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JMJ
June 2008 Issue 1.5
Quo Vadis Newsletter Authority
Contents
The Primacy of Peter
The Keys of the Kingdom
The Authority of the Church
Autonomy and the Search for Authority
Catechism Quote of the Month
Novena of the Month
Book of the Month.
The Primacy of Peter
By Chris Osgood
Introduction
Simon Peter is a very important figure head in the Church today. Catholics recognize him as the first pope, while others acknowledge him as the lead Apostle. In this paper, you will find key Scripture references, Early Church Fathers and Catholic resources that all point to the fact that Peter was the leading Apostle and the first Pope. We will discuss the following: Simon and his new name, Peter taking a leadership role, Christ putting Peter in charge and finally, Peter as the leader/Pope.
Jesus names Peter
Simon was one of the first chosen by Jesus. “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen” (Mark 1:16). After Jesus chose the twelve, He then gave Simon a new name; “Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter” (Mark 3:16). Also in the Gospel of John, Jesus names him again, “…You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42).
Names in the Jewish culture always had meaning behind them. Peter and Cephas both mean rock; “Jesus gave Simon a new, descriptive name, Peter, which means “rock” in Greek…also called him Cephas (Aramaic for “rock”).” The name “rock” would be a strange name at the time it was given to Peter. Peter probably didn’t know what the meaning of that name would be until later.
Usually, if people wanted to build a house or building, they would choose a strong foundation to build it upon. A rock is a great place to build a foundation, and this is what Christ starts doing with Peter. Most of the time when we read about the Apostles and disciples we see that Peter is always listed first. It would either go Peter and the Apostles, or Peter and the eleven. “Peter headed the list (Matt. 10:1-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13); sometimes the apostles were referred to as "Peter and those who were with him" (Luke 9:32).”
Peter taking a leadership role
Peter acted as their spokesman when Jesus asked questions or when they had a question: “Then Peter came to Him and said…” (Matt. 18:21), “…Peter answered…” (Mark 8:29), “…Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You speak…only to us, or to all people?’” (Luke 12:41), “But Simon Peter answered Him…” (John 6:68-69). Also, the names Peter, Simon and Cephas are listed 191 times in the New Testament. No other name but Christ is mentioned that much.
Peter is an important disciple all throughout the New Testament. In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus not only pays Peter’s temple tax, but He also teaches Peter one on one. Then in Luke 22:31-34, Peter is being confronted by Christ. “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you…But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…strengthen your brethren.” Then, later on in this passage, Peter tells Christ that he is willing to die for Him. Christ then says to Peter, “The rooster shall not crow this day before you deny three times” (Luke 22:31-34). Peter was not only learning a lot from Christ, but he was also very bold when he spoke with Christ.
In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus walks on water, and Peter is bold enough to say, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Christ commanded him to come, so Peter walked on water with the Son of Man. Peter was the only one who was daring enough to ask Christ to command him out onto the water.
Upon this rock I will build My Church
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church…” (Matthew 16:18). There is no denying that Christ is talking directly to Peter. First He calls him by name, and then Christ says on this “rock,” which is the same meaning of Peter’s name. Therefore Christ is saying, You are rock and on this rock I will build My church. It is the same thing Peter does to Christ right before this verse, (Matthew 16:16), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” They both mean the same thing, just as Peter and rock mean the same thing.
Also, we must take in account the setting when Christ said this to Simon. It too was very meaningful; “Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt. 16:13). “The city lay near cascades in the Jordan River and near a gigantic wall of rock, a wall about 200 feet high and 500 feet long…” Why did Christ choose this spot to tell Simon that He was going to build His foundation on him? Because of Peter’s faith when he confessed You are Christ the Son of the living God, his faith will remain an unshakeable rock of the Church. And his mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.
Many people believe that Christ called Himself the rock as in 1 Corinthians 10:4, “and that Rock was Christ.” If this was the case however, why then wouldn’t Christ have been talking to all of the disciples instead of just Peter? Or even calling Himself Rock instead of naming Simon rock (Peter)?
Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
Right after Jesus says to Peter, “On this rock I will build My church,” Christ then goes on to say, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19). Not only is Peter the rock (foundation) of the church, but now he has the keys to the kingdom of heaven! The council of Ephesus states; “Philip, the presbyter, said: ‘There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the most blessed Peter, head of the apostles, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins."
If Christ was talking about Himself, when He said, “Upon this rock I will build My church,” then why would He say, “I also say to you…” The key words in this verse are “also” and “you”. This is saying that Christ already told Peter that he is the foundation of the Church, and now, he also has the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
The Catholic Church puts it very well in simple terms: “The Lord made Simon alone, whom He named Peter, the “rock” of His Church. He gave him the keys of His Church and instituted him as shepherd of the whole flock.” It is very interesting why Jesus would appoint Peter as a shepherd of the flock.
Feed My sheep
Peter denies Jesus three times in Luke 22:54-62. But then, in John 21:15-17, Jesus asks Peter three times if he Loves Him. And every time Peter answers yes, Christ replies “Feed My lambs…Tend My sheep…Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17). Peter is now not only the rock (foundation) of the church, not only holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven, but now he is the shepherd of the whole flock!
Peter in charge
With all of what Christ has called Peter to do and be, Peter had soon realize the responsibility he had now been given. And this is where we see Peter stepped up and accepted the role that Christ Jesus had placed upon him. The first thing Peter did is, he stood up in front of the disciples and said they must find a replacement for Judas. They ended up replacing Judas with Matthias (Acts 1:15-26). In Acts 2:14-40 Peter preached the first Gospel and about three thousand souls were saved (received the first converts)!
Then in Acts 3:6-7, it was Peter who performs the first healing since Christ. “Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6). It wasn’t Peter who healed the man, it was Christ working through Peter.
Also, in Acts 5:1-11, it was once again Peter who inflicted the first punishment, “Peter condemned Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit and they dropped dead right then and there. It is easy to see that Peter had the anointing of the Holy Spirit in order to inflict this kind of punishment. This goes back to Peter receiving the keys to the kingdom of heaven “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
That’s not all, Peter also goes on to excommunicate the first heretic from the church (Acts 8:18-23). How does Peter have all of this authority? Peter received the revelation that allows the Gentiles to be baptized and accepted as Christians (Acts 10:46-48). Why didn’t this revelation go to one of the other Apostles? The first doctrine decision of the first church council in Jerusalem was made by Peter in Acts 15:7-11. But not one other Apostle or disciple argues with this position Peter has.
Some people believe that Paul would have been the leader in the Church because he teaches a lot about Church doctrine. However, it was Paul that came to Peter twice. The first time in Galatians 1:18, then the second time in Galatians 2:2. What would be so important for Paul to go to Peter? Paul was a very intelligent man. He knew what he was talking about when it came to the Church. But who then was Paul disciple by? Paul must have had someone disciple him, there is no way Paul just started his ministry after having the encounter with Christ. The great commission is; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19). Therefore Paul must have had someone disciple him.
Saint Paul then reminds certain elders in Ephesus that they are “overseers” who have the special task of caring for the Church in Acts 20:28. Here Paul is talking about himself and the other disciples/Apostles. They were all bishops. They went out, started churches then made sure that these churches stayed true to the doctrine.
Conclusion
It is hard to argue that Peter was not the head Apostle or as Catholics call him the first Pope. With the Biblical and scholarly sources, and the Church Fathers giving us all of the facts, we must believe Peter was in charge. Not one person ever rose up against Peter, nor did anyone question Christ when He appointed Peter. There is too much evidence that gives Peter this position and title.
“This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation.” Rock means foundation, and Peter truly was the foundation of Christ’s Church. We do know that the church was not based on Peter, it was simply built on Peter.
Christ was the son of David. Christ restores the kingdom of David. When Christ left this world, He had to put someone in charge of the church until His return. It just so happens that He chose Peter to be that man. Catholic tradition is, the Pope is the leader of Christ’s Church until He returns. This is how they have the Pope now. Whoever it may be who leads the church now, we must know that Christ did appoint someone to be in charge when He left. And that person was Simon Peter, son of Jonah.
Bibliography
Carr, Bernadeane. "Orgins of Peter as Pope." New Advent. 10 Aug. 2004. Catholic Answers. 6 Oct. 2007 <http://www.catholic.com/library/Origins_of_Peter_as_Pope.asp>.
Carr, Bernadeane. "Peter and the Papacy." New Advent. 10 Aug. 2004. Catholic Answers. 6 Oct. 2007 <http://www.catholic.com/library/Peter_and_the_Papacy.asp>.
Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vaticana, Italy: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. 141-233.
Hardon, John A. Pocket Catholic Dictionary. Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1985. 325-326.
Madrid, Patrick. Does the Bible Really Say That? Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger P, 2006. 155-156. New King James. Matt. 16:18-Galatians 2:2. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Ray, Stephen K. Upon This Rock. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius P, 1999. 23-53.
The Keys of the Kingdom
By Dominic Allen
For those of us who love Jesus and want to follow him as best we can, it is crucial to our relationship that we understand how it is God deals with his people. I want to look at what Catholics believe about the Pope’s authority and try to illuminate our understanding of these beliefs by using Scripture, to show that the Church’s teachings are in fact an essential component in God’s dealings with the people of Israel in the Old Covenant, also, that the God-Man Jesus Christ continued the work of salvation in humanity in an essentially similar manner to that of the Old, that the New Covenant does not abolish the Old Covenants but perfects and completes them. There is certain fluency between the Old and New Covenants and if we are to understand either, they must be viewed in light of each other. (see CCC 128,129,140).
With all that being said, lets take a glance into this awesome mystery of God’s self -revelation in the Old Testament, where after the fall of Adam and Eve, where he prepares to bring that which has become disordered and confused into order, clarity and beauty under the reign and Lordship of his only Son, our Lord Jesus.
After the fall (Genesis1-3), God immediately shows forth his mercy in the promise of redemption, (Genesis 3:15) and starts to use men to bring about this purpose. God initiates his plans of restoration with key figures, especially Abraham, Moses and David. What Christians now have in Christ is the completion and culmination of salvation history, which has it’s foundations in the very act of creation itself. (CCC 280).
The Father Of All Believers
Abraham, is the man God single’s out to begin the preparations of a chosen and elected people.
“[1] Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
[2] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
[3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." Genesis 12:1-3.
God makes his covenant with Abraham. For a person to participate in this covenant they must be circumcised. In being circumcised they are recognized truly as Abraham’s offspring and so share in the covenant made by God. In being recognized as Abraham’s progeny, Abraham’s followers, ultimately they are recognized by God as participators in the covenant.
“No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; [for] I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”Genesis 17:5.
The man called Abram, meaning exalted father, has his name changed by God to Abraham, meaning father of a multitude. This name change is done because it signifies a change in vocation and in ancient times a name was not just something used to distinguish one person from another. The name was the identity of the person, whence the importance of God revealing his name to Moses. One cannot be known if the name is not.
Abraham was the leader of God’s people, he represents them and God’s covenant with them. Paul recognizes, all in Christ are spiritual descendents of Abraham and so share in the promises made to him. Paul identifies himself with Abraham and so he identifies himself with God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ.
[13] The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. [16] That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants — not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of [Abraham], for he is the father of us all,” Romans 4;13;16.
In essence, God counts those as his own who follow the one whom he appointed and called to be father and leader. (see also Genesis 26:24, Isaiah 41:8, Psalm 105:6-10;42-45, )
Take Of Your Shoes
Next, God sees Abraham’s offspring in captivity in Egypt, not only are they far from God’s promises geographically but also spiritually and need to be cleansed of the idolatrous ways that they’ve picked up from the Egyptians, and taught how to serve and worship the true God but before that could start, they needed to be emancipated from the Egyptians, to be set free to worship God without restraint. So God single’s out another man to bring about his objective …enter Moses. God called Moses to lead the People of Israel and Moses became God’s representative for his people. Can we say ‘Moses led the people out of the land of Egypt?’ Yes! But when we say this, are we saying God didn’t? Of course not, for those who followed and obeyed Moses, were in fact following and obeying God because Moses was appointed by God!
God gives authority to those he appoints as leaders over His people. For instance, Moses says that those who rebel against God’s appointed, rebel against God!
And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your murmurings which you murmur against him — what are we? [Your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD.”] (My own emphasis). Exodus 16:8
Still Not Happy!
Jumping forward about 300 years after the desert wanderings and Israel’s crossing of the Jordan and the conquest of the Promised Land, we come to the people’s cry:
v 5. "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations." 1 Samuel 8:1-9.
Eventually David the young shepherd boy, who proved to be a great warrior was anointed king and placed as leader over the people of Israel.(2 Samuel 2). God in establishing David as king also establishes the kingdom of Israel. To rebel against David is to rebel against God, David’s kingdom is, in fact God’s. This kingdom will be an everlasting one and as we know Jesus is born into the line of David as King over all and reigns at God’s ‘right hand’.
“[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’”2 Samuel 17:16.
“[11] When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
[14] but I will confirm him in [ my ] house and in [ my ] kingdom for ever and his throne shall be established for ever.’”1 Chronicles 17:11; 14.
The Kingdom of David is synonymous with the Kingdom of God. Later we see how Jesus is the fulfilment of Davidic Kingship, Jesus is the true Davidic King and his Kingdom, the Church is the fulfilment of the Kingdom of David (CCC 439, 541, 823, 839-840 ). We will look at this more closely later.
I Make All Things New
So when Jesus establishes the Kingdom of God or re-establishes the Kingdom, it not only completes and fulfils the old Kingdom and the prophecies concerning it, but it supersedes it for in this New Covenant,
“[31] "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
[32] not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.
[33] But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-33.
That being said, because the old Covenants are initiated by God and are the preparations for the New (CCC 522), their establishments can be seen in a new light, which is Christ. They have not been abolished,
“[17] "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have
come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.
[18] For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18. (see also CCC 73 , 522, 577-582,2763, Luke 4)
It’s important to keep all this in mind when reading the New Testament .
This has been a very brief look at 3 of the main leaders appointed by God in the Old
Testament, Abraham, Moses and David and then we’ve seen the climax in Christ. Moses, David and Jesus fulfil the promises made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). What is clear is that God in the Old Testament has always appointed leaders to shepherd his people, to rebel against God’s appointed, is in fact to rebel against God. The statement Abraham, Moses and David led their people is true. It in no way takes away from the ultimate truth that it is God who led the people in all these circumstances. The Kingdom of Israel is synonymous with the Kingdom of God, illustrating how the Jews viewed an establishment started by God and Jesus gives these things new meaning .
In the same way Catholics in saying they follow the Pope are in no way denying it is God who leads them (CCC 551). As when the people exclaimed they were followers of Abraham, Moses or David, they also were in no way denying the fact it was God who was their leader, on the contrary, in identifying themselves with these leaders they were confirming the truth that they were God’s true followers, following not their own leaders or authority but the ones God has appointed. Finally, Jesus comes fulfil the Old Covenant not to abolish it.
The question remains, however, does Jesus assumes all the roles and leadership found in the Old Testament with God’s use of men and use these roles, in a way that is exclusive to himself or does he allow men to participate in his role, as mediator in some way. If the former everything in terms of leadership in the Old Covenants is completely abolished and Christ assumes all we need exclusively which results in a certain individualism, the idea of me and Jesus alone.
If, however, the latter is true, then Christ who is the source of these things, assumes them all, putting himself under the obligations that man was under, in doing so he fulfils, completes and elevates them to a divine level ( CCC 592 ). He shares his role with man at various levels, though man always stays distinct, what Christ is by nature man becomes to a certain degree by grace. He himself is working in and through the men of His kingdom.( see CCC 771 )
From the New Testament it is clear, that though Jesus is our mediator, He allows us to participate in His mediation in certain ways, with those who have become ‘sons in theSon‘. Christ, God the Son, in is humility, gives us His own Holy Spirit (Romans 5:2-5, John 14:26) we share in His Son-ship (Romans 8:12-23, John 16:20-27), Jesus allows us (those who are baptised into Christ) to share in His mediation of healing, gives us the power to heal the body (Matthew 10:1, John 14:12-18) and the soul, in forgiving sins in His name (Matthew 9:5-8, John 20:21-23,James 5:14-16). Jesus also allows men to participate in His mediation as the high priest (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14: 22-24, Luke 22:19-20, John 6:48-71) and in other ways we also share in His role as intercessor (1 Timothy 2:16, note the first verse carefully).
Jesus allows us to participate in His own life, and in so doing we participate in the life of the Trinity there are things common to all the baptized and other things that are reserved to certain people within the community of believers.
“[1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. .
[4] Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
[5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
[6] and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.
[7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1Corinthians 12:1-7.
Upon This Rock!
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
[19] 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."
Matthew 16:13-21.
The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven? Remember Jesus was a Jew speaking to Jews, the idea of God’s Kingdom being established by the Messiah was not new and this talk of Keys wasn’t new either. He gives the keys to one person alone, Simon, who he called Peter. To fully understand what these keys represent let us look again to the Old Testament.
“[20] In that day I will call my servant Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah,
[21] and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
[22] And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open,
and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
[23] And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.
[24] And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.” Isaiah 22:20-24.
This Scripture speaks about the demotion of Shebna, a corrupt government official and his being replaced by Eli‘akim. What is this office that Shebna holds?.
In Hebrew ‘al-habbãyit’ (al-bi-eat). Some interpret this as ‘master of the palace‘, the language in the text however, associates this office in close proximity to the king. In modern terms we might call him a ‘prime-minister‘. The key spoken of was probably one that was used in a investiture ceremony. He had full authority over all the king’s royal ministers, he was the king’s representative and he had full authority in the Kingdom when the king was absent. It is probable that he was identified by a literal key that would have been visible for all to see and enable them to make the distinction between him and the other royal ministers.
Keeping in mind the Old Testament, Jesus being the King, born in the line of David and then giving Peter the key’s of the Kingdom, establishing him as ‘al-habbãyit (al-bi-eat), ‘prime minister‘, who acts in his [Jesus’] name with full authority. Where he is (the ‘prime-minister’), there is the king, this is a visible office. Something similar to an ambassador today, if an ambassador signs a treaty then the country or the kingdom is bound to it because he has the king’s authority (See Denis J. McCarthy, S.J. New Jerome Biblical Commentary, p243, Geoffrey-Chapman, 2000).
If there was a corrupt ‘prime-minister’, he was re-placed, the office wasn’t abolished. Jesus established Peter as the visible head of his church, he has given him full authority and put on him ‘on him the whole weight of his father's house’.
Keeping in mind, the history of Israel, God calling Abraham 4,000 years ago and since then working through the prophets and people like Moses and David to establish his reign on earth and then God the Son, becoming flesh and dying for humanity, (note it wasn’t until after He establishes Peter at the head of his Church that He started talking about His death) do you think God wants His Body, his Kingdom to be one visible unity in Christ? Does He have the power to do that?
In almost the last 500 years since the Reformer’s rejection of the role given to Peter and his successors, over 33,000 denominations have arisen. It is a picture that resembles not the unified Kingdom of God, but the scattering of the people at Babel because of them making their own name great (Genesis 11). Do you think Jesus desires a divided Church with no visible head, with thousands of divided Christians? Was this His plan? Did He establish a Church and stay true to His word that ‘the powers of death shall not prevail against it?’
Let’s pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal to us the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, just before He was going to be given up for that and He prayed:
“that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.” John 17:21-23.
Following in Our fathers Footsteps
Let me finish with these words:
“ And again to the same He says, after His resurrection, “Feed my sheep”. On him He builds the Church, and the him He gives the command to feed the sheep; and
although he assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet he founded a single
Chair, and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity.
Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all re shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?
The episcopate is one, of which each bishop holds his part within the undivided structure. The Church also is one, however widely she has spread among the multitude through her fruitful increase. . . .The Church is bathed in the light of the Lord, and pours her rays over the whole world; but it is one light that is spread everywhere, and the unity of her structure is undivided.” - Saint Cyprian, 251 A.D. on the Unity of the Catholic Church, Treatise 1.
So let us fasten ourselves to that ‘peg in a sure place’ that ‘ throne of honor’. (Isaiah 22:;23)
The Authority of the Church
By Mary Clare Piecynski
Authority is an unpopular word today. As independent American’s, we shun any person put over and above us. Authority, however, is necessarily for good order in the world, lest everything fall into chaos. This is seen throughout society, from policemen who have the authority to give you a speeding ticket, to the Congress who has the authority to make laws that you must abide by. The same is true for religion; one needs an authority base to guide one in the proper way of worshipping and in order to ensure the truth is not compromised. As Christians, we believe that Jesus is our ultimate authority, He is the one to whom we look for guidance in matters of belief. Catholics, however, believe that Jesus entrusted all authority to the Church that He founded and that it is the Catholic Church to whom we look to as our authoritative guide in our quest for heaven. We will examine reasons why the Catholic Church believes she was given special authority by Jesus Christ and how this is applicable to us today.
We see in John that Jesus gives supreme authority to the Apostles when he says “as the Father has send me so I send you” (John 20:21). A few verses later Jesus physically gave power to the apostles when “he breathed upon them, and said to them, ‘receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23) Even Saint Paul, in fact, doesn’t act alone, but is given authority by the laying on of hands of the leaders of the Church of Antioch, appointed by the 12 apostles (Acts 13:1-3). In fact, teachers would loose their right to teach if they taught without the Church’s authorization (Acts 15:24).
But, was this special authority given by Jesus passed on to others besides Paul and the 12? Yes, in fact, apostolic succession was seen when Peter decided that they must appoint a successor for Judas ( Acts 1:15-26). Thus, the apostolic ministry did not end with the 12 apostles Jesus chose. Pope Clement, writing around the year 96 also shows that apostolic succession was practiced in the early Church when he wrote these words:
“Christ…comes with a message from God and the apostles with a message from Christ…from land to land, accordingly, and from city to city they preached, and from the earliest converts appointed men whom they had tested by the Spirit to act as bishops and deacons for future believers…our apostles, too, were given to understand by our Lord Jesus Christ that the office of the bishop would give rise to intrigues. For this reason, equipped as they were with perfect foreknowledge, they appointed the men mentioned before, and afterwards laid down a rule once for all to this effect: when these men die, other approved men shall succeed to their sacred ministry.” (1 Clement 42:1-4, 44:1-3)
Saint Ignatius of Antioch also wrote along the same lines “All of you are to follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father…Apart from the bishop no one is to do anything pertaining to the Church…but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God so that everything you do may be secure and valid. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans 8:1-2) Apostolic succession is also clearly seen in the writings of Irenaeus, who wrote “anyone who wishes to discern the truth may see in every church in the whole world the apostolic Tradition clear and manifest. We can enumerate those who were appointed as bishops in the Churches by the apostles and their successors to our own day.” (Against Heresies 3:3:1)
The authority of the Church therefore was instituted by Christ, carried out by the apostles and handed down to their successors. Catholics, thus, have a direct line of successors to the apostles from whom all authority was given. Since Jesus gave the apostles the same authority that He has, we must respect and obey the successors to the apostles in the same way we would respect and obey Christ.
Autonomy and the Search for Authority
By Mary Clare Piecynski
We all want to know the truth; we don’t want to live a lie. Truth, however, is not subjective, just because we say something is true does not make it so. Just because I believe there are pink elephants living in my bedroom does not mean that it is true. Similarly, just because a person has this or that religious belief does not make it true. In Christianity today, there are myriads of conflicting beliefs that leave one in a quandary over what to believe. A major contributing factor that helps create all these differing beliefs is the cry of the Protestant Reformers “Sola Scriptura” or Scripture alone. This assertion gives rise to countless interpretations of the Bible which begs the question which is true? Obviously, two conflicting beliefs cannot be both at the same so one needs some authority by which to judge the truth of an opinion based on Scripture. The continual creation of new “Bible” churches makes one wonder, which one teaches the truth? If they all go by the “Bible alone” then why do they arrive at so many different conclusions to the same question? Essentially, Bible churches reduce truth to a matter of personal preference. Is this what Jesus intended?
Jesus manifested throughout His ministry that He was “the way and the truth and the life” and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). If we are to be Jesus’ followers, then we too must follow the way, adhere to the truth and live in His life. But what is truth? Are we to decide for ourselves what is true and what is false? Or, did Christ institute a method by which we are to know the truth that will set us free (John 8:32)? In fact, Jesus did give authority to his apostles when he said “"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18-19) Here we see that the authority that Jesus has from the Father He gives to the apostles to evangelize, to preach the truth of salvation. Jesus also promises that “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). Therefore, truth is not to be decided arbitrarily, by ones own authority. Rather, the Holy Spirit is given to the Church to guide it upon the path of truth.
The Catholic Church believes that Jesus Christ indeed did give the authority to teach the truth to the apostles, the first members of the Church and that this authority has been handed down to the successors of the apostles, the bishops of today. Therefore, the Catholic Church teaches that the authority to authentically interpret the Scripture lies within the Church that Christ instituted, it does not lie within the individual. Hence, there is one central teaching body, called the Magisterium which authoritatively interprets Scripture.
In essence, Pilate’s question for Jesus “what is truth” resounds with individuals even today. The very nature of truth presupposes that it is not something that comes from the person, but something that is independent of any one individual. The truth calls us and puts a claim on us to which we respond. We do not create our own truth. The truth is found within God who gives the Spirit of truth to guide the Church into all truth. This same Spirit guides the Catholic Church of today through the Magisterium to proclaim the ageless truths of God to the Christian of today.
Catechism Quote of the Month
“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.” CCC 553.
I. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... (here name your request) Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
II. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask
anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......(here name your request) Our Father...Hail Mary....Glory Be To the Father....Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
III. O my Jesus, you have said:
"Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....(here name your request) Our Father....Hail Mary....Glory Be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
Book of the Month By What Authority by Mark P. Shea By What Authority explores one man’s journey into the Catholic Church. Mark Shea describes his journey into the Catholic Church through discovering Tradition. Mr. Shea delves deep into topics such as the traditions of men, the Early Church Fathers and the Bible’s view of extra-Scriptural Tradition. Check By What Authority out for yourself!
Available from the Coming Home Network International for $8.95.
