The Concept of the Papal Office (by any Name) Is Not Established in the Bible
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 shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head. This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope. (881)
The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful. “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered. (CCC, 882)
Building upon the prior chapter, Peter clearly wasn’t present in Rome for the vast majority of his life. Not once during the apostles’ recounting of the early Christian church history was Peter claimed to a founding member or head bishop of the Roman church.
Not once, in all of the detailed accounts and letters of the apostles was there any mention of Peter establishing the office of the papacy nor leading as the Vicar of Christ (or even lead bishop). Not only did Peter never claim to do any of those things, but the office never even existed at the time.
Here is a list of pre-existing offices/occupations placed by God in the early church:
1 Corinthians 12:28: And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?
If Jesus had intended Peter to hold a distinguished and infallible position of unquestionable leadership, surely God would have made such a thing clear to the early church. However, it there is no high office, greater bishop, or Jesus proxy mentioned in the church structure. In fact, not a single apostle ever even remotely suggests such a thing.
Even After the Founding of the Roman Church and Peter’s Death, Jesus Pays No Special Heed to the Roman Church or Peter’s Apostolic Line
The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter’s successor, as its head.” As such, this college has “supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff.”(883)
Particular Churches are fully catholic through their communion with one of them, the Church of Rome “which presides in charity. “For with this church, by reason of its pre-eminence, the whole Church, that is the faithful everywhere, must necessarily be in accord. Indeed, “from the incarnate Word’s descent to us, all Christian churches everywhere have held and hold the great Church that is here at Rome to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior’s promise, the gates of hell have never prevailed against her. (CCC, 834)
Not only are the apostles silent on the supposed primacy of Peter and the Roman church, but when Jesus later has John write His letters to the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 1-2), not once does He mention anything even remotely indicative of a single Roman Catholic sacrament or a divine office being required for the health of a church. No mention is made to Peter’s primacy or the even the sovereignty of the Roman church.
In fact, Jesus doesn’t even use Peter or the Roman church as an ideal to strive for in any of His letters. 6 of the 7 churches Jesus wrote to needed reproof, so why didn’t He mention submission to Peter’s office even once in all of His edifications?
Considering Revelation was written around 70 A.D., it’s not as if Peter didn’t have time to found the Roman church, ascend to head bishop, declare his primacy, establish the Roman church as the presiding church, and establish a successor. Revelation would have been written well over a solid decade after his death, which also gives more than enough time for Peter’s proposed divine and authoritative legacy to travel to the other churches. So, the Primacy of Peter and the Sovereignty of the Roman church clearly weren’t a thing.
Neither Jesus or Peter Wanted a Papal Office
As we’ve previously discussed, both Jesus and Peter and spoke against a theological hierarchy. Jesus did not want theological hierarchy of rabbis, chief priests, and scribes who boastfully lorded their religious authority over men. Jesus specifically told His disciples to not be that way.
God placed apostles, prophets, and teachers, in the church which take on different names such as bishop, deacon, and overseer based on translation. The common people were priests and people within the church possessed a variety of different gifts that made them complimentary to each other. Notice how there is no position designated as a “prime” leader over the greater church. That position lies to Jesus alone, as was always intended.
Daniel 7:13-14: In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Luke 1:31-33: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end”
Hebrews 4: 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Instead, these people God placed in the church would act as Elders, who lead the church not through power, but by being an example to the younger Christians. Notice how the below is written by Peter:
1 Peter 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
These elders specifically did not carry absolute authority because Jesus wanted a humble church, for God opposes the proud.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So, just to recap, the scriptures make no mention of:
- Peter’s primacy over the apostles
- A papal office
- The sovereignty of the Roman church
- The importance of submitting to Peter’s apostolic line
- Establishing the Peter’s office would hold the “Supreme Care of Souls”, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
The scriptures do say that:
- Jesus did not want a power hierarchy in the church
- That the church structure consisted of the common priesthood, apostles, prophets, and teachers
- That Jesus alone has sovereign power and authority over the church
- Paul founded the Roman church
- Peter was still fallible in character and spiritual matters after being christened as the rock
In that regard, the Bible doesn’t only omit the concept of a Papal office, but it actively rejects it.