The Apostle Peter and the Papacy

praiseofglory.com ^ | Vladimir Soloviev

[polemikos]

I'm sorry, I just have a hard time seeing your interpretation.

Mt 16:18-19 -- Jesus gives Peter "the keys"
He was giving all believers the keys.

A -- Jesus uses second person singular, not plural
B -- Jesus is addressing Peter directly
C -- Scripture uses keys as symbols of authority (held by one person)

Mt 16:19 -- the power to bind and loose
He was giving all believers the power.

A -- Jesus uses second person singular, not plural
B -- Jesus is addressing Peter directly
C -- To bind and loose is rabbinical. Are you suggesting that Jesus wanted
each person to be their own teacher, interpreter, and heavenly authority?

Jn 21:15-17 -- Jesus tells Peter "feed my sheep"
He was sending him on a missionary journey.

A -- no missionay journey is mentioned.
B -- The context seems pretty clearly that Jesus is calling Peter to be the new shepard.

Lk 22:32 -- Jesus prays for faith of (only) Peter
Peter was the one with the specific need.

While I agree that Peter is in need, but so are all the flock.
So the question remains, why Peter specifically?
Also, your take is not inconsistent with RC interpretation
that Peter was called to lead the new church.

...I need no other intercessor...

In such a system, how does one protect oneself against false interpretation (inadvertently following the wrong path?)

To imply that Peter was given special dispensation that I cannot also have goes against the word of God.

There's no implication. The Bible seems pretty clear on the point. Which verse(s) are counter?

God is no respector of persons. Peter was just a man, as am I.

But some are called by God to lead, e.g., Moses, Abraham, (Peter) etc.

p.s., thanks for the discussion.

[RobRoy]

You and I come from starkly different paradigms. I firmly believe that each persons salvation is their own responsibility. It comes down to that for me. I could elaborate, but I gotta go.

Thanks for the discussion, it really has been enlightening. I'll continue to study offline.

[peter the great]

Sorry about taking so long to get back to you on this. This is something that I have heard more than once and in a few different places. I did try to get you a source that would be easy for you to reference. The Orthodox Study Bible cites, "The Ancient Book of Texts" which is probably what we should be looking at, however, I do not think that this book is readily available. However, to answer your question, I am assuming that being St.Peter in Antioch, it is noted as clear as day on page 8 of a litle booklet, "Orthodoxy and Catholicism" written by Fr. Theodore Pulcini, a former Roman Catholic who researched this very subject and converted to Orthodoxy. Surprisingly, this is a subject that is not disputed by either Church, and is a non issue in ecunemical talks.