Church Fathers - Peter

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Out of the “Pentarchy”, 3 Sees are Petrine: the Sees of Rome and Antioch were founded by St. Peter, and the See of Alexandria was founded by his disciple St. Mark. The Patriarch of Constantinople is the successor of St. Andrew, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem is the successor of St. James.

St. Thomas went off to India. The other apostles, I don’t know.
Thank you Peter J. I came across a website on the African Orthodox Church. They believe they have the Ark of the Covenant. All this fascinates me. I love history, that is why I see Revelation a Catholic book with most, not all, being fulfilled in the first century.I can see different points a view, I understand now were Spirit Meadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from, but it has no effect on my faith one way or the other.
 
Thank you Peter J. I came across a website on the African Orthodox Church. They believe they have the Ark of the Covenant. All this fascinates me. I love history, that is why I see Revelation a Catholic book with most, not all, being fulfilled in the first century.I can see different points a view, I understand now were Spirit Meadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from, but it has no effect on my faith one way or the other.
You’re very welcome. 🙂 Although I’m not too sure how my Orthodox friends would feel about the phrase “where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from” (see post #32 and the quotation therein).
 
You’re very welcome. 🙂 Although I’m not too sure how my Orthodox friends would feel about the phrase “where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from” (see post #32 and the quotation therein).
**I was going off post#31 where it is said some Orthodox believe like protestants on the keys not given to just Peter, but all the Apostles. It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other, I’m finding myself drawn towards the Catholic Church. I think Spirit brings in good points though. I can see where her faith is coming from, I guess that’s my point.A lot of this is new to me even though I have a limited education in history. I see the Latin Rite view, but I see the Orthodox view.To be totally honest the Byzantine Church fascinates me the most, but I live in a farm area and there isn’t one for 200 miles. The closes Catholic Church is 20 miles away. I’m just trying to learn and put my arms around this whole thread.:tiphat: **
 
I can see were the Latin right believes this, although I see in this post not all of the Eastern rite except Peter as head Apostle, I’m coming to understand their point of view, that all Apostles were equal. I further have come to understand that the Eastern rite still falls under the Primacy of Peter, the Church is One. Correct? With that being said are there not other Churches that may come into the Primacy of Peter? Is it that important then we debate whether Peter is first Pope, if Churches won’t to be in one accord with the teachings of all the Apostles?😉
Gabriel of 12;

I dont think you will find any Eastern Catholic church discounting Jesus words of building his church upon Peter? Are you aware then that we have recorded Popes who were Greek Fathers from the Eastern Church such as St. Clemen I of Rome, St. Julius I? The dispute about the Popes (Peter’s successors) does not come on the historical scene centuries later resulting in schism. There are many Eastern Saints who fowarded their concerns to the successors of Peter in the Popes, as did the first century Church. Pope Clement was one who settled a dispute in the Corinthian Church, while the Apostle John was still alive.

A word of caution here, those Eastern “orthodox” Church’s are not of a different Catholic church, these remain in schism with the successor of Peter that deals with an “Authority” issue which remains to be settled. So far as in keeping with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles the whole of Catholicism remains one body. The tear or schism comes a thousand years later that deals with authority and Popes clarifications defining Apostolic doctrine to the enemies of the Church, of which some Eastern Church’s have not accepted.

I agree with you, Peter as first Pope is not debatable. What does not get mentioned here is what Vatican II expressed in this situation of our Eastern brothers and sisters. That these can remain in their “Orthodox” Apostolic Traditions handed down to them, in Liturgy, Language and customs. The Pope has not severed ties with any of them, some have severed ties with the authority of Peter and his successors.

The reason I mentioned this; is because when you stated “All the teachings of the Apostles”, this opens another discussion of language and liturgy, which as any Eastern orthodox would tell you, are not all the same, but teach the same full deposit of faith. The Wester Church has grown with the World populace, to bring the Gospel of Jesus to new worlds, peoples, languages and cultures, some Eastern Church’s in schism will state Rome has changed from her “Orthodox” Apostolic Faith, but the reality is, Rome teaches the same Apostolic Catholic faith to all these new founded languages and peoples, not in the language of the apostles as some beautifully hold to from the East, but in the language of the people. People, Culture, language, customs can change but never the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you
 
Peter wasn’t the first pope, he was the ONLY pope. That is, if you define “pope” to mean one man over all the whole Church. By this definition of “pope” he held that position only until the other apostles joined him. During this short reign as pope he was surely not infallible because Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”.

The Keys (an orthodox confession in Christ is the Keys) was given to only one at the first to show that the Church is One. Much the same thing is likewise shown when you have The Supper of the Lord, which begins with only One Bread, but ends with all who partake. If anyone is in Christ they are all One Body. Likewise, the Chair of Peter is One, although their are many bishops all sit in but One Chair. If anyone leaves the unity continues without him. And according to St. Firmilian even the Bishop of Rome can leave this unity.

St. Firmilian & Synod of Iconium:
For you [The Bishop of Rome] have cut off yourself. Be not deceived; he is in truth the schismatic who has become by his own act an apostate from Church unity; for while you imagine that all can be cut off by you, you have but cut off yourself alone from all.
And here I cannot restrain my just indignation at the folly, so plain and so manifest, of [Pope] Stephen, that he, glorying as he does in the office of his episcopate, and claiming to succeed in a direct line from Peter, on whom are placed the foundations of the Church, should bring in other rocks, and lay the foundations of many new churches, giving to the baptisms solemnized in them the sanction of his authority.
 
If anyone leaves the unity continues without him. And according to St. Firmilian even the Bishop of Rome can leave this unity.
I don’t have a problem with that. Indeed, there’s something of a consensus among Catholics that any Pope who falls into heresy thereby ceases to be Pope.
 
**Thankyou for the info Gabriel of 12.
I was reflecting on the OP and the website he gave. I have read [the website and it’s claim of Matt. 16:18 the Greek word used “built upon” and it being again in Eph.2:20. I understand the debate of the Greek Petro and Petra for Rock vs Kepha in Aramaic.My questios are these:
  1. What is the Aramaic translation for 'Built upon"?
  2. Eph2:20 suggest the Curch “built upon” Apostles and Prophets teachings, Jesus being the Corner or Cap Stone. What is the Aramaic translation for “Cap stone” ?
  3. Is John VIII saying the Orthodox Church does not recognize the Latin succession of Popes?
All this translating can be confusing if you don’t speak Aramaic,Greek,and Latin.:confused:
Peace ****
 
Peter wasn’t the first pope, he was the ONLY pope. That is, if you define “pope” to mean one man over all the whole Church. By this definition of “pope” he held that position only until the other apostles joined him. During this short reign as pope he was surely not infallible because Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”.

The Keys (an orthodox confession in Christ is the Keys) was given to only one at the first to show that the Church is One. Much the same thing is likewise shown when you have The Supper of the Lord, which begins with only One Bread, but ends with all who partake. If anyone is in Christ they are all One Body. Likewise, the Chair of Peter is One, although their are many bishops all sit in but One Chair. If anyone leaves the unity continues without him. And according to St. Firmilian even the Bishop of Rome can leave this unity.

St. Firmilian & Synod of Iconium:
Hi John VIII, I’m trying to understand your post. I take it that you believe Peter was the only Pope until the Apostles joined him and there were no other Popes in Church history? When were the other Apostles in Rome? Was not Paul also an Apostle and did he not go to Rome first before Peter arrived?Last question, would that not make Paul the first and only Pope under this logic?:confused:
Peace be with you
 
**Thankyou for the info Gabriel of 12.
I was reflecting on the OP and the website he gave. I have read [the website and it’s claim of Matt. 16:18 the Greek word used “built upon” and it being again in Eph.2:20. I understand the debate of the Greek Petro and Petra for Rock vs Kepha in Aramaic.My questios are these:
  1. What is the Aramaic translation for 'Built upon"?
  2. Eph2:20 suggest the Curch “built upon” Apostles and Prophets teachings, Jesus being the Corner or Cap Stone. What is the Aramaic translation for “Cap stone” ?
  3. Is John VIII saying the Orthodox Church does not recognize the Latin succession of Popes?
All this translating can be confusing if you don’t speak Aramaic,Greek,and Latin.:confused:
Peace ****

Below are two translations from Aramaic to English, for Matthew 16:18.

**(Etheridge) Also I say unto thee, that thou art Kipha, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of Sheul shall not prevail against her.

(Murdock) Also I say to thee, that thou art Cephas: and upon this rock, I will build my church: and the gates of death shall not triumph over it.**

Below are the two Aramaic to English translations for Ephesians 2:20.

**(Etheridge) and you are builded upon the foundation of the apostles and of the prophets, and Jeshu the Meshiha himself is the chief corner of the building;

(Murdock) And ye are built upon the foundations of the legates and the prophets; and Jesus the Messiah hath become the head of the corner in the edifice.**
 
Hi John VIII, I’m trying to understand your post. I take it that you believe Peter was the only Pope until the Apostles joined him and there were no other Popes in Church history? When were the other Apostles in Rome? Was not Paul also an Apostle and did he not go to Rome first before Peter arrived?Last question, would that not make Paul the first and only Pope under this logic?:confused:
Peace be with you
I think John VIII has a mistaken idea of Catholic teaching. Specifically, he thinks that by “pope” we mean “universal bishop” (hence his statement that St. Peter was “pope”, i.e. universal bishop, only until Christ granted authority to the rest of the apostles as well).
 
You’re very welcome. 🙂 Although I’m not too sure how my Orthodox friends would feel about the phrase “where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from” (see post #32 and the quotation therein).
I don’t see why you are trying to create something here Peter. I didn’t carry my “history” forward to the split with the EO, since it was unnecessary to make my point. You continue for whatever reason to try to turn this issue to ecumenism and liberalism for some reason that is unknown to me.
 
Thanks SpiritMeadow, I would be happy to clarify the comment I made to Racing …
Although I’m not too sure how my Orthodox friends would feel about the phrase “where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from” (see post #32 and the quotation therein).
The Eastern Orthodox position, in a nutshell, is that the RCC was formed by breaking away from the one true Church (i.e. the Orthodox Church). This is clearly incompatible with what you said …
They disabused us quite quickly of a lot of “Catholic teaching” that attempts to make the RCC somehow the beginning of Christianity. That is certainly not the record established by a thorough examination of the documents. This of course is to be assumed to a degree, the Church desires legitimacy, especially in the face of opposition from various groups who also claimed primacy of theology. They were in the end suppressed as heresy, and eventually the RCC emerged.
I didn’t carry my “history” forward to the split with the EO
which is why I criticized Racing for saying “… where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from”.
 
Thanks SpiritMeadow, I would be happy to clarify the comment I made to Racing …

The Eastern Orthodox position, in a nutshell, is that the RCC was formed by breaking away from the one true Church (i.e. the Orthodox Church). This is clearly incompatible with what you said …

which is why I criticized Racing for saying “… where SpiritMeadow and the Orthodox Churches are coming from”. Quite frankly, I don’t think I owe him an apology for it, but if you want to badger me about it, well it’s free country.
I never said you owed him a apology. It seems you read a lot of “stuff” into what is actually written. I see you point as to what you are saying about my statement and true EO. I don’t know why you feel badgered. You seem to be only happy with me when I agree with you, an then get snarky when I don’t. Sorry to make you uncomfortable.
 
Peter wasn’t the first pope, he was the ONLY pope. That is, if you define “pope” to mean one man over all the whole Church. By this definition of “pope” he held that position only until the other apostles joined him. During this short reign as pope he was surely not infallible because Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”.

Gabriel of 12;

Interesting, you hold to a Pope definition that a Roman Catholic does not hold too. Pope does not define “One man over all the whole church”, your definition of Pope conflicts with Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Jesus himself is over all his Catholic (Universal) church, Peter and his successors are just Vicar’s of Jesus Christ, according to scripture. Peter the first Pope is the one God gave the vision to accept the Gentiles into the Church and the Centurion Cornelius was sent by God to seek out “Peter” as an answer to his prayers, Saul a convert now Paul sought out Peter, Peter was the first after the resurrection to raise the dead, heal the sick, excommunicate, coordinate “Judas” the traitors replacement Matthias, Peter is the one to announce a death sentence by the providence of the Holy Spirit to Ananias and his wife Sapphira (Acts 5), Peter is always listed first among the apostles in scripture, just to mention a few examples of Peter’s infallible teachings meaning without error through the Holy Spirit along with excercising his authority in the Kingdom of God.

Unless you have a different definition of “Infallible”, To a Roman Catholic Infallible does not mean that the Pope’s are impecable. Infallibility when excercised by Peter’s successor in the Popes, are “protected” by the Holy Spirit to teach the Gospel on faith and morals without error.

JohnVIII;
The Keys (an orthodox confession in Christ is the Keys) was given to only one at the first to show that the Church is One. Much the same thing is likewise shown when you have The Supper of the Lord, which begins with only One Bread, but ends with all who partake. If anyone is in Christ they are all One Body. Likewise, the Chair of Peter is One, although their are many bishops all sit in but One Chair. If anyone leaves the unity continues without him. And according to St. Firmilian even the Bishop of Rome can leave this unity.

St. Firmilian & Synod of Iconium:
Gabriel of 12;
The Keys? is an orthodox confession in Christ is the Keys? Then how do you account with the action of “binding and loosing” when the Keys to the Kingdom of God were given to Peter singularly from Matthew 16:16-19 these two are not seperate in the Kingdom of God. The Keys come with binding and loosing What Peter does on earth, Jesus will do in heaven in this binding and loosing. I dont see a confession in Christ is the Keys? Sure Jesus possesses the Keys of life and death, and gave them to Peter to excercise his Primeminister role on earth as Jesus does in heaven. The two are inseperatable in this action.

I can’t see the last supper has anything to do with Peter and his successors, other than each apostle was ordained to confect the Eucharist, and they inturn ordained Bishops in different provinces to do likewise with handed down Ordination in the Laying of hands,and Tradition both oral and written. I agree we have many members doing different functions in the Lords vineyard, and we are all one. But what does this have to do with Peter’s role when Jesus handed him the Keys to the Kingdom of God with the authority to bind and loose?

Peace be with you
 
**Thankyou for the info Gabriel of 12.
I was reflecting on the OP and the website he gave. I have read [the website and it’s claim of Matt. 16:18 the Greek word used “built upon” and it being again in Eph.2:20. I understand the debate of the Greek Petro and Petra for Rock vs Kepha in Aramaic.My questios are these:
  1. What is the Aramaic translation for 'Built upon"?
  2. Eph2:20 suggest the Curch “built upon” Apostles and Prophets teachings, Jesus being the Corner or Cap Stone. What is the Aramaic translation for “Cap stone” ?
  3. Is John VIII saying the Orthodox Church does not recognize the Latin succession of Popes?
All this translating can be confusing if you don’t speak Aramaic,Greek,and Latin.:confused:
Peace ****

Gabriel of 12;

See post #49 from Prodigal Son1 above for translation. Jesus in the “corner stone rejected by the builders” Jesus is the foundation of which he builds his Church upon Peter. Remember, the Catholic church is the Mystical “Body” of Jesus Christ, not a building or a select few. Grasping this mystery of Johns, and Pauls theology of the Church being the body of Jesus Christ makes hard to understand scripture easy from this context. Such as the apostles having 12 thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

I cant answer John VIII opinions for him, may God bless him. But “some” Eastern Orthodox" Catholic Church’s in schism with Peter’s successors in the Popes not all Eastern Orthodox Catholic Rites. Both secular history and Religious history well documents all the Popes in unbroken succession since Peter to present day successor Pope Benedict XVI. I believe these in schism begin to recognize the successors of Peter ended with St. Clement, others may have the succession ending later, what is interesting, this refusal of recognizing the successors of Peter in the Popes does not surface until 1054 a.d. Besides we have an Eastern Saint listing the first 12 Popes from Peter.

I agree with you, it can become quite confusing when trying to decipher different language biblical interpretations. But most, if not all biblical theologians follow St. Jeromes biblical interpretations from Hebrew, Greek into the “Vulgate” Latin. Did I mention St. Jerome was a Roman Catholic?
 
I’m no patristics expert, but it’s my opinion that William Webster completely ignores the voluminous Church Father testimony in favor of the Roman Primacy and can be accused of gross “proof-texting” himself. Perusing his article, I was struck by the absence of many Church Father passages demonstrating the exact opposite of what he says.

Here’s a quote from Steve Ray’s “Upon this Rock,” addressing William Webster’s inaccurate assessment of St. Cyprian (pg 184):
Code:
 In his book “Peter and the Rock,” Webster attempts to prove that Cyprian had no concept of Roman primacy and says that the citations he provides “reveal a consensus of scholarly opinion on Cyprian’s teaching effectively demonstrating the incompatibility of Cyprian’s views with those espoused by Vatican I.”  His comments seem to betray an ignorance of scholars who disagree with him.  His imagined “consensus” is one built upon selective proof-texting.  He quite blithely dismisses a *complete* modern consensus that cuts across Protestant, Catholic, and even secular (as well as conservative and liberal) lines with respect to the identification of Peter and the Rock in Matthew 16:18.  Instead, he points to Protestant apologists who often cite modernist Catholic theologians – those who have abandoned the historic teachings of the Church – to try to show that “our own” scholars have rejected our position but then refuse even to acknowledge their own Evangelical Protestant scholars who disagree with their position.  This amounts to a huge double standard that needs to be exposed for what it is.  Scholars who do not fit Webster’s consensus include B.C. Butler, John Chapman, E. Giles, A.H. Cullen, William, Barry, and Warren Carroll, to mention only a few.

 Webster’s section on St. Cyprian also demonstrates his unwillingness to represent fairly the process and necessity of doctrinal development within the Church.  As we have demonstrated earlier in this book: the oak tree has grown and looks perceptibly different from the fragile sprout that cracked the original acorn, yet the organic essence and identity remain the same.  Do the words of the very first Christians contain the full-blown understanding of the Papacy as expressed in Vatican I?  No, they do not, as Webster correctly observes.  But then, neither do the words of the first Christians present the fully developed understanding of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ (or the canon of the New Testament, for that matter) as expounded and practiced by later generations of the Church.  One must be careful not to read too much into the early centuries – but one must also be careful not to ignore the obvious doctrinal substance contained and practiced by our forbears, which was simply developed and implemented as the need arose throughout subsequent centuries.
Aside from Steve Ray’s comments, it’s my understanding that the Protestant argument that Peter is not the “rock” on which Christ built His Church is fast becoming a dead letter. Many recent Protestant Bible scholars, such as the highly respected D.A. Carson, R.T. France, W.F. Albright and J. Knox Chamblin candidly admit that the “rock” in this passage is undoubtedly Peter. Carson and France go so far as to say that non-Catholics who reject this interpretation do so only out of an overreaction to or prejudice against the Catholic position, not as a result of any sound Biblical exegesis.

In any event, I think Mr. Webster creates a false dichotomy when he cites early passages referring to the rock in Matthew 16:18 as Peter’s confession. Who says the passage can’t have a double meaning? It seems pretty clear to me, however, based on the context of the passage (with its clear allusion to Isaiah 22:20-22, where God gives a similar “key” –denoting both power and succession – to the chief steward of the Kingdom of Israel, who foreshadowed the Pope’s role in the restored Davidic Kingdom) as well as Church history, that Peter was in fact the rock on which Jesus built the Church.

As St. Augustine said: “There are many other things which rightly keep me in the bosom of the Catholic Church . . . The succession of priests, from the very see of the Apostle Peter, to whom our Lord, after His resurrection, gave the charge of feeding His sheep [John 21:15-17], up to the present episcopate [of Pope Siricius], keeps me here” (Against the Letter of Mani Called “The Foundation” [397 AD]). And I agree with St. Thomas Aquinas, who wrote: “Hence since the whole Church is one body, it behooves, if this oneness is to be preserved, that there be a governing power in respect of the whole Church, above the Episcopal power whereby each particular Church is governed, and this is the power of the Pope. Consequently those who deny this power are called schismatics as causing a division in the unity of the Church” (Summa Theologica Suppl., Q.40, Art. 6).
 
I also read the article and its very interesting. It gives very important information about Roman Catholic Churches.
Thanks for the link.
 
3) Is John VIII saying the Orthodox Church does not recognize the Latin succession of Popes?
No. I said, “according to St. Firmilian even the Bishop of Rome can leave this unity”. I did not say that the Bishop of Rome did leave this unity. (At least not until the reign of Pope Marinus I, that is.)
Hi John VIII, I’m trying to understand your post. I take it that you believe Peter was the only Pope until the Apostles joined him and there were no other Popes in Church history? When were the other Apostles in Rome? Was not Paul also an Apostle and did he not go to Rome first before Peter arrived?Last question, would that not make Paul the first and only Pope under this logic?:confused:
Peace be with you
The key to understanding what I had said is how I defined the word “Pope”. What I meant was the idea of an “Universal Bishop”. What I was trying to say is that all bishops must be equal, so the only time that there could be a universal bishop was when there was only one bishop, and the only time in history that I know that to have occurred was when St. Peter became the first. I don’t mean the first one in Rome, I mean the first apostle.
 
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