non-Catholic Christians, if Peter was not the first Pope, who is he in your opinion?

Question

what is his role?
Is he special in any way?
Is he just one of the 12 or is he more important than the others?

I'm curious as to what Peter means to you.

Answer 1

Funny, but the bible seems to think Peter was important...

"And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock ['Peter' is Greek for 'rock'] 1 will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19).

"I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:33).

God sent an angel to Peter to announce the Resurrection of Jesus (Mark 6:7).

The risen Jesus first appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).

Peter headed the meeting which elected Matthias as replacement for Judas (Acts 1:13-26).

Peter led the apostles in preaching on Pentecost (Acts 2:14).

Peter led the meeting which decided on which terms Gentiles would be allowed into the Church (Acts 15).

Peter was the judge of Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11).

Jesus entrusted Peter with his flock, making him too a Good Shepherd (John 21:15-17).

Peter performed the first miracle after Pentecost (Acts 3).

After his conversion Paul went to see Peter, the chief apostle (Gal. 1:18).

Throughout the New Testament, when the apostles are listed as a group, Peter's name is always first. Sometimes it's just "Peter and the twelve. "

Peter's name is mentioned more often than the names of all the other apostles put together.

Answer 2

The idea of Peter as the first Pope leads to problems when you consider the doctrine of papal infallibility on matters of faith and/or morals. See, Peter denied Christ not once, but three times -- "I tell you, I do not know him!" Is that not a statement regarding faith? And was he not wrong? So how could he be the first Pope, have the power of infallibility on matters of faith and morals, and say such a thing?

Peter may well have been the first Bishop of Rome. But I do not accept the primacy or infallibility of the Bishop of Rome, more commonly known as the Pope. I do, however, believe in apostolic succession (I think it also includes the Orthodox, the Anglicans, and the Episcopalians, as well as Roman Catholics), the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the words of the Apostle's Creed. I even have a patron saint (St. Barbara) who has interceded for me at times of crisis.

Answer 3

The catholic church did no longer write the Bible. It became written by way of Jesus. Jesus instructed the disciples what to place in writing, no longer the catholic church. The Bible is absolutely the certainty from God, there is not any better certainty than the words of God. The catholic church does no longer have the actuality. There are 2 diverse Greek words used for the information "rock" The observe "rock" Jesus suggested He might build His church on became no longer the information used for peter. The catholics do understand there have been 2 diverse words used and that they attempt to misinform human beings by way of ignoring the actuality Jesus suggested and attempt to bypass their lies because of the fact the actuality. Its a shame the catholics experience they ought to misinform help their fake doctrines.

Answer 4

Historians are pretty clear on these basic facts:

The Apostle Peter, also known as Saint Peter, Shimon "Keipha" Ben-Yonah/Bar-Yonah, Simon Peter, Cephas and Keipha—original name Shimon or Simeon (Acts 15:14)—was one of the Twelve Apostles whom Jesus chose as his original disciples. His life is prominently featured in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Peter was a Galilean fisherman assigned a leadership role by Jesus (Matthew 16:18; John 21:15–16). Many within the early Church, such as St. Irenaeus[1], allege, assert, or argue for his primacy among the apostles.

The ancient Christian Churches, Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican Communion, consider Simon Peter a saint and associate him with the foundation of the Church in Rome, even if they differ on the significance of this and of the Pope in present-day Christianity.

Some who recognize his office as Bishop of Antioch and, later, as Bishop of Rome or Pope, hold that his episcopacy held a primacy only of honour, as a first among equals. Some propose that his primacy was not intended to pass to his successors.

Peter is always mentioned first in the lists of the Twelve. He is also frequently mentioned in the Gospels as forming with James the Elder and John a special group within the Twelve Apostles, present at incidents, such as the Transfiguration of Jesus, that the others were not party to.

Peter is also often depicted in the Gospels as spokesman of all the apostles, and as one to whom Jesus gave special authority.
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Conclusion: The gospels clearly recognize Peter as Jesus' handpicked leader of the Apostles, and historians recognize his leadership of the Church in Rome, the capital city of the Roman world.

Cheers
Bruce

Answer 5

I think Peter was the leader of the Disciples, and that the Lord appointed him to a special role in the founding of the Church (the body of Christ, not a particular denomination). He was the chief apostle to the Jews.

He may have been the founder of the church in Rome.

Answer 6

If Simon had no special position, I wonder why Christ gave him the title "Peter", meaning "Rock", and why he was thereafter known as Simon Peter, "Simon the Rock"? If Simon Peter had no special position, I wonder why Christ gave him, and no-one else, the "keys to the kingdom", the universal symbol of supreme authority? If Simon Peter had no special position, I wonder why the Bible refers to the Apostles as "Peter and his companions"?

Answer 7

Well I think your question shows that there are so very few non-Catholics who have the courage to admit that St.Peter held a unique position as the one called and blessed by Christ to be His living Vicar on Earth,they neatly side-step the fact that Jesus bestowed upon him the Keys of the Kingdom.
I think it also highlights the incompleteness of Protestant doctrine.

Answer 8

Peter was a great man of God. He was the regular sinner turned saint and he taught many great things. As for pope it is a man made thing that; the word is not said once in the bible and nowhere in the bible did God or Jesus say that they would have an infallible human on Earth that their word would have equal authority with that of Gods. And Peter is special just like all of the other men and women of God who spoke his word with boldness and truth.

Answer 9

they will prolly just say something along the lines of what they think about The Virgin Mary---she was just some women who was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time because I guess God doesn't think much of his son to plan on who his Mother would be.----geesh!

Answer 10

you mean one of the 13... remember Paul?
Peter was the senior Apostle and wrote part of what is included in The Bible of The True Christian Faith. As Senior He would have been seen as head of the group of people who were followers of the teaching of Jesus The Christ. Peter was NOT The Head of The Church... there is only one Head of The Church and that One is Jesus The Christ.... When the last Apostle died there were no more... An Apostle was one appointed personaly by Jesus. All other followers of Christ's teaching are deciples of Christ... not Apostles or "popes"

Peter certainly could not be the first "pope" as the Roman cult did not even start untill well over 200yrs after the last Apostle died.