Some of the early apostles thought Gentile converts needed to be circumsized. Peter knew that that wasn’t correct but held his tongue.
This a very interesting revisioninst history you have here, Dokimas. You seem to have been contaminated by an anti-Catholic source. Let us examine what the record shows, shall we?
Act 11:4 But Peter gave them an account of it all in order …Act 11:18 And hearing these things they said nothing more, but gave glory to God, saying, Then to the Gentiles as to us has God given a change of heart, so that they may have life.
I wonder how they “heard these things” when Peter was so silent?
Act 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
Act 15:6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
Act 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Act 15:12 And all the assembly fell silent,
I wonder how it was that Peter could say that it was by his mouth that God made choice among all the Apotles that the Gentiles should hear the gospel? If he was 'silent" how did this happen?
Why is it that when Peter spoke, “all the assembly fell silent”? It seems to me that it was Peter’s words that caused them all to fall silent, and to give their full attention to Paul and Barnabas.
- Paul challenged this believe and thank God it’s not a requirement for becoming a child of God/Christian through the new birth.
Dokimas, you need to go back and read again. You are right, Paul did challenge the belief. He challenged it based upon what Peter had already said and done. There was no competition between them. Further, if you look at the passage, it was James that directed the letter of pastoral instruction for the believers, not Paul. You seem to be creating division among the Apostles where it did not exist.
- The original church leaders were NOT infalible. So what. God is able to deal with all our imperfections. He is perfect; His church, this side of Heaven, is imperfect because it is It’s people and It’s people are ALL fallible.
You have misunderstood the gift of infallibility. It does not prevent individuals from error, but preserves the Teaching of Jesus in the church. You are correct, God is able to deal with all our imperfections. He is able to make infallible acts come out of our fallible natures. He is perfect, and His Church is perfect, because He is her Head. The fallible members attached to her are not impeccable. Your definition of 'church" is deficient. it is not only people. The divine element of the Church is what prevents her from error.
With regard to the passage you cited from Galatians, Paul confronted Peter because he was acting hypocritically. He was not acting according to the revelation of God that had been given to him, and that he in turn had already given to the Church.