Joshua Bennett
Catholicism holds that St. Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, was the first pope. He is also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas. According to the Roman Catholic Church, Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and thus the first pope. This belief stems from the interpretation of Jesus' statement in Matthew 16:18, where he calls Peter the rock upon which he will build his church. However, this interpretation is disputed, and some argue that Peter never claimed supremacy over the other apostles, nor is there any mention of the term pope in the Bible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Church's belief | Peter was the first pope |
| Saint Peter | Also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, Cephas |
| Peter's role | One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church |
| Catholic and Orthodox tradition | Peter was the first bishop of Rome or pope, and also the first bishop of Antioch |
| Peter's leadership | Estimated to have spanned from AD 30 or 33 to his death, possibly the longest-reigning pope |
| Catholic belief | Simon Peter was chosen by Jesus to hold the first place of honour and authority |
| Apostolic succession | Peter's apostolic authority was passed on to those who later filled his seat as bishop of Rome |
| Peter's writings | Nowhere does he claim any special role, authority, or power over the body of Christ |
| Peter's crucifixion | Crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero |
| Pope Francis | Presented relics of Saint Peter, consisting of bone fragments, in 2013 |
| Pope Paul VI | Announced bones found beneath St Peter's Basilica were most likely the relics of Apostle Peter |
| Saint Peter's patronage | Patron saint of popes, Rome, netmakers, shipbuilders, fishermen, locksmiths, cobblers, and those with foot problems |
| Saint Peter's death | Died as a martyr for his faith, crucified upside down in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero in 64 CE |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics believe Peter was the first pope
Catholics believe that St. Peter was the first pope, or the first Bishop of Rome. This belief is based on the interpretation of a passage in the Bible, Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says to Peter: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
The Catholic Church asserts that Peter's ministry, conferred upon him by Jesus, establishes the pope's pastoral authority over the Church. They believe that Peter had preeminent authority, or primacy, over the other apostles, and that his apostolic authority was passed on to those who later filled his seat as bishop of Rome. This passing on of authority is referred to as "apostolic succession."
However, this interpretation of Matthew 16:18 is disputed. Some argue that the Greek term for Peter, "Petros," is different from the term for rock, "petra," which is feminine. They claim that Jesus, who spoke Aramaic, was actually referring to Peter as "Kepha" or "Cephas," which does mean rock. Additionally, critics point out that nowhere in Scripture does Peter claim any special role or authority over the other apostles or the church as a whole.
Despite these differing interpretations, the belief that Peter was the first pope holds significant importance for Catholics. They claim that they can trace an unbroken line of popes back to St. Peter, and this is seen as evidence of the legitimacy of the Roman Catholic Church. Peter is also revered as a major saint and the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Rome by ancient Christian churches, although they differ in their views on the authority of his successors.
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The Eastern Orthodox disagree
The Eastern Orthodox interpretation is supported by the fact that there is no mention in Scripture of Peter exercising authority over the other apostles or the church at large. The Bible makes no reference to the idea that the bishop of Rome, or any other bishop, was to have primacy over the church. It delineates only two offices in the church: bishop/pastor/elder (interchangeable terms) and deacon. The elaborate hierarchy found in today’s Roman Catholic Church is not reflected in Scripture, and there is no hint of a pope in the Bible.
Furthermore, nowhere in Peter’s writings does he claim any special role, authority, or power over the body of Christ. He does not claim supremacy over the other apostles, nor does he mention that his apostolic authority would be passed on to successors. While Peter was indeed a spokesman for the disciples and played a crucial role in the early spread of the gospel, these facts do not support the idea that he was the first pope or that he was a “father” to all believers.
Oscar Cullmann, a Lutheran theologian and Church historian, rejects the Catholic claim that Peter began the papal succession. He argues that there is no starting point in Peter's life for a chain of succession to the leadership of the church at large.
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Protestants disagree
The Bible does not mention Peter or any other apostle stating that his apostolic authority would be passed on to successors. While Peter was often the spokesman for the disciples and played a crucial role in the early spread of the gospel, these facts do not support the idea that he was the first pope or that his authority was passed on to the bishops of Rome.
Protestants also disagree with the Catholic interpretation of certain Bible passages. For example, when Jesus called Peter "the rock" on which he would build his church (Matthew 16:18), Protestants argue that Jesus was referring to himself or the faith of his followers, not to Peter. They point out that the word used for "rock" in the original Aramaic is different from Peter's name, which would indicate that Jesus was not referring to Peter as the foundation of the church.
Furthermore, Protestants argue that there is no evidence that Peter ever visited Rome or had any connection with the papacy. The idea that Peter was the first pope relies on the belief that he was the first Bishop of Rome, but there is little to no corroborating evidence for this claim. While some sources suggest that Peter and Paul founded the Church of Rome, there is no direct evidence of Peter's presence in Rome or his involvement in establishing the Roman diocese.
Finally, Protestants believe that only Jesus, as the head of the church, has the authority to make laws or override the laws found in the New Testament. The idea of apostolic succession, where each pope is seen as a successor to Peter, is not supported by Scripture. The apostles had no successors because no one today fits the qualifications of an apostle, which include being an eyewitness to the resurrection of Christ.
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There is no mention of Peter's supremacy in the Bible
The Roman Catholic Church holds that Peter was the first pope, and that he held primacy over the other apostles. However, there is no biblical evidence to support the idea that Peter was the first pope or that he held authority over the other apostles.
The Catholic Church bases its claim on the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 16:18, which states: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it; and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." The term "rock" has been interpreted as referring to Peter, with the belief that Jesus intended to build his Church on Peter and grant him authority. However, this interpretation is disputed.
Firstly, it is argued that the original Aramaic word used by Jesus was "kepha," which can be translated as "rock." This interpretation suggests that Jesus was not referring to Peter but rather using a play on words to emphasize the importance of Peter's testimony that Jesus was the Son of God. Additionally, the Greek term for "rock" in this passage is "petra," which is a feminine noun. While it has been argued that the change to the masculine form "petros" for Peter was purely stylistic, it is worth noting that Jesus spoke Aramaic, and "kepha" is the Aramaic word for "rock."
Secondly, the Bible does not indicate that Peter held any special role, authority, or power over the other apostles or the early Christian Church. Peter's writings, such as 1 Peter, do not suggest that he or his successors should have primacy over the church. Instead, he emphasizes the role of Jesus as the true Shepherd and Overseer of the church (1 Peter 2:25).
Furthermore, there is no historical evidence to support the claim that Peter was the first pope. Even Catholic historians acknowledge that there is no evidence of a pope in the first century. While Peter is honored and considered a major saint, there is no indication that he held the office of Bishop of Rome or that he was the head of the Christian church.
In summary, while the Roman Catholic Church maintains that Peter was the first pope and had primacy, this belief is not supported by biblical or historical evidence. The interpretation of Matthew 16:18 as evidence of Peter's supremacy is disputed, and there are no explicit mentions of his authority over the apostles or the early church in Scripture.
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Peter did not claim authority over other apostles
The Roman Catholic Church considers Peter, or Saint Peter, to be the first pope, with Jesus choosing him to build His church (Matthew 16:18). According to the Catholic Church, Peter had preeminent authority, or primacy, over the other apostles. However, there is no biblical evidence to support the claim that Peter held primacy or claimed authority over the other apostles.
Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is recognized as one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He is described as a "foundation of the holy Church" and the "head of the fountain from which my teaching flows". However, nowhere in Peter's writings does he claim any special role, authority, or power over the other apostles. In his letters, he refers to himself as a "fellow elder" and a "witness", indicating that he considered himself as an equal to the other apostles.
The New Testament, which includes two letters written by Peter, does not demonstrate that he held primacy. Peter's leadership and role as a spokesman for the disciples do not imply that he had authority over them. His role in the early spread of the gospel also does not suggest that he was the first pope or that he had supremacy over the other apostles.
The concept of apostolic succession, where Peter's apostolic authority is passed on to subsequent bishops of Rome, is not supported by Scripture. There is no indication in Scripture that Peter or any other apostle intended for their authority to be passed on to successors. The Bible delineates the offices of bishop/pastor/elder and deacon, but it does not include the elaborate hierarchy found in today's Roman Catholic Church.
While the Catholic Church maintains that Peter was the first pope and had authority over the other apostles, this claim is not supported by Scripture. Peter did not claim authority over the other apostles, and his teachings and writings do not support the idea of papal supremacy or apostolic succession.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church considers Peter to be the first pope. They believe he was appointed by Jesus himself, who chose to build his church upon him.
In the Bible, Jesus calls Peter "the rock" upon which he will build his church. The Catholic Church interprets this to mean that Peter was the foundation of the church. Additionally, Jesus gave Peter "the keys of the kingdom of heaven", suggesting he was to be the gatekeeper.
Peter was not Catholic as the term did not exist at the time. However, he was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and was one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church.
While Catholics believe that Peter had primacy over the other apostles, this is not supported by Scripture. There is no mention of Peter having authority over the other apostles or the church at large.
