Peter's Role in the Church

It's been a while since I've written.  Today I'd like to talk about one of my favorite Bible characters, Simon Peter.  I identify with so many aspects of his story, from his zeal that takes wrong turns to his wavering faith that takes a few steps on water just to sink into it.  But I don't really want to go into all of Peter's quirks today; I want to discuss his role in the church.  Was he just a disciple? Was he the first pope? What did he preach? How did he see himself?   The catholic (lowercased on purpose) "church" credits Peter for the beginning of their organization.  Let's see where they get that from and how well it holds up against scripture.

We'll jump right in with Matthew 16.

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Alright, so here we have Jesus asking who the common folk say He is and then asking the disciples who they think He is.  Peter has the perfect answer, He is the anointed one, the Son of God. Jesus didn't go around announcing His divinity and his purpose.  He silenced the demons that tried to give him away, told people who were healed to tell no one, and only had the "hey by the way, I'm God and salvation comes through me" talk with a select few.  And remember that on many occasions, when Jesus tried to warn the 12 that He would die and rise again they completely missed the point.  They just didn't get who He was or why He was there most days.  But here we have Peter finally coming to the conclusion that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God and it was only because it had been revealed to Him by God.  Then of course, in true Jesus fashion, He says "don't go spreading that around".  But what I want to really look at here is this idea of the rock on which the church was to be built.

Many already know that "Peter" is from a Greek word that has something to do with a rock.  That's why they assume that it's Peter that the church is being built on, hence why catholics claim him as the first pope.   But looking further, while very close, the Greek word for "Peter" is the masculine noun "petroj" (Strong's 4074) and means a piece of rock.  The word used when Jesus says "on this rock" is the feminine noun "petra" (Strong's 4073) meaning a mass of rock, cliff, ledge, or rocky ground. 

Looking at the gender alone should give us reasonable doubt that Jesus was referring to Peter as the rock upon which He would build the church. 

And then, beyond gender, it appears by the definitions that "Peter" is a rather small piece in comparison to the rock on which the church is built.  Peter is something movable, while the rock that the church is built on is stable and firm.

But the most important giveaway here is the context.  The discussion is about who Christ is, not about who Peter is.  Jesus didn't ask "who do people say you are, Peter?".  It wasn't an attempt to lift Peter up or build his ego and to say that this conversation was about Peter is to ignore the context.  The discussion is about knowing who Christ is.  So it stands to reason that the "rock" on which the church is built is the KNOWING of who CHRIST is.  The church would be built on the firm foundation of who Christ is and what He came to do.  Peter was just lucky to get to be a "piece" of it.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Here we are right before Jesus was betrayed and He warns Peter that Satan is coming for his faith.  He tells Peter "when you are converted,  strengthen your brethren".  I wanted to bring out this verse because it shows that Peter was not yet saved.  He was not yet born again.  He was a disciple, a learner of Jesus, but he hadn't been born of the Spirit yet as Jesus said in John 3:3-8.   And it's important to remember what Peter's conversion experience was because that is the foundation on which his teaching would be based. 

I won't copy and paste the verses because I've done that in other posts but in John 3:3-8 Jesus declared that we must all be born again of water (full immersion baptism) and Spirit and that EVERYONE born of the Spirit would hear the language of the Spirit.  He said the same thing in Mark 16:16-17 when he said that those who trust in Him and are baptized will be saved and that the believers would speak in new tongues.  In Acts 2, that's what happened to Peter. He received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in new tongues, and suddenly this man who had just denied Jesus three times 53ish days prior was now standing up boldly preaching to thousands that they needed to have this same experience.  He was able to do that because he had, just moments before, been born again.  He was new. Receiving the Spirit was his conversion.  And the first thing he did when he was converted was to get up and preach who Jesus was.  He laid the foundation for the church on the day of Pentecost and it wasn't based on self-promotion, it was based on telling people who Jesus was and why He was sent 

Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

So far it already seems unlikely that Peter was the start of the catholic "church" but let's look at some more points.

Peter's idea of the rock the church is built on

1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

So according to Peter, we are all "liqoj" (Strongs 3037), small stones and Jesus is the cornerstone.  In fact, the only time Peter used Strongs 4073 (which Jesus used for the rock that the church was going to be built on) was in verse 8 where he said that Jesus was a rock of offence to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient.

Furthermore, the catholics believe that the pope is the head of the church, but Peter has declared in verse 7 that Jesus is the head. And while the popes of the catholic church are bowed to regularly, Peter made it clear that he shouldn't be bowed to.

Acts 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

We also know that the catholic system does not permit Popes to be married but Peter we know was married because his mother-in-law was mentioned in scripture.  We have no indication that he left his wife behind to run the church.  

And then most convincingly we have the gospel that Peter preached, which is far away and against the teachings of the catholic religion.

Peter's gospel
What was the gospel Peter preached? Was it praying to Jesus' mother, confession, sprinkling, and traditions? No, He preached Jesus's life, death, resurrection, outpouring of the Spirit, and everlasting Kingdom. 

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Jesus had told Peter that the church would be built on the foundation of knowing who Jesus is and the first thing Peter did when he was converted was preach Jesus and how to have a relationship with Him. And that's the job of every true believer, to share the good news that we can bury our old life through baptism and be raised to new life through receiving the Holy Spirit, and that we will know because we will speak in new tongues, a pure, spiritual language that connects us directly to God.  Once that happens, and we continue in it daily we begin being built up, each of us together as the house, the body, and the family of God.  What a wonderful thing to be a part of.