“Certainly”? On the contrary, in each of these three accounts by Matthew, Mark, and John, Jesus is explicitly asking the disciples (plural) what did they (plural) say, and when no other Apostle speaks up, Peter answers in all three accounts. They are evidently satisfied to let Peter speak for them, because nobody adds to or contradicts what Peter said. And each time it is THE key statement of faith: “You are the Messiah!” and “We (plural) have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Naw...That just means Peter was the first person out of the gate...Slow to think but quick to answer...
And of course no one would contradict what Peter said...They believed it as well...And we don't know if anyone added to it since what Peter says apparently sufficient to be passed on to us...Jesus didn't record every word spoken...
False dichotomy. Of course the disciples followed Jesus: they also followed the Apostles who followed Jesus; and they followed Peter,who followed Jesus, and whom Jesus had appointed Chief Shepherd, with a solemn, threefold commission.
Now there you go again...There was no chief shepherd...Peter however was a shepherd...One of twelve...He was a shepherd to the Jewish nation...Which pretty much ceased to exist for all practical purposes...So Peter's ministry (and the position of successive popes, in the Catholic version) clearly were/was short lived...
It is Paul who was made the (human) head of the Gentile church...A student of the bible can't possibly deny that...Yet no one speaks of apostle Paul succession of bishops...
All popes in the Catholic list of popes could not have had anything to do with the Gentile church, which is what we are...They were successors of Peter who was sent to Israel...
“Trying to get him to admit”?? Fer cryin’ out loud… Peter came right out and SAID he loved Jesus, three times. Jesus asks “Do you love Me more than these?” More than these” implies a comparison. What Jesus is telling Peter, who loves Him “more than these”, is that He’s giving him the commission of Chief Shepherd, which he will assume in practice on earth after Jesus ascends into heaven.
Not fer crying out loud at all...
Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
Jesus ask Peter if Peter loved him...
ἀγαπάω
agapaō
ag-ap-ah'-o
Perhaps from ἄγαν agan (much; or compare [H5689]); to love (in a social or moral sense): - (be-) love (-ed). Compare G5368.
You can see what Jesus was really asking...But here is Peter's answer...
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Now here's the 'love' Peter answered with...
φιλέω
phileō
fil-eh'-o
From G5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), that is, have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically to kiss (as a mark of tenderness): - kiss, love
Jesus ask Peter if Peter loved him...Peter says, 'sure Jesus, I am a friend of yours...
Obviously frustated, Jesus ask him the identical question in the next verse...Peter answered the same way...
And finally in the 3 verse Jesus gave up and ask Peter, 'Peter, am I a friend of yours...And Peter responds, 'Yes Jesus, I am a friend of yours...
Now you know why Peter was asked 3 times...
"Obviously Jesus didn't have that problem with give the Head Shepherd ministry to the other disciples... As one can easily see, all the apostles and overseers were sanctioned to feed Jesus' sheep..."
...which they did with the guidance and confirmation of Peter, who was singled out and told to “confirm the brethren.” (Luke 22:32)
Well, Peter was told to strengthen the brethren...
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And what brethren was Peter told to strengthen??? The Jewish brethren...
In "Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible" (and Gill was not a Catholic, but an 18th century English Baptist pastor) he says that Jesus' commission to Peter to "confirm" the brethren was carried out in at least three ways: in Peter's gathering of all the disciples who had fled in one direction and another at Christ's crucifixion; in Peter's marvelous inauguration of the pubic preaching on Pentecost; and in Peter's leaving "two exceeding useful epistles for the strengthening of his brethren in all ages of time."
The text does not limit Peter to strengthening the Jewish brethren only; and apparently Gill sees no reason to do so.
I personally like the fact that he first strengthened his "brethren," the other Apostles who had fled. They also were Jews, of course; more importantly, they were Jesus' select men, the leaders of His Church. It is they whom Peter strengthens.
Not so. It's right there in the New Testament. Timothy and Titus were successors ordained by Paul. Ignatius of Antioch, a couple of decades later, is recognized as a successor of Paul, and Antioch has had bishop/patriarch successors continuously from then until now. The latest of the Orthodox successors in John X, who became Patriarch of Antioch in 2013.