There is a lot of discussion on the interpretation of one word, but the overall message of Jesus Christ is missed.
Repeated over and over, Christ named Peter to build His Church (His ONE Holy CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC) and with the Apostles and their successors.
Peter and the Apostles started the process which continues until today.
Yes the Catholic Church has had to deal with sinners, heresies and all kinds of misfortune. Yes all are welcome, but we must follow that narrow road that leads to the gate where Jesus collects His sheep.
For some reason Roman Catholics seem to dismiss the calling of Paul...independent of the calling of Peter...though both called of God.
There is no road to Jesus.
Jesus Himself IS the road.
Following Caholicism will not necessarily lead you to Jesus although it is likely to lead you to Mary.
Catholicsm makes the claim that they are the church Jesus meant, retroactively.
There is nothing in Scripture that indicates that Jesus meant Catholicsm when He mentioned building His church, nor did HE ever use those words in relation ro any church mentioned in Scripture, and there are plenty of local assemblies mentioned and written to which were not under one central governing authority, much less the Roman one.
Who's missing the overall message? The dispute over one word is because Catholicism has historically MIS-interpreted that word in order to justify the dogma that Peter was the rock on whom the "church" was built - when Jesus didn't really say that. If Peter were indeed the foundation of the ekklesia/assembly, why didn't Jesus say "On YOU I will build my church."? Like I already reiterated, Catholicism has a LOT riding on their view that Peter was the rock because they CLAIM Peter was the first Pope of Rome even though there is no real, incontrovertible evidence Peter was IN Rome establishing local churches much less being recognized as THE head of them all. The Pope of Rome as the head of all Christendom wasn't a "thing" until centuries later and it was hardly accepted by everyone, at that. The dispute was one of the primary reasons for the split with the Eastern Orthodox churches. If they haven't been convinced of your assertion after all these centuries, what makes you think everyone else will be? Furthermore, Rome asserts that Peter and "his" successors can be traced all the way back but there are significant gaps and problems with that so-called "unbroken" line. To deny that reality is either ignorant or dishonest.
Peter and the Apostles started the process which continues until today. Yes the Catholic Church has had to deal with sinners, heresies and all kinds of misfortune. Yes all are welcome, but we must follow that narrow road that leads to the gate where Jesus collects His sheep.
Peter and the Apostles were the first missionaries and they discipled men they led to faith in Christ and ordained them to lead and disciple others to carry on the work of establishing the body of believers to live lives of holiness and as a witness to the lost. The "succession" was one of handing down the truth as revealed through Christ and the Prophets of God is His holy word. There IS no "Apostolic" authority passed down as the qualification for Apostles was they had seen the risen Lord. There IS no automatic authority as it is the TRUTH that is handed down and each leader is held to THAT rule of faith.
St. Vincent of Lerins said the universal faith is characterized as that which has been believed always, everywhere and by all. Can Roman Catholicism affirm that or must they account for doctrines and dogmas outside of the common, catholic faith? THE church Jesus established/is establishing will be one, will be holy/set apart and will be comprised of ALL who call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. It will be the wheat, the Bride, the Redeemed, the sheep who have heard the voice of the Shepherd and have followed Him. Jesus' prayer will be answered.
Yeah; you guys keep repeating it; but it just as false today as it was in Day One.
To be a member of the REAL Church Jesus established one confesses Jesus is The One Whom God sent for our redemption. Too often Catholics conflate the REAL Church with their institutional church, as a means to empower their ORG (rhymes with Borg).