Was Peter the First Pope? - COGMessengerCOGMessenger

The Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy have made extremely bold and audacious claims. The papacy has claimed authority to appoint kings or depose them, to grant salvation or to deny it.

Innocent III (1198-1216) claimed as pope that he was the “Vicar of Christ” and of God, and that he was “Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World.” He claimed that “All things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ.” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 883).

Pope Nicholas I (858-67) declared: “We popes alone have the power to bind and to loose,” claiming that the judgment of a pope “alone is infallible” (cited, A Woman Rides the Beast, Dave Hunt, p. 85).

Pope Gregory VII (1073-85), “…declared that the power to ‘bind and loose’ granted by Christ to Peter gave the popes ‘the right to make and unmake kings, to construct and reconstruct governments, to wrest from those who disobeyed all the territory held by them, and to bestow it upon those who would hold it subject to papal authority'” (A Woman Rides the Beast, p. 233).

On what foundation do such bold claims rest? They rest on the proposition that Jesus Christ gave to Peter the power to “bind and loose,” and that power somehow was passed on to a supposed unbroken line of successors. The idea is that Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and that he was the first Pope, and that his authority has been passed down to his successors as Bishops of Rome.

It would seem that anyone, especially those who are interested in following Jesus Christ, would want to carefully examine such claims, to test their legitimacy. Before turning over your hope of salvation to such claims, wouldn’t you want to know their validity? Let’s then examine the question: “Was Peter the First Pope?”

It is claimed, as indicated in statements quoted earlier, that the Pope’s authority rests on Christ’s statement to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Shortly I want to analyze this Scripture in detail. But first let’s take a look at the claim that Peter was the Bishop of Rome.

There is nothing in Scripture that indicates that Peter was the Bishop of Rome, or that he was ever in Rome. It’s alleged that the first epistle of Peter was written in Rome, although Peter concludes his letter in part as follows: “She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you.…” (I Peter 5:13).

It’s claimed that Babylon was used here as a code word for Rome. The city of Babylon was in Asia, in Mesopotamia, in what is now Iraq. In the book of Revelation “Babylon” is used symbolically for Rome, as was generally recognized from early in the Christian era.

But Peter, and the others of the twelve original apostles, were sent to minister primarily to Israelites, not Gentiles. “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” (Matthew 10:5-6).

It is true that later Peter and John went to Samaria to lay hands on some converts who had been baptized. Many of the Christians in Judea had fled to Samaria and elsewhere as a result of persecution, and after the deacon Philip had preached the gospel in Samaria many believed the message. Hence Peter and John were sent to lay hands on those who had been converted.

These apostles also preached at times to other Gentiles. Peter was sent to Caesarea to introduce the gospel to a group of Gentiles. Jesus had told them before he ascended into heaven after his resurrection that they were to take the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19). This was a commission to not just the twelve apostles, but to the Church, for the entire age.

But the original apostles still were sent primarily to the peoples descended from Israel. If you trace the traditions that indicate where the twelve apostles went, it was mostly to areas where various Israelite peoples had migrated and were living at that time in history. Paul, who was converted after Jesus had been crucified, was appointed the leading apostle to the Gentiles. “But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised” (Galatians 2:7-9).

Gills Commentary states in commenting on 1 Peter 5:13: “…that Peter was at Rome, when he wrote this epistle, cannot be proved, nor any reason be given why the proper name of the place should be concealed, and a figurative one expressed. It is best therefore to understand it literally, of Babylon in Assyria, the metropolis of the dispersion of the Jews, and the centre of it….” Babylon was the home of a great number of Jews at the time. The majority of Jews carried captive there hundreds of years earlier did not return to Judea. Many even at the time of the apostles remained in the area of Babylon. And many Israelites from other of the thirteen tribes also were in Parthia at the time, which occupied much of the Middle East, including Babylon.

Paul, not Peter, wrote the epistle to the Romans. When he wrote that epistle, perhaps around 55 A.D., a church had already been established there. It was a predominately Gentile church, as Paul mentions in his epistle. He expressed a desire to go to Rome to help establish, or strengthen, the Church there. This would have been unnecessary if Peter had been there as the leader or bishop of the church in Rome. Paul sends greetings by name to a number of people in the church at Rome, but Peter’s name is not mentioned. Obviously, Peter was not in Rome, nor was he the one who had founded the church there.

Halley’s Bible Handbook comments, “The Roman Catholic tradition that Peter was the First Pope is Fiction pure and simple. There is no New Testament hint, and no historical evidence whatsoever, that Peter was at any time Bishop of Rome” (p. 874). The Encyclopedia Britannica states, “…there is no historical evidence that St. Peter was Rome’s first bishop….” (“Papacy,” britannica.com, retrieved 6-19-21).

As pointed out in Dave Hunt’s book, A Woman Rides the Beast, there is no clear line of succession, and many of those who have succeeded to the office of pope in Rome were scoundrels who bought the office, or gained it by intrigue, sometimes murder, and who lived scandalous lives completely lacking in any hint of Biblical morality.

Peter was clearly the leading spokesman among the apostles early in the history of the Church after Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, by the time of the Jerusalem conference of Acts 15, which I believe occurred in 49 A.D., It was not Peter, but rather James, a half-brother of Jesus, who had become an apostle (Galatians 1:19), who made the final judgment. “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God” (Acts 15:19, KJV).

This verse in Bible in Basic English translation: (Acts 15:19) “For this reason my decision is, that we do not put trouble in the way of those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God.” And the assembly agreed to this decision by James.

Paul rebuked Peter on an occasion at Antioch when he had refused to eat with Gentile brethren. “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:11-12). Clearly, Peter was not the “pope” of the early Church, issuing decrees claiming the kind of authority that many of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church have claimed.

Let’s take a closer look now at Matthew 16:18-19: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The way this is translated it appears that Peter is given authority to make decisions, and whatever he decides will be ratified automatically by God in heaven. However, that is not really what the Scripture says, for the words translated “will be bound” and “will be loosed” are future perfect in the original Greek.

A far more accurate translation of these words in verse 19 is Young’s Literal Translation:

“And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens” (Matthew 16:18-19, YLT).

Several other translations have similar wording.

Concordant Literal Translation for example (Matthew 16:18-19):

“Now I, also, am saying to you that you are Peter, and on this rock will I be building My ecclesia, and the gates of the unseen shall not be prevailing against it. I will be giving you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatsoever you should be binding on the earth shall be those things having been bound in the heavens, and whatsoever you should be loosing on the earth shall be those having been loosed in the heavens.”

Jesus is stating a condition concerning what should be bound on the earth. Whatever should or might be bound on the earth must already have been bound in heaven. In other words, the authority to loose and bind is limited to those things already bound in heaven, as specified in Divine law, God’s word.

This authority to bind and loose was not given to Peter alone. It was given to all the apostles Christ appointed.

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that `by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:15-18, the future perfects apply here as well).

This authority, such as it is, is limited to making judgments in matters of controversy (Matthew 18:15-17). In the Greek the words for “you bind” and “you loose” in the Greek are singular in Matthew 16, but plural in Matthew 18:18. It is given to all true ministers (not impostors), in their own spheres of responsibility. Only judgments made in accordance with God’s law and his will, however, have any legitimacy.

Following is an explanation from a Greek grammar, Basics of Biblical Greek:
“In some translations of Matthew 18:18, it sounds like Jesus promised his disciples that whatever they bound on earth would be bound in heaven, and whatever they loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven. In other words, they had the power to bind and loose, and Heaven (i.e., God) would simply back up their decrees. But the matter is not quite so simple; the actions described in heaven are future perfect passives—which could be translated “will have already been bound in heaven … will have already been loosed in heaven.” In other words, the heavenly decree confirming the earthly one is based on a prior verdict.

“This is the language of the law court. Jewish legal issues were normally decided in Jesus’ day by elders in the synagogue community (later by rabbis). Many Jewish people believed that the authority of Heaven stood behind the earthly judges when they decided cases based on a correct understanding of God’s law. (This process came to be called “binding and loosing.”) Jesus’ contemporaries often envisioned God’s justice in terms of a heavenly court; by obeying God’s law, the earthly court simply ratified the decrees of the heavenly court. In Matthew 18:15-20, Christians who follow the careful procedures of verses 15-17 may be assured that they will act on the authority of God’s court when they decide cases.” (Craig S. Keener, Page 115, Basics of Biblical Greek, William D. Mounce, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1993).

This is consistent with many other Scriptures, that clearly inform us that God’s word is supreme. All Christians, including ministers who are truly God’s ministers, are bound by his word. God and Christ are not bound by the word of any human.

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32).

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).

Gill’s Commentary on Proverbs 30:6: “To the words of God; as the Jews did, by joining their oral law, or the traditions of the elders, to the written word, and preferring them before it; and as the Papists, by making their unwritten traditions, and the sense and determinations of their church, equal to the Scriptures; and as all enthusiasts do, who set up their pretended dreams, visions, revelations, and prophecies, upon a foot with the word of God, or as superior to it; whereas that is, and that only, the rule and standard of faith and practice, and is a sufficient and perfect one.”

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

Gill on John 15:7: “Abiding in Christ is here explained by his words or doctrines abiding in his disciples….”

God’s word, his commandments, are to be in the heart of every Christian. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

What about John 20:23? “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The context shows that these words were spoken to his disciples (John 20:19), which would have included the twelve at least (if not others), although Thomas was not present on this occasion (John 20:24).

Barnes New Testament Notes on John 20:23: “Verse 23. Whosoever sins, Mt 16:19, Mt 18:18. It is worthy of remark here that Jesus confers the same power on all the apostles. He gives to no one of them any peculiar authority. If Peter, as the Papists pretend, had been appointed to any peculiar authority, it is wonderful that the Saviour did not here hint at any such pre-eminence. This passage conclusively proves that they were invested with equal power in organizing and governing the church. The authority which he had given Peter to preach the gospel first to the Jews and the Gentiles, does not militate against this. Mt 16:18, Mt 16:19. This authority given them was full proof that they were inspired. The meaning of the passage is not that man can forgive sins–that belongs only to God (Isa 43:23), [note: should be verse 25] but that they should be inspired; that in founding the church, and in declaring the will of God, they should be taught by the Holy Ghost [sic] to declare on what terms, to what characters, and to what temper of mind God would extend forgiveness of sins. It was not authority to forgive individuals, but to establish in all the churches the terms and conditions on which men might be pardoned, with a promise that God would confirm all that they taught; that all might have assurance of forgiveness who would comply with those terms; and that those who did not comply should not be forgiven, but that their sins should be retained. This commission is as far as possible from the authority which the Roman Catholic claims of remitting sin and of pronouncing pardon.”

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on John 20:23: “It is certain God alone can forgive sins; and it would not only be blasphemous, but grossly absurd, to say that any creature could remit the guilt of a transgression which had been committed against the Creator. The apostles received from the Lord the doctrine of reconciliation, and the doctrine of condemnation. They who believed on the Son of God, in consequence of their preaching, had their sins remitted; and they who would not believe were declared to lie under condemnation.”

This has to do with doctrine, and the preaching of the true doctrine of salvation. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16). The apostles were charged with the responsibility to make the knowledge of salvation, how to attain it, known to the world, by faithfully teaching God’s word.

“… and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15).

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalms 19:7).

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).”

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (I Peter 1:10-25).

“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior” (Titus 1:1-3).

“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:1-4).

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith–to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (Romans 16:24-27).

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Now going back to Matthew 16:18: “And I also say to you that you are Peter [petros], and on this rock [petra] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Peter — Greek petros, Peter’s name, means “a detached stone or boulder,” or “a stone that might be thrown or easily moved,” as opposed to petra, (Christ referring to himself), meaning “a mass of rock,” or “foundation” stone, or “rocky fortress” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary; Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich Greek-English Lexicon). The Church is built preeminently on Christ, not Peter.

“Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone [Jesus Christ], elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (I Peter 2:6-8).

“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.(Ephesians 2:17-22).

The Roman Catholic Papacy claims to have the Keys to the kingdom of heaven, and the power to open or shut the door to salvation. But what are the keys to salvation according to Scripture? They are the knowledge of Christ, and ancillary keys (Luke 11:52; II Peter 1:2-11). These keys are in the possession of all true representatives of Christ, and all who have the true knowledge of Christ. It is the knowledge necessary for salvation.

“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered” (Luke 11:52).

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:2-11).

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:19-21).

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1:21-25).

What were the keys that were given to Peter? They are further specified in statements Peter made to those to whom he was testifying:

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 2:38).

“But in every nation whoever hears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35).

No one has the authority to overrule God, or, except for God the Father, Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Colossians 1:13-18). Otherwise the tail would be wagging the dog. Authority to make judgments has validity only when used in accordance with God’s will and his word. Peter was an apostle, a herald of the gospel. But he was not a despot, he did not, unlike the Papacy, claim to rule the world, much less heaven and hell. He followed Christ and encouraged others to follow in Christ’s footsteps. But he did not seek to kill those who were not inclined to listen to him.

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (I Peter 2:21-25).

The Shepherd and Overseer of our souls is Jesus Christ (John 10:11-16). Peter was not the first Pope.

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