That is another example of the exaggeration Rome engages in as she preaches herself, and by your logic you have just negated the authority of Peter as supreme and crowned the apostle Paul as pope.
"Peter" is mentioned 162 times in all of the NT. and "Cephas" 6 times, for a total of 168, but which includes duplicate accounts.
Using just the synoptic gospel in which he is mentioned most (24), Matthew, and John thru Revelation the rest of the NT (105), then Peter and Cephas occurs 129 times total.
However, Paul is mentioned 163 as "Paul" and 26 times as "Saul" giving him a total of 189 times.
In addition he wrote 13 books of Scripture, nearly 50 percent of the New Testament, and mentions Peter after James in Gal. 2:9, and the latter gave the definitive final decree in Act 15, and Peter is not even heard of after Acts 12, nor in Paul's extensive list of acquaintances in Rm. 16, nor is submission to or prayers for Peter or mention of him as the supreme head in Rome ever seen in any of the church epistles.
While i am not arguing against holy Peter being the brethren-type leader of the apostles and initially of the church, and who served in a general pastoral role (the perpetuation of his office, and assuredly infallibility, and the demi-god aspect of the historical papacy of Rome are the real issues), yet in contrast to Rome thinking of men above that which is written, (cf. 1Cor. 4:6), and if one wanted to make a case for the primacy of Paul, consistent with Rome's logic, then,
Here are the 51 Biblical proofs of a Pauline papacy and Ephesian primacy, using popular Catholic reasoning:
From 51 Biblical Proofs Of A Pauline Papacy And Ephesian Primacy
That is an impressive argument.
Well isnt that interesting. Thanks for posting that daniel1212.
Paul told the believers that there was no other foundation laid, but Christ. This was in answer to the fact that people were putting emphasis on particular men, instead of putting their whole faith and attention on Christ. This was causing division in the Church. Paul said that he, Apollos and Cephas were mere ministers, which in the Greek means servants of Christ.
Paul emphasized that each believer was complete in Christ, therefore not needing to elevate any other person between themselves and God. Everyone is the temple of the living God. Everyone owns all things. All have access to unspeakable knowledge given by The Holy Spirit. All have the mind of Christ. All are Saints. The whole idea of anyone being lifted up as some lift up Peter and the Popes was obviously anathema to Paul. No man should glory in any person, but only in God was his ardent message.
Everyone, open up the Bible and read the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians. This topic is spelled out here. No man should be lifted up and gloried in. Anyone who has an honest heart and cares about the truth cannot read these chapters and come away thinking that anyone should be lifted up and glorified other than God. God is there for each one of us, Himself, through Jesus Christ our LORD. Therefore, we should not divide off under particular human leaders.
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1Cr 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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1Cr 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's.
Just an aside to some who have given too much reverence to "Saint" Peter. I believe the veneration of Peter is misguided. As the "Rock" his seminole declaration of Jesus; "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," was the point of eternal salvation and the "foundation stone" was this declaration, not the elevation of Peter over any other saint.
The whole thing gets off on the wrong foot without this understanding, and therein a diminuation of the reality of Grace and the expanse of anti-semitism evidenced from the beginning of the Catholic church. JMHO
The evolution of the centralized hierarchy with all power focused through it has led to most of the heresies we see in Christianity today. The worship of Mary, the control of God's grace through men, the belief you can take the good works of one person and impute then to another, the belief that individuals must work their way to salvation are just some of these heresies. Really what we are seeing is the self perpetuation of an institution.
The Biblical model of governance was always a decentralized, congregational approach. The Jerusalem Council is a perfect example of this. In this case the ultimate decision was arrived at by the members of the church, not one autocrat.
What did Jesus say about it? how many times does Jesus mention Paul.
Who besides Paul himself refer to him being an apostle.
This is not about the Gospel but only about authority and notoriety.
There is no real proof that any one was to be a pope, Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you.
It is what we do with the Gospel of Jesus in our every day lives that we need to think about.
Any one can put scripture together that they choose and come up with what ever they want but it does not make it a fact.
History is full of things that may or may not be true depending on whos eyes it is seen through or how much was added to it for notoriety.
Billy Bonny for instance is now known as a desperado and leader of an outlaw gang and had killed twenty one men, but the facts show that he may have killed four men in the Lincoln county war which he had nothing to do with starting.
I realize this may be a poor example but Peter or Paul nor the Church is not where are salvation is, but only the Gospel of Jesus.
HA! Great post!