I could and I do. It's what I meant in saying what I said before, 'It's the most natural, plainest reading of the verse.'
And that all by itself isn't sufficient proof---understood. Which is why my next step is not to plumb the other scriptures, although there's nothing wrong in doing that, and ought to be done by any student of the Word, but to examine history, to see what the earliest Church believed and taught concerning the verse, if anything.
And all history testifies to the Church from the beginning taking Peter as her supreme pastor, and his successors. Did you know that the Gospel of John was written after Peter died, and that therefore it was actually St. Linus who was sitting in Peter's chair at the time, and what did John do, in his Gospel, among a wide variety of other differences between John and Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but he emphasized Peter's position, especially in the account in chapter 21, when Jesus actually gave Peter his post-Resurrection commission: "Feed My sheep" x 3!
The reason I reject your conclusion, is because it defies 'the most natural, plainest reading of the verse.'
And another thing:
Then contrast that notion further with Paul actually consecrating bishops like Timothy and Titus, who are just two named bishops of the first Church, bishops being one of the named layers of Church hierarchy, that's littered throughout the NT epistles, including also deacons. Protestants who deny Church hierarchy are plugging their ears and covering their eyes to the scriptures, and what they testify to, concerning the earliest Church, and her hierarchy of pastors.
There are authorized pastors, and they are created through the imposition of hands, by authorized pastors; the sacrament of Holy Orders. The Apostles themselves, including Paul, created the first non-Apostle pastors, such as Timothy and Titus.
The Papacy is Christ's gift to His Bride, a permanent authorized office of supreme pastorship over her.
I could and I do. It's what I meant in saying what I said before, 'It's the most natural, plainest reading of the verse.'
Except it's not, for a number of reasons.
Let's look at it, just the english translation.
[JESUS]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.[/JESUS] - Matthew 16:18
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew16:18&version=NKJV
If Jesus had meant He would build His church on Peter, why did He say "on
this rock" instead of "on you" or "on that rock"?
"This" and "that" are relative terms. If I have two rocks, and I have one in my hand, and you're holding the other and standing in front of me, I can say "That rock is in your hand, and this rock is in my hand."
Jesus said "You are Petros, and upon this rock." Not "You are Petros, and upon you/that rock."
If Jesus had said that latter, it could be understood as "You are rock, and upon that rock I will build..."
But He didn't. He said "this rock." Peter (aside from his name) was far from being a rock (or, "petra") in his spiritual life.
In addition, and I've said this so many times already, petros means a piece of rock. Petra means a large or a mass of rock. Petros is NOT petra. A piece of rock is not a mass of rock. Jesus didn't call Peter petra. He called him petros, and then said He would build His church on petra, a mass of rock.
And that all by itself isn't sufficient proof---understood.
Exactly. If the simplest understanding of something is not clear when you read it, then delve deeper.
Which is why my next step is not to plumb the other scriptures, although there's nothing wrong in doing that, and ought to be done by any student of the Word, but to examine history, to see what the earliest Church believed and taught concerning the verse, if anything.
So instead of examining scripture to determine what scripture says, instead of delving deeper into scripture, you go to church history?
If I haven't said it before plainly, I will now.
You value tradition over what scripture says. that's why you insist that Peter is the rock Jesus built His church on, and for no other reason than that.
That is a VERY DANGEROUS position to have.
And all history testifies to the Church from the beginning taking Peter as her supreme pastor, and his successors.
And what if that testimony is wrong? Hmm? If the "Church" got it wrong, and never realized their mistake, would that mean that their interpretation is correct?
This is why you don't appeal to tradition, because that tradition might be wrong.
Did you know that the Gospel of John was written after Peter died, and that therefore it was actually St. Linus who was sitting in Peter's chair at the time, and what did John do, in his Gospel, among a wide variety of other differences between John and Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but he emphasized Peter's position, especially in the account in chapter 21, when Jesus actually gave Peter his post-Resurrection commission: "Feed My sheep" x 3!
So recording the details of the events that had transpired had nothing to do with John recording Jesus restoring Peter, considering everything that Peter had just gone through (Jesus telling Peter he would deny Him three times, and then him actually doing it and immediately realizing it, and then watching his Master be crucified)? Peter was a basket case at that point, and might I say he was a broken man.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, [JESUS]“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”[/JESUS] He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, [JESUS]“Feed My lambs.”[/JESUS]He said to him again a second time, [JESUS]“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”[/JESUS] He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, [JESUS]“Tend My sheep.”[/JESUS]He said to him the third time, [JESUS]“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”[/JESUS] Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, [JESUS]“Do you love Me?”[/JESUS] And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, [JESUS]“Feed My sheep.Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”[/JESUS]This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, [JESUS]“Follow Me.”[/JESUS] - John 21:15-19
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John21:15-19&version=NKJV
If you weren't aware of the greek words being used in this passage, You should do a study on it, because, as has been said before, there are multiple words for love, and two of them are used in this passage.
The reason I reject your conclusion, is because it defies 'the most natural, plainest reading of the verse.'
Except it doesn't, because, as you said, your appeal to what tradition says is not proof that tradition is correct.
The "simplest and most plain reading" of scripture is when you look at scripture and see what it ACTUALLY SAYS, instead of relying on what tradition says that it means.
Scripture says, if you've read it, that Peter was far from being a petra in his faith (hence Jesus restoring Peter in John 21).
Scripture says, if you've read it, that Jesus was not just a petra, but a petra that houses are built upon, won't collapse when storms come, because they are built on a solid foundation. He's a stumbling stone and petra of offence. He's the spiritual Petra that the Israelite patriarchs drank from. He is the chief cornerstone. Even Peter himself says Jesus is petra in the very next verse.
And another thing:
Then contrast that notion further with Paul actually consecrating bishops like Timothy and Titus, who are just two named bishops of the first Church, bishops being one of the named layers of Church hierarchy, that's littered throughout the NT epistles, including also deacons. Protestants who deny Church hierarchy are plugging their ears and covering their eyes to the scriptures, and what they testify to, concerning the earliest Church, and her hierarchy of pastors.
There is nothing wrong with bishops.
They don't claim to be the head of the church.
The POPE, however, does, trying to take Christ's place at the head.
There are authorized pastors, and they are created through the imposition of hands, by authorized pastors; the sacrament of Holy Orders. The Apostles themselves, including Paul, created the first non-Apostle pastors, such as Timothy and Titus.
Again, my issue is not with the positions that teach, lead, and guide Christ's flock, it's with the one person and his office who claims to be the head of Christ's flock, when, as Paul says, CHRIST is the HEAD.
The Papacy is Christ's gift to His Bride, a permanent authorized office of supreme pastorship over her.
... According to... what? Tradition?
Please, provide scripture that places Peter over the twelve, and over Paul, and over the entire church, that resolves the twelve's bickering over who among them was the greatest literally only two chapters after Matthew 16:18. You know what Jesus' answer to them was? It wasn't, "Peter is the greatest, because hes the one I'm going to build My church on." No. Here's what happened:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,and said, [JESUS]“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.[/JESUS] - Matthew 18:1-5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew18:1-5&version=NKJV