Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tj3
If that were the case here, then Paul would be the most obvious leader, but when read in context, that argument makes no sense. Let's look at this numbers game that is so often used.
Peter’s name is not always given precedence. Peter’s name is mentioned 158 times, Paul’s name 156 times. If we add the name Saul (Paul’s original name, we get Paul mentioned an additional 26 times for a total of 182, compared to Peter’s total of 179 (if we include Simon), making Paul the most prominent from a numerical perspective. In the book of Acts, Peter’s name is mentioned 57 times, while Paul’s is mentioned 127 times. Using this type of argument, the name of Israel is mentioned 2567 times throughout the Bible, whereas Jesus is only mentioned 980 times. Does that mean that Israel is more important than Jesus because Israel is given more prominence than Jesus?
But which Apostle is listed first most often? Which Apostle is singled out, even by Jesus Christ?
Peter.
Quote:
These type of arguments prove nothing.
But they add to the evidence in favor or against an argument.
Quote:
That is what Paul did, and James made the decision. Leaders make decisions. Peter was just one of the speakers at the meeting.
No. Read it again. It is Peter who made the decision. A decision which was ratified by the group and by James whose diocese they were in.
Quote:
He did not lie to peter. Nowhere prior to this are we told when Ananias made the commitment, and then Peter says that they lied to the Holy Spirit. So why do you assume that they lied to Peter?
He did not lie with his words. He was supposed to bring the entire amount but hid part for himself. Then, being in front of Peter, he did not repent of his sin, but kept his silence. That is when Peter said, "you have not lied to men, but to God."
Quote:
Yes it is, but it is not found in scripture. So you stick with Catholic teaching on this point, and I'll stick with scripture.
It is in both. I quoted the Scripture. Here's another:
John 1:42
And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Quote:
Right, so why would you turn around and deny that the Rock is Christ by saying...
Quote:
And the Rock turned to Simon and said, "YOU ARE ROCK and on this Rock I will build my Church"
Where's the denial? I'm simply affirming what Jesus said.
Quote:
When the context says nothing of the sort and the word in Greek means stone, not rock.
Stone is rock.
Definitions of stone on the Web:
* rock: a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter; "he threw a rock at me"
* building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose; "he wanted a special stone to mark the site"
* rock: material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust; "that mountain is solid rock"; "stone is abundant in New England and there are many quarries"...
Wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Quote:
Where? None of the references given say that.
They illustrate it.
Quote:
So what? Paul wrote the largest part of the NT and Peter wrote only a small piece. Paul therefore set the direction for Christian teachings more than Peter. That would be a stronger argument for a leader,
The Gospel of Mark is the disciple Mark's summary of St. Peter's teachings.
Quote:
if in fact there even was a lewader other than Jesus (something that you have so far not even tried to show).
I have shown that Jesus appointed Peter as the leader.
Quote:
Many words were spoken to many people that were not spoken to others - so what?
But these words conveyed authority. And they were spoken by Jesus.
Quote:
The context of this is that Peter declared that he would never deny Christ and then proceeded to become the apostle who is most noted for his denial, 3 times of Christ, which is recorded immediately following this prayer. This would not be the “rock” upon which the church could be built because clearly Peter was not infallible.
Have you not heard that God uses the weakest instruments so that His glory will show forth all the more?
Quote:
This was not unique to peter. Evidence that this was also for other church leaders is
Found here:
1 Pet:5:1 The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves
Ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Neither was this authority given to Peter alone to dispense. Here are the words of Paul:
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about
Preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
Again, those words were directed by Jesus Christ directly to Peter:
Luke 22:31
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Quote:
If Jesus is the one who counts, why are you trying to make Peter the leader?
Jesus made Peter the leader. I simply believe and obey Jesus.
Quote:
So what? Paul is singled out in many places also, for example:
- Paul is the only apostle who is called God's chosen vessel who will bear His name before Jews and Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
Acts 15:7
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Quote:
- The resurrected Christ appears to Paul in a different way than He appeared to the other apostles (Acts 9:3-6).
1 Corinthians 15:5
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
Quote:
- Paul is the only apostle to indicate that he has authority in all the churches (1 Cor 7:17)
Matthew 16:18
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.
Quote:
- Paul is mentioned more in the New Testament than any other apostle, more than Peter.
Peter is listed first amongst all the Apostles. And Paul visits Peter when he is confused about hisministry:
Quote:
- Paul was the first apostle to write a book of scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Quote:
- Paul is the first apostle to be taken to Heaven to receive a revelation (2 Cor 12:1-4)
Matthew 17:1
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Quote:
- Paul is the only apostle Satan was concerned about enough to give him a thorn in the flesh. (2 Cor 12:7)
That can be taken two ways. As St. Paul said:
1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Since none of the other Apostles persecuted the body of Christ, it may be for that reason that St. Paul had to expiate his sin. And God permitted a demon to punish him.
2 Cor 12
7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Quote:
And Paul is the Apostle who rebuked Peter when he erred.
As I said, this also showed that St. Paul was not yet perfected. Since he also acted hypocritically before the Jewish Christians, circumcising Timothy:
Acts 16:3
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Therefore, it is the humble man, Peter, who is exalted in that verse.
Quote:
I could go on and on. Your arguments are not unique to Peter and hold no water.
Keep going. I'll just keep debunking your statements.
Quote:
I see that you are confused. Perhaps if you go back and read what I said, you may be less confused. I did not say that was a small thing.
You characterized it as:
I assume you intended to say, "just one of the items". And that sounds to me as though you are belittling the issue.
Quote:
And you don't think that doctrine has bearing on behaviour? Interesting.
Remind me again. Where is the doctrine that says one MUST eat with the Gentiles?
Quote:
Only your denomination claims that a man can be infallible.
Apparently only the Catholic Church believes Christ's promises in that regard.
Quote:
But whether this indicates hypocrisy is very questionable. Many people are circumsized for many reasons. There is nothing wrong with circumcision. What is wrong is saying that is is mandatory, just as some today insist that outward rituals like baptism are mandatory. It may have been that his witness would be better accepted amongst the Jews if they knew that he was a circumsized Jew.
There is a Jewish evangelist who would not hesitate to eat pork, unless he knows that he will be seen doing so by unsaved Jews, because he knows that his witness to them will be weakened. It is not that he does not have the liberty to do so, but for the sake of his witness, he voluntarily avoids such things when it may be an offense to unsaved Jews.
It is hypocrisy because he did it feeling the pressure of the Jewish Christians. Whereas he in turn rebukes St. Peter for similarly feeling the pressure.
Quote:
Leave your misrepresentations out of this. You know that I am not a protestant.
I know that you are.
Quote:
There was no ratification. If you actually read Acts 15, you will see that we are specifically told that James decided. Here is James own statement:
Acts 15:19-21
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
NKJV
Let's see what St. Peter said prior to that:
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he says that the Gentiles are his responsibility.
8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
And he says that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. Sounds very much like what James repeats later.
Sincerely,
De Maria