PAPAL SUCCESSION IS NOT FROM PETER

One of the most basic doctrines of the Roman Catholic church is the erroneous claim that the succession of popes continued in an unbroken line of descent from the Apostle Peter. The fact that Jesus never instituted the office of pope clearly refutes all claims that the pope is the vicar of Christ (meaning vice-Christ) on earth, and a successor of the Apostle Peter. Not only was Peter himself not a pope, but Jesus even forbid anyone to be called pope, meaning father, except for the heavenly Father:

And call no man your father [or pope in Greek and Latin] on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

- Jesus the Christ147 

The popes’ spurious claim of succession from the Apostle Peter is founded on Jesus’ declaration that He would build His church of believers upon "this rock:"

Now ... Jesus ... asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" ... Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ ... And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter [Petros in Greek], and on this rock [petra in Greek] I will build my church [body of believers], and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...

- Jesus the Christ148 

The Roman Catholic church maintains that Jesus gave the Apostle Peter a superior position upon which the entire church was built, and that the popes continue Peter’s position as the rock of the Christian church. In the Greek translation of the Bible, however, the Greek word petra refers to a "large rock,"149  whereas, Peter’s name in Greek is Petros meaning a "small rock" or a "piece of rock."150  Somewhat later, Augustine, who was sainted by the Roman Catholic church, amended the position of the Roman Catholic church by clarifying that the rock refers to Jesus’ title of Christ and not to the Apostle Peter:

Augustine in his later years retracted what he at first believed - the interpretation of the Roman Church that Peter was the Rock.  He says. "I have said somewhere of St. Peter that the Church is built on him as the ‘Rock’; but I have since said that the Word of the Lord.  ‘Thou are Peter, and upon this Petra I will build my church,’ must be understood of Him [Jesus] whom Peter confesses to be ‘the Son of the Living God.’  Peter so named after this ‘Rock’ represents the person of the Church, and has received the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.  It was not said of him, ‘thou art Petra,’ but ‘thou art Petros,’ and the Rock was Christ; through confession of whom Simon received the name Peter.

- Augustine151 

Thus, the rock on which Jesus the Christ built His church of believers refers to Peter’s realization that Jesus was the prophesied Christ and not to the Apostle Peter. In addition, biblical passages reveal that all of Jesus’ apostles, including the Apostle Peter, taught that Jesus the Christ was the foundation stone and head cornerstone of the church, and not Peter much less any pagan pope:

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

- Apostle Paul152 

According to the commission of God given to me [Apostle Paul], like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

- Apostle Paul153

Come to him [Jesus the Christ], to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

"Behold, I am laying in Zion [King David’s Throne154 ] a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame." To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner [i.e., head cornerstone]," and "A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall"; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

- Apostle Peter155 

This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner [head cornerstone]. And there is salvation in no one else [but Jesus the Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

- Luke156 

... [Jesus the] Christ is the head of the church, his body.

-Apostle Paul157 

... and he [God] has put all things under his feet and has made him [Jesus the Christ] the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

- Apostle Paul158 

Now I [Apostle Paul] rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his [Jesus the Christ’s] body, that is, the church ...

- Apostle Paul159 

If Peter were the greatest of the apostles upon whom Jesus built His church, then Jesus would have said so when His disciples asked Him who was the greatest in heaven. Instead, of praising any of His disciples, Jesus declared that none of His apostles were above the others:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

- Apostle Matthew160 

... You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

- Apostle Mark161 

If any apostle could possibly be singled out as the greatest teacher it would probably have to be the Apostle Paul, who promoted Jesus’ Gospel among the Gentiles. Also, the Apostle Paul referred to the Apostles Peter, James, and John as pillars of the faith; but, he emphasized that he was no less than any of the other apostles, and he even opposed Peter who stood condemned:

... when they saw that I [Apostle Paul] had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised [i.e. Gentiles], just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised [i.e. Jews] ... and when they perceived the grace that was given to me [Apostle Paul], James and Cephas [Apostle Peter] and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised ...

- Apostle Paul162 

I [Apostle Paul] have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.

- Apostle Paul163 

But when Cephas [Apostle Peter] came to Antioch I [Apostle Paul] opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

- Apostle Paul164 

If Peter were Jesus’ appointed successor and head of the church, then it is unlikely that Paul would oppose Peter and state that Peter stood condemned.

In the Catholic Encyclopedia, an article entitled "Peter" states that according to tradition, Peter appeared as bishop of Rome between 42 A.D. and 67 A.D.165 , which presents chronological problems.166  Around 46 A.D., Peter was present in the council at Jerusalem.167  Also, about 53 A.D., the Apostle Paul joined Peter in Antioch.168  Furthermore, Paul’s letter to the Romans around 58 A.D.,169  greeted twenty-seven individuals by name without mentioning Peter.170  It is inconceivable that Paul would not address Peter, especially if Peter were head of the church at Rome. Thus, it is unlikely that the Apostle Peter was bishop of Rome between 42 A.D. and 67 A.D. In fact, there is no evidence that Peter ever visited Rome. Biblical accounts list several places Peter journeyed during his ministry, including Antioch, Samaria, Joppa, Caesarea, but never Rome.171  This would certainly be a flagrant omission of Peter’s ministry since Rome was considered the most important city of the western world at that time.

Perusal of the rituals of the pagan Roman Catholic popes reveal that they are nothing like the Apostle Peter. Roman Catholic popes and priests practice religious celibacy, whereas, the Apostle Peter was married.172  Also, Roman Catholics bow before the pope and kiss his foot and ring, but Peter permitted no one to bow before him:

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."

- Luke173 

Unlike the popes, Peter did not wear a crown. Instead, he revealed that we all obtain a crown of glory when the chief Shepherd is manifested:

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.... And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

- Apostle Peter174 

The crown worn by the popes is either the fish-mouth miter or tiara of the pagan fish-god Dagon, and are certainly not bestowed on them by the chief Shepherd (Figure 5).

The Roman Catholic church once claimed to posses the chair in which Peter sat while he was at Rome.175  The church, however, no longer boasts this claim because scientific examination of the chair reveals that it is no older than the ninth century. Also, plates on the front of the chair display mythological animals from the "fabled labors of Hercules," which is another name for Nimrod.176  The Apostle Peter would most certainly never sit on a ninth century chair displaying symbols of the pagan-god Nimrod; but, the pagan Roman Catholic popes would indeed sit upon such a chair as head of Babylonian paganism disguised as Trinitarian Christianity.

Notes

147. Matthew 23:9.

148. Matthew 16:13-19.

149. PETRA. a (mass of) rock. Word 4073, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary.

150. PETROS. a piece of rock. Word 4074, ibid.

151. The Names of Christ, p. 59.

152. Ephesians 2:19-22.

153. 1 Corinthians 3:10,11.

154. Psalms 2:6.

155. 1 Peter 2:6-8.

156. Acts 4:11.

157. Ephesians 5:23.

158. Ephesians 1:23,24.

159. Colossians 1:24,25.

160. Matthew 18:1-4.

161. Mark 10:35-45.

162. Galatians 2:7-9.

163. 2 Corinthians 12:11.

164. Galatians 2:11.

165. PETER. The Catholic Encyclopedia.

166. Babylon Mystery Religion, pp. 77, 78.

167. Acts 15:1-41.

168. Galatians 2:11.

169. ROMANS, EPISTLE TO THE. The New Compact Bible Dictionary.

170. Romans 16:1-16.

171. Acts 8:4; 9:38-42; 10:1-24; Galatians 2:11

172. Matthew 8:14.

173. Acts 10:25,26.

174. 1 Peter 5:1-4.

175. Babylon Mystery Religion, pp. 86, 87.

176. The Two Babylons, p. 34.