>> “ I am arguing that when Jesus gave St. Peter the power to bind and loose that St. Peter was given this authority by God himself” <<
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Peter was given no ‘power,’ he was given a commandment that what he bound on Earth had to be that which was bound in Heaven. This is born out by the rest of the NT. Acts 10 is a good example, and there are many more, such as when Paul had to rebuke him for his hypocrisy, and James backed Paul up solidly.
Peter had no ‘power’ but the spiritual gifts of the apostle.
“Peter had no ‘power’ but the spiritual gifts of the apostle.”
The disciples did not at that point in time, have the gifts of the Holy spirit, which did not come until Pentecost.
This is different.
Christ explicitly states, “I give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven”. He says this to Peter only, not the other Apostles, and he singles out Peter after Peter’s affirmation that Jesus is the Christ.