Cedarbay
New member
"Mr. Ray's book about Papal Primacy focuses much of its attention insisting that Peter lived in Rome. In other words because Peter had his P.O. Box in the secular city of power, that entitled him to a primacy of authority which later Roman Pontiffs inherited (even when there were two or three popes at the same time in France and at Rome?!) But there can be a difference between power and authority which Mr. Ray fails to acknowledge.
The Church of the Scriptures and Early Church History had several places of authority (e.g., Jerusalem, Ephesus), that may not have seemed very powerful by secular standards. Yet they were places of authority because of how the "heads" of the churches in those communities (apostles James, John) lived their lives as well as laid down their power and their lives in faithfulness to Christ as much as Peter.
Mr. Ray's own Roman Catholic Church points this out in its ecumenical document "Papal Primacy and the Universal Church."
Papal Primacy raises more questions for all Christians not so that we will become part of the Roman Catholic Church, but so that the Catholic/Universal Church may be a better witness about authority and power in and for the world."
Amazon review of Stephen Ray's book, "Upon This Rock".
The Church of the Scriptures and Early Church History had several places of authority (e.g., Jerusalem, Ephesus), that may not have seemed very powerful by secular standards. Yet they were places of authority because of how the "heads" of the churches in those communities (apostles James, John) lived their lives as well as laid down their power and their lives in faithfulness to Christ as much as Peter.
Mr. Ray's own Roman Catholic Church points this out in its ecumenical document "Papal Primacy and the Universal Church."
Papal Primacy raises more questions for all Christians not so that we will become part of the Roman Catholic Church, but so that the Catholic/Universal Church may be a better witness about authority and power in and for the world."
Amazon review of Stephen Ray's book, "Upon This Rock".