"Vicar of Christ" Need Explanation Asap Please

[deanarrca]

Hi guys, Wasn’t sure best place to post. I’m in RCIA. Hubby is from an Evangelical bible only background. He asked me to explain why the Pope has the title Vicar of Christ. Hubby has a big problem with this. Says on first blush that makes the Pope to appear as if he is setting himself up as God. Need a good answer of why this is not so for hubby. Thanks in Advance Deana

 

[Texas_Roofer]

1. A Vicar is a representative
2. Christ gave Peter (his first Vicar) the ability to “bind or loose” the desciples
3. In the Book of Acts Peter’s status as a Vicar is reaffirmed by James (and others) over Paul’s actions
4. A God is a Deity which is never proclaimed of any living Catholic.

If hubby toughs it out he will learn Catholism from start to finish and understand such. He is the victim of Protestant teachings which extracting varies Catholic teachings rearranging these teaching in an attempt to mislead the public of actual Catholic teaching. The very fact they must mislead you first is a statement of their credibility.

 

[Genesis315]

As has been pointed out, a vicar is a representative. Compare Matt. 16:18–19 and Isa… 22:20-22. Remember, Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth was given to Him. When Jesus gave Peter the keys, He was giving him authority over the Church. Likewise in John 21:15-17 Jesus entrusts His entire flock to Peter. Christ is our principle Shepherd, but Peter was given the job of being chief shepherd of the Church on earth. Christ is the Head of the Church, but the Pope as the successor of Peter is Jesus’ vicar becuase he has been made the visible head of the Church on earth.

I found this definition of vicar in the dictionary: “a person who is authorized to perform the functions of another.” The Pope is authorized by Jesus to perform the functions of Church government (chief pastor and teacher). I hope that helps!

 

[Todd_Easton]

While he is with them the master takes care of his household himself but when he goes away for an extended period of time, he sets a steward (vicar) over the household to look after it in his absence. See Isaiah 22:15-25; Matthew 16:18-19, 24:45-1; Luke 12:41-46, 22:31-32; and John 21:15-17.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven he set Peter over the Church as steward (vicar) to look after it in his absence, until his Second Coming. The bishops of Rome (the popes) are Peter’s successors as Vicar of Christ.

 

[mdstanzel]

As has been pointed out, a vicar is a representative. Compare Matt. 16:18–19 and Isa… 22:20-22. Remember, Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth was given to Him. When Jesus gave Peter the keys, He was giving him authority over the Church. Likewise in John 21:15-17 Jesus entrusts His entire flock to Peter. …

My comments too. Are you reading my mind? Scott Hahn has a good lesson on this. Check out the www.EWTN.com (or .org)website. Look for Answers to Common Questions. The first 3 or 4 MP3’s are

I just read the following from another poster on this board and another from a similar background as me. He goes by TNT:

The pope is the visible head of the Catholic Church. They hold that Christ gave them that assignment as they are the Successors of Peter.
But they are subordinate to Christ the invisible Head in that they cannot create any new doctrine or make any new Revelation as Christ did.
The non-catholic christians claim only Christ as the head of the church. This is convenient for then they really answer to no visible person who can actually visibly teach, govern or rebuke them.
They are de facto their own pope. So the non-catholic christians have exactly the same number of popes as there are members. Each can teach, govern, sanctify and rebuke himself. The only thing they have refrained from doing is baptizing oneself.