing or location of the council was not random or arbitrary. It was in Jerusalem because St. Peter was in Jerusalem in 49 AD. Recall St. Peter had literally disappeared from Acts in chapter 12 after escaping prison and fleeing Jerusalem in 42 AD. St. Peter was present in Jerusalem because the Jews had been expelled from Rome in 49 AD (the same year as the Council). St. Peter was present as the Bishop of Rome and “In Persona Christi Capitas”, which was the role of the bishop who spoke on behalf of the entire church. St. James had a role because he was the bishop of Jerusalem and was the head of the Jewish faction. It was this Jewish faction who were described in Acts 15:1-2 as "Some who had come DOWN FROM JUDAEA were instructing the brothers, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” The some who had come down from Judea were certainly not St. Paul and Barnabas, now were they St. Peter, they were from James’ flock.

St. Peter began the discussion by relating that he had baptized the first gentiles, the Centurion Cornelius and his entourage, at Caesarea at the instruction of the Holy Spirit. Then after much debate among the bishops and presbyters the Scripture says St. Peter stood up and the room fell silent indicating that it was St. Peter who had the authority to cut off debate. The Greek word used (esigese) indicates that the room remained silent, reinforcing his authority. St. James then gave his judgment to his followers that St. Peter was right when he says; “It is my judgment, therefore, that WE ought to stop troubling the gentiles.” "Then the Apostles and presbyters, IN AGREEMENT WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. This is the letter delivered by them...". It was St. Peter acting “In Persona Christi Capitas” that represented the whole Church.

252 posted on 05/14/2012 1:23:22 PM PDT by Natural Law (Mary was the face that God chose for Himself.)
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