Protestants have opposed the primacy of Peter as part of their many man-made doctrines based on their false Bible Alone dogma that the Bible alone is the sole authority of the Christian faith. One of their favorite verses in opposing Peter as Primus inter pares (Ancient Greek: Πρῶτος
μεταξὺ ἴσων, prōtos metaxỳ ísōn) which is a Latin phrase meaning "first among
equals". For the information of those not well acquainted to the phrase, it is typically used as an "honorary title" for those who are
formally equal to other members of their group but are "accorded respect and obedience" owing to their seniority in office. First among equals. As the First Bishop of the Church of Rome which was one of the early churches built by the Apostle Peter when he came to Rome from his sojourn in Antioch and surrounding towns and cities of the old world, the Bishops who succeeded him as Bishop of Rome is likewise given the honor of First among equals. As the Catholic Church grew in numbers all over the world, the Church of Rome having the Apostle Peter as its first bishop had become the headquarter of the universal church or the Catholic Church. All the churches are united under the leadership of the Church of Rome and as the church became known as Universal Church or Catholic Church. From simply known as the Church of Rome it has been called the Roman Catholic Church to differentiate it with all the other churches that has been built in other towns, cities, and nations. The Roman Christians love to call their Bishop, Papa which is a term of "endearment" meaning "father" thus the Bishop of Rome became known as the Pope. As the Roman Catholic Church became the leading church and all the other churches acknowledged its leadership by uniting themselves under One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the successor of Peter who is the Bishop of Rome was acknowledged as the First among equals of fellow bishops of the churches united as one Catholic Church. He is Primus inter pares and accorded respect and obedience by all the bishops. The office of the Bishop of Rome is the office of Peter, the Vicar of Christ, the Shepherd of the sheep, the servants of the servants of the people of God, the voice of the Lord that unify the flock in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Church of the Living God and the precursor of the Kingdom of God.Protestants argue that Luke 22:24-27 of the Bible opposed the primacy of Peter. But moving forward in reading the Luke 22 we can clearly deduced that there is no opposition in fact there is affirmation on the Primacy of Peter. Let's proceed and tackle the issue whether the Bible really opposed the primacy of Peter. The verses most often used is the verse that tells us "A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." There is nothing in the verses to show that the Bible is against the Primacy of Peter, instead what the verses imply is that if anyone will be the greatest among the Apostles let him be the one to serve them because Jesus himself who is above all, is also the one who serves them. The ruler or the leader should be the one who serves! Jesus made and explicit admission that someone will lead among them but that one must serve the others.
This is the problem of having one's own interpretation of the Bible which the Protestants have used as their basis of faith and doctrines. Without the authority of the Catholic Church, each of us will have our own interpretation picking up one line or verse to favor our own preconceived understanding of the verses which should prove that the Protestant doctrine is supreme over the Catholic Church. But then to get the right interpretation of the verses in the Bible one must consider not just one or two verses but the entirety of the message. If there are some kind of contradictions among the verses of some sort then it follows that we are not reading the message or the lesson of the Bible in its proper context since the word of God can't be contradictory. One message is the same although they may address one issue of faith yet appear to be implying different messages to one who is reading the verses. That is why the context by which they are said or taught or given in the Bible should always be considered and understand. A case in point is Luke Chapter 22, using the verses 24-27 the Protestants concluded that the verses would show the Bible is opposed to the primacy of Peter yet if we continue reading the following verses it will show otherwise. So lets us continue with the verses of the same Chapter 22 of Luke.
So then on one hand the Bible shows in 24-27 that the Apostles were having a dispute who among them will be the greatest but in 28-32 Jesus conferred a kingdom to Peter (The Catholic Church) a confirmation of his leadership. Then Jesus prayed for and in behalf of Simon alone to whom he has given a new name Peter in Matthew 16:18, that his faith will not fail and once he turned back (Fully Converted to the faith) he will strengthen his brothers which clearly refers to the Apostles. Its Peter whom Jesus trusted to strengthen the faith of the Apostles his brothers in Christ. One can clearly see with an open mind disregarding any bias that Jesus once more singled out Simon Peter when he said "Satan has asked to sift all of you as a wheat, BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, SIMON THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL" So why singled out Simon of all the 12? The answer is also given by the Bible and the Holy Traditions of the Church handed down through generations.
Simon would have been lost just like the rest of the Apostles who scampered and run away leaving the Lord alone when he was arrested. He betrayed the Lord 3 times and he was so much stricken by grief and guilt to do such thing but he will recover just as Jesus prayed that his faith will not fail and he will turn back (Fully Converted) from one of weak faith and fearful of his safety to one of stronger faith willing to die for the Lord. He will strengthen the brothers as will be shown in later verses in the Bible. Going fast forward after the Resurrection of the Lord of the twelve Apostles it was Peter to whom the Lord first appeared and he singled out Peter once more giving him one of the last instructions he gave before ascending to the Father in heaven this in John 21:15-19:
Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” He answered, “You know I love You.”
Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do
you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”
Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do
you love Me?”
Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time,
“Do you love Me?”
“Lord, You know all things;” he replied, “You know I love
You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep."
"Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
"Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”
Let us dissect and understand the very words that came out from the mouth of the Lord as witnessed by St. John the Apostle in his Gospel. The Bible tells us that Jesus had one on one conversation with Simon Peter about leading his sheep that is the members of the church, the Christians. John was there following them as they talked to each other and this conversation has been witnessed by him in his Gospel. In that one on one conversation with Peter, the Lord Jesus Christ gave him instructions of what to do with sheep. The lambs and the sheep represent the members of the church or the flock. Jesus likened Peter to himself who serves on the table. He is asking him to feed or serve his sheep, the members of the Church. Just as he said, the Greatest among you shall be your servant, Peter is the greatest among them and he shall be the servant who will feed the followers of Jesus who will later on be known as the Christians. By calling Peter to serve, Jesus bestowed on him the leadership to carry out the continuing works of building the church. "If you love me Feed my Lambs, Feed my sheep," were the instructions given by the Lord to Peter alone. Jesus without a doubt made Peter the leader of the church and gave him the authority to continue his work as the Shepherd of his sheep and lambs.
Now let us remember that Jesus likened himself to a Shepherd saying my sheep know me because
"they know my voice". So when the Lord gave Peter the tasked to shepherd his sheep, to take them, tend them, guide them, herd them in one flock, that is the church, he gave Peter his voice for the sheep to follow. By becoming the shepherd of the flock, that is the members of the church in the absence of the Lord on earth, Peter has been given the voice of the Lord for the sheep to follow. Now since the Apostles led by Peter instituted the rule of succession according to the Acts when they chose someone to replace Judas in the office of the Apostles it follows that once the successor takes the place of the office of his predecessor, he takes all the responsibilities, duties, authority, and power of that office. Thus whoever is the successor of Peter, he becomes like Peter, he becomes the leader of the church, the shepherd, the voice of the Lord to the sheep and the flock that is the church, the Catholic Church. As the voice of the Lord, he is the Vicar of Christ. The voice from the office or chair of Peter is the voice of the Lord for the sheep and the lambs to follow because when they hear the voice from the Chair of Peter what they hear is the voice of the Lord.
To deny that Peter was chosen to lead the church is to deny the Bible itself which in fact has witnessed to the choice Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ to lead the Apostles. He is then like Jesus hence the representative of Jesus as conferred by Jesus on him and attested by the Apostles and the Bible which has taught us that Peter:
Now let us remember that Jesus likened himself to a Shepherd saying my sheep know me because
"they know my voice". So when the Lord gave Peter the tasked to shepherd his sheep, to take them, tend them, guide them, herd them in one flock, that is the church, he gave Peter his voice for the sheep to follow. By becoming the shepherd of the flock, that is the members of the church in the absence of the Lord on earth, Peter has been given the voice of the Lord for the sheep to follow. Now since the Apostles led by Peter instituted the rule of succession according to the Acts when they chose someone to replace Judas in the office of the Apostles it follows that once the successor takes the place of the office of his predecessor, he takes all the responsibilities, duties, authority, and power of that office. Thus whoever is the successor of Peter, he becomes like Peter, he becomes the leader of the church, the shepherd, the voice of the Lord to the sheep and the flock that is the church, the Catholic Church. As the voice of the Lord, he is the Vicar of Christ. The voice from the office or chair of Peter is the voice of the Lord for the sheep and the lambs to follow because when they hear the voice from the Chair of Peter what they hear is the voice of the Lord.
To deny that Peter was chosen to lead the church is to deny the Bible itself which in fact has witnessed to the choice Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ to lead the Apostles. He is then like Jesus hence the representative of Jesus as conferred by Jesus on him and attested by the Apostles and the Bible which has taught us that Peter:
1. Is the Rock on which the Church of Living God, the Church founded by Jesus and built through the Apostles led by Peter. (Matthew 16:18)
2. Has been given the powers of binding and loosing on earth which will be valid in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)
3. Has been given the Keys of Heaven. (Matthew 16:19)
4. Has been conferred with a kingdom (the church) by the Lord to lead and to be the strength of the other Apostles and disciples of the Lord. Luke 22:28-32
4. Has been conferred with a kingdom (the church) by the Lord to lead and to be the strength of the other Apostles and disciples of the Lord. Luke 22:28-32
4. Has been appointed as Shepherd of the sheep that will take, tend, guide, and herd the sheep, the Christians in the Church of God which has never ceased to exist and is known to be the Catholic Church from first century up until today. (John 21:16)
5. Has been given the task of feeding the lambs and the sheep which means the teaching authority for man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God. So to feed is to teach and that is an authority given to Peter. (John 21:15 & 17)
To prove this we should remember that the only time 3,000 converted believers were added in an instant to the followers of Jesus as recorded in the Bible was when Peter rose up filled with the Holy Spirit and started preaching first in Jerusalem. Indeed he has become the voice of Jesus as the Lord has said, feed my lambs and sheep and Shepherd them. The voice of Peter after Jesus ascended to heaven is the voice of the Lord and the sheep who know the voice of the Lord, who is the good shepherd, listen to him.
Lastly always remember that Jesus is the Good Shepherd but in John 21:15-19 he asked Peter alone to SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP. Its an instruction to Peter to Shepherd the sheep. To shepherd the sheep is to act in his behalf as the only one Good Shepherd. Jesus asked Peter to Shepherd, to lead the sheep, the one Flock of Jesus Christ, the members of his true church, the Catholic Church. Now the Question to the Protestants is this, "Will you still be hard on your belief against Peter or will you listen to the Bible that shows Peter is the chosen leader of the Apostles and the Church. The one given the task to Shepherd the sheep of the Lord, us Christians to one church, the Catholic Church?"
He is the lead Shepherds of the shepherds as Jesus prayed. "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." With Peter as the head of the kingdom that is the church of Jesus Christ conferred by the Lord to them there will just be one kingdom or one church in all even as there will be many shepherds tending to each of the churches all over the world making it universal church or Catholic Church set up by the Lord to care for the sheep. For it is written:
"Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:3-4)
To prove this we should remember that the only time 3,000 converted believers were added in an instant to the followers of Jesus as recorded in the Bible was when Peter rose up filled with the Holy Spirit and started preaching first in Jerusalem. Indeed he has become the voice of Jesus as the Lord has said, feed my lambs and sheep and Shepherd them. The voice of Peter after Jesus ascended to heaven is the voice of the Lord and the sheep who know the voice of the Lord, who is the good shepherd, listen to him.
Lastly always remember that Jesus is the Good Shepherd but in John 21:15-19 he asked Peter alone to SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP. Its an instruction to Peter to Shepherd the sheep. To shepherd the sheep is to act in his behalf as the only one Good Shepherd. Jesus asked Peter to Shepherd, to lead the sheep, the one Flock of Jesus Christ, the members of his true church, the Catholic Church. Now the Question to the Protestants is this, "Will you still be hard on your belief against Peter or will you listen to the Bible that shows Peter is the chosen leader of the Apostles and the Church. The one given the task to Shepherd the sheep of the Lord, us Christians to one church, the Catholic Church?"
He is the lead Shepherds of the shepherds as Jesus prayed. "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." With Peter as the head of the kingdom that is the church of Jesus Christ conferred by the Lord to them there will just be one kingdom or one church in all even as there will be many shepherds tending to each of the churches all over the world making it universal church or Catholic Church set up by the Lord to care for the sheep. For it is written:
"Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:3-4)
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