Binding and loosing

[rcwitness]

… what is meant by binding and loosing as mentioned in Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 18:18.

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Here is the Haydock commentary:

Whatsoever you shall bind, &c. The power of binding and loosing, which in a more eminent manner was promised to St. Peter, is here promised to the other apostles and their successors, bishops and priests. (Witham) — The power of binding and loosing, conferred on St. Peter, excelled that granted to the other apostles, inasmuch as to St. Peter, who was head and pastor of the whole Church, was granted jurisdiction over the other apostles, while these received no power over each other, much less over St. Peter. (Tirinus) — Priests receive a power not only toloose, but also to bind, as St. Ambrose writeth against the Novatians, who allowed the latter, but denied the former power to priests. (Lib. i. de pœnit. chap. ii.) (Bristow)

 

[rcwitness]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

553 Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The “power of the keys” designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: “Feed my sheep.” The power to “bind and loose” connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.

1445 The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God.

 

[susanlo]

Good question susanlo,

Id like to learn about some first century references also. First, may i ask what your Christian community believes the reference to mean?

Something similar to the 3rd option - the authority to preach the Gospel and proclaim salvation through Jesus.

 

[rcwitness]

Something similar to the 3rd option - the authority to preach the Gospel and proclaim salvation through Jesus.

Thank you.

Binding and loosening = preaching the Gospel?

Are you putting the emphasis on “the authority” to preach the Gospel?

Did Peter have a distinct “authority” in the Church to “preach the Gospel”?

 

[susanlo]

Thank you.

Binding and loosening = preaching the Gospel?

Are you putting the emphasis on “the authority” to preach the Gospel?

Did Peter have a distinct “authority” in the Church to “preach the Gospel”?

Peter was the first one to preach the Gospel and offer people forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ sacrifice.
This explains my understanding of it: gotquestions.org/binding-loosing.html

 

[rcwitness]

Peter was the first one to preach the Gospel and offer people forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ sacrifice.
This explains my understanding of it: gotquestions.org/binding-loosing.html

I don’t think this is opposed to the Catholic view. The Catholic faith does acknowledge a sucessíve office which Peter was given.

It doesn’t mean Peter’s successor is able to reveal/preach/teach any new revelation. The Apostles (the 12 and extended) alone were able to do that. It does mean that, just like the “keys” of authority to preach were placed to one man among the Apostles, the “keys” of authority to preach are in one Bishops hands.

The Keys are very important to understanding the Catholic faith, not just the binding And loosening. It is why St Paul was compelled to do this:

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
…Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain.

St Paul had the authority, às an Apostle, to preach the gospel. However, there were matters within the gospel that even the Apostles were not in unity over. This matter needed the Keys to resolve. Paul knew the Lord’s will over the matter, but it would not be binding on the whole Church without Peter’s confirmation, and declaring it through his magisterial office.

 

[rcwitness]

I do believe it is diminishing the Lord’s pastoral care to only accept “binding and loosening” as preaching the foundation of the Gospel.

I think it’s more accurate to say it is governing and shepherding, feeding and administering.