How did the very first Catholic Pope, come into being?

Answer 1

The Roman Catholic Church sees Peter as the first pope upon whom God had chosen to build His church (Matthew 16:18). It holds that he had authority (primacy) over the other apostles. The Roman Catholic Church maintains that sometime after the recorded events of the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter became the first bishop of Rome, and that the Roman bishop was accepted by the early church as the central authority among all of the churches. It teaches that God passed Peter’s apostolic authority to those who later filled his seat as bishop of Rome. This teaching that God passed on Peter’s apostolic authority to the subsequent bishops is referred to as “apostolic succession.”

The Roman Catholic Church also holds that Peter and the subsequent popes, were and are infallible when addressing issues “ex cathedra,” from their position and authority as pope. It teaches that this infallibility gives the pope the ability to guide the church without error. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it can trace an unbroken line of popes back to St. Peter, citing this as evidence that it is the true church, since according to their interpretation of Matthew 16:18, Christ built His church upon Peter.

But while Peter was central in the early spread of the gospel (part of the meaning behind Matthew 16:18-19), the teaching of Scripture, taken in context, nowhere declares that he was in authority over the other apostles, or over the Church (having primacy). See Acts 15:1-23; Galatians 2:1-14; and 1 Peter 5:1-5. Nor is it ever taught in Scripture that the bishop of Rome, or any other bishop, was to have primacy over the Church. Scripture does not even explicitly record Peter even being in Rome. Rather there is only one reference in Scripture of Peter writing from “Babylon,” a name sometimes applied to Rome (1 Peter 5:13). Primarily upon this, and the historical rise of the influence of the Bishop of Rome, comes the Roman Catholic Church teaching of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. However, Scripture shows that Peter’s authority was shared by the other apostles (Ephesians 2:19-20), and the “loosing and binding” authority attributed to him was likewise shared by the local churches, not just their church leaders (see Matthew 18:15-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Titus 2:15; 3:10-11).

Also, nowhere does Scripture state that in order to keep the church from error, the authority of the apostles was passed on to those they ordained (apostolic succession). Apostolic succession is “read into” those verses that the Roman Catholic Church uses to support this doctrine (2 Timothy 2:2; 4:2-5; Titus 1:5; 2:1; 2:15; 1 Timothy 5:19-22). Paul does NOT call on believers in various churches to receive Titus, Timothy, and other church leaders based on their authority as bishops, or their having apostolic authority, but rather based upon their being fellow laborers with him (1 Corinthians 16:10; 16:16; 2 Corinthians 8:23).

What Scripture DOES teach is that false teachings would arise even from among church leaders, and that Christians were to compare the teachings of these later church leaders with Scripture, which alone is infallible (Matthew 5:18; Psalm 19:7-8; 119:160; Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). The Bible does not teach that the apostles were infallible, apart from what was written by them and incorporated into Scripture. Paul, in talking to the church leaders in the large city of Ephesus, makes note of coming false teachers, and to fight against such error does NOT commend them to “the apostles and those who would carry on their authority,” but rather he commends them to “God and to the word of His grace...” (Acts 20:28-32). It is Scripture that was to be the infallible measuring stick for teaching and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17), not apostolic successors. It is by examining the Scriptures that teachings are shown to be true or false (Acts 17:10-12).

Was Peter the first pope? The answer, according to Scripture, is a clear and emphatic no. Peter nowhere claims supremacy over the other apostles. Nowhere is his writings (1 and 2 Peter) did the Apostle Peter claim any special role, authority, or power over the church. Nowhere in Scripture does Peter, or any other apostle, state that their apostolic authority would be passed on to successors. Yes, the Apostle Peter had a leadership role among the disciples. Yes, Peter played a crucial role in the early spread of the Gospel (Acts chapters 1-10). Yes, Peter was the “rock” that Christ predicted he would be (Matthew 16:18). However, these truths about Peter in no way give support to the concept that Peter was the first pope, or that he was the “supreme leader” over the apostles, or that his authority would be passed on to the bishops of Rome. Peter himself points us all to the true Shepherd and Overseer of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:25).

Recommended Resource: The Gospel According to Rome: Comparing Catholic Tradition and The Word of God by James McCarthy.

Answer 2

I'm am currently studying this, so I'm glad you asked
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus chose his beloved disciple and apostle, Peter to be the first leader of the Church. And Here's How
Jesus had chosen and entrusted Peter to lead his church. He asked Peter if he would Feed and Tend his sheep which are the people of God. He tells Peter that he is the Rock and the leader of the church that shall bring it together, just as the Pope does today. Jesus gives Peter and Peter alone the authority (which is recognized as the Keys) as leader of the church. The gates of hell are firmly promised by Jesus never to prevail against the church. The apostles had all became priests when Jesus had layed his hands on them and breathed on them, and handed on to them the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins, heal the sick, give blessings, and to beg God the Father to change the bread and wine into the Real and Living Sacred Body and of Jesus. The laying on of the hands from Peter and the apostles to the next generation of priests is how we got where we are today.

I hope I helped
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Answer 3

President of the JPII fan club gives the best answer. Lawrence makes the most pathetic attempt to explain away the obvious meaning of what Jesus said. There is simply no referrence to any Psalm or to Jesus being the Rock in Mt.16. Jesus was giving Simon a new name - Peter (rock). Whenever God gives somebody a new name it always comes with a change in office and duty. (Jacob - Israel; Joseph - Jephenath paneah; Abram - Abraham; Saul - Paul; Simon - Peter). Jesus in Mt.16 was particularly using the image of Joseph in Gen.41. Joseph's name was changed, he was given authority over all of Egypt, which was signified by the ring that Pharaoh gave him (the equivalent to the "keys of the kingdom" Jesus spoke of); and "without [his] approval no one shall move a hand or foot in all the land of Egypt". Jesus also paraphrases Isaiah 22:22, "I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open". Peter, like all Jews of his day would have known this prophesy very well. The illusion by Jesus to this passage would have been instantly recognized by the apostles.

Finally, in response the the answer stating that the Papacy began in the year 300, lets have a history lesson from the Church Fathers. Iranaeus, student of Polycarp - who was a contemporary of John the apostle wrote this concerning apostolic succession and the Bishop of Rome:

We can enumerate those who were appointed by the apostles as bishops in the churches as their successors even to our time. But since it would be too long, in a work like this, to list the successions in all the churches, we shall take only one of them, the church that is greatest, most ancient, and known to all, founded and set up by the two most glorious apostles Peter and Paul at Rome while showing that the tradition and the faith it proclaims to men comes down through the successions of the bishops even to us.

The blessed apostles, having founded and built up the church… handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus (Against Heresies – Book III: A.D. 180) [Linus was the second pope. Irenaeus then goes on to list all the popes up to his time].

Papias, who was a hearer of John and an associate of Polycarp, a fine old man, bore witness to these things in writing, in his fourth book, for there were five books that he compiled. (Against Heresies – Book V: A.D. 180) [I have posted this only to show the continuity of catholic belief from the time of the apostles].

Answer 4

Pope and the Church and the Bible are no longer infallible in concerns of tangible sciences yet purely in concerns of religion and morals below the direction of the Holy Spirit The Church teaches that God, who's everywhere, is the middle of the universe no longer the earth

Answer 5

In addition to the really great answers you've already received one more thing.

Not only did he say to Peter, you are the rock etc. But he also said I give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a reference to something that those who lived at the time fully understood.

When the master of the house goes away, he gives the keys to one of the members of his household...usually his righthand man. In this custom, the one who holds the keys can act on behalf of the master until he returns. The key holder can make all decisions as if he is the master because he has the authority given him by the master. Peter knew what Christ meant by this statement.

You can find the reference in Isaiah 22. Scott Hahn (a former evangelical Presbyterian minister) gives great insight into the Papacy here in his article: http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/hahn.asp

Answer 6

Origins of Peter as Pope

The New Testament contains five different metaphors for the foundation of the Church (Matt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 3:11, Eph. 2:20, 1 Pet. 2:5–6, Rev. 21:14). One metaphor that has been disputed is Jesus Christ’s calling the apostle Peter "rock": "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

Some have tried to argue that Jesus did not mean that his Church would be built on Peter but on something else.

Some argue that in this passage there is a minor difference between the Greek term for Peter (Petros) and the term for rock (petra), yet they ignore the obvious explanation: petra, a feminine noun, has simply been modifed to have a masculine ending, since one would not refer to a man (Peter) as feminine. The change in the gender is purely for stylistic reasons.

These critics also neglect the fact that Jesus spoke Aramaic, and, as John 1:42 tells us, in everyday life he actually referred to Peter as Kepha or Cephas (depending on how it is transliterated). It is that term which is then translated into Greek as petros. Thus, what Jesus actually said to Peter in Aramaic was: "You are Kepha and on this very kepha I will build my Church."

The Church Fathers, those Christians closest to the apostles in time, culture, and theological background, clearly understood that Jesus promised to build the Church on Peter, as the following passages show.

Answer 7

Jesus said to Peter "Thou art Peter (Rock) and upon this Rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her" Peter was the first Pope

Answer 8

That was around 142 A.D. with Pius I.

The best answer to the question of Peter as first pope is found in Adam Clarke's bible commentary on Matthew 16:18:

"Mat 16:18 -
Thou art Peter - This was the same as if he had said, 'I acknowledge thee for one of my disciples' - for this name was given him by our Lord when he first called him to the apostleship. See Joh_1:42.
Peter, πετρος, signifies a stone, or fragment of a rock; and our Lord, whose constant custom it was to rise to heavenly things through the medium of earthly, takes occasion from the name, the metaphorical meaning of which was strength and stability, to point out the solidity of the confession, and the stability of that cause which should be founded on The Christ, the Son of the Living God. See the notes at Luk_9:62.
Upon this very rock, επι ταυτη τη πετρα - this true confession of thine - that I am The Messiah, that am come to reveal and communicate The Living God, that the dead, lost world may be saved - upon this very rock, myself, thus confessed (alluding probably to Psa_118:22, The Stone which the builders rejected is become the Head-Stone of the Corner: and to Isa_28:16, Behold I lay a Stone in Zion for a Foundation) - will I build my Church, μου την εκκλησιαν, my assembly, or congregation, i.e. of persons who are made partakers of this precious faith. That Peter is not designed in our Lord’s words must be evident to all who are not blinded by prejudice. Peter was only one of the builders in this sacred edifice, Eph_2:20 who himself tells us, (with the rest of the believers), was built on this living foundation stone: 1Pe_2:4, 1Pe_2:5, therefore Jesus Christ did not say, on thee, Peter, will I build my Church, but changes immediately the expression, and says, upon that very rock, επι ταυτη τη πετρα, to show that he neither addressed Peter, nor any other of the apostles. So, the supremacy of Peter, and the infallibility of the Church of Rome, must be sought in some other scripture, for they certainly are not to be found in this. On the meaning of the word Church, see at the conclusion of this chapter.
The gates of hell, πυλαι Αδου i. e, the machinations and powers of the invisible world. In ancient times the gates of fortified cities were used to hold councils in, and were usually places of great strength. Our Lord’s expression means, that neither the plots, stratagems, nor strength of Satan and his angels, should ever so far prevail as to destroy the sacred truths in the above confession. Sometimes the gates are taken for the troops which issue out from them: we may firmly believe, that though hell should open her gates, and vomit out her devil and all his angels, to fight against Christ and his saints, ruin and discomfiture must be the consequence on their part; as the arm of the Omnipotent must prevail.

Answer 9

Jesus commissioned Peter by giving the "keys to the kingdom," and by telling him that he was the rock on which he would build his Church.

Answer 10

The Catholics will tell you that it was Simon Peter, placed in that office by Jesus Christ. Which is fully explained in the scriptures that show that Peter was an apostle to the Jews while Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. Also, we know from scripture that Paul traveled to Rome more than once, but Peter's pilgrimage to Rome never mentioned.