St. Peter the Apostle
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Father Abe, other Christian denominations do not understand why we call the pope the “Vicar of Christ”. They simply ignore the fact the Jesus was restoring the kingdom of David which was promised to last forever. The Jews are still waiting for the coming of that king, the Messiah who will restore the kingdom of David. He already came and we crucified him.
"Vicar of Christ" is one of the official titles of the pope.
Jesus = "Son of God,"
Jesus = "Christ,"
both are true. But when it comes to vicariate of the pope, "Christ" is used because of the messianic and kingship role the title "Christ" portrays. Peter is the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom, the one who was authorized by Christ himself. This Authority was not Peter's own authority, but one given to him by his sovereign, Christ the King. That means he acts with Christ's own authority.
These duties are equivalent of a "prime minister" in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom, the King's trusted "lieutenant." The "prime minister" is over the household", this means that he exercises a unique, final authority in the name of the King (Jesus Christ). Peter was the vice-regent or prime minister, the lieutenant, the second-in-command.
These are all functions, duties and authority done in the name of "CHRIST THE KING." Mt 16:13-20 refers to the 'KING," "THE ANOINTED ONE OF GOD," "THE MESSIAH" DELEGATING HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS "STEWARD", BY THE HANDING OF THE "KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD" TO PETER THE FIRST POPE.
Peter the first pope was given the keys of the Kingdom of heaven. As the first steward of Christ on earth, Peter is the first of many who will govern the Church of Christ from the Chair of St. Peter. The keys are symbolic of the sovereign's (Christ the King) power and authority as they are entrusted to his prime minister to act for the sovereign (Christ the King) in fulfilling the sovereign's (Christ the King) wishes. Christ the king while still retaining his sovereignty, entrusted the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter (and his successors) on earth until the end of time (Mt 16: 13-20).
By conferring the "keys of the kingdom" to Peter, Jesus Christ the King devolved a primacy to him in the form of the office of the "steward" or "the one who is over the house", or in modern parlance, as prime minister. The background of the imagery of the Keys is Isa 22:15-25, which all distinguished bible scholars agree lies behind Mat 16:19. Thus, by Christ will (as agreed by God the Father in Matthew 16:17) St Peter comes to hold the position of "lieutenant" and second in command in the restored and everlasting Kingdom, with Jesus Christ Himself on the throne.
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Some commentators have viewed this passage as referring to Christ, but improperly; for the Prophet draws a comparison between two men, Shebna and Eliakim. Shebna shall be deprived of his office, and Eliakim shall succeed him. What has this to do with Christ? For Eliakim was not a type of Christ (king) and the Prophet does not here describe any hidden mystery, but borrows a comparison from the ordinary practice of men, as if the keys were delivered to one who has been appointed to be steward, as has been already said. For the same reason Christ call the office of teaching the word, (Mat 16:19) 'the keys of the kingdom of heaven,' so that it is idle and foolish to spend much time in endeavoring to find a hidden reason, when the matter is plain, and needs no ingenuity. The reason is, that ministers, by the preaching of the word, open the entrance into heaven, and lead to Christ, who alone is the way. By the keys, therefore, he means here that government of the king's house, because the principal charge of it would be delivered to Eliakim at the proper time" (John Calvin, Commentary of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, 1948, 136-137).
It is by virtue of his title as Christ the king that he appointed Peter as his Vicar.
INCs think that is a blasphemy that we call the pope the “Vicar of Christ”. What is blasphemous about this title? Nothing!! For it is by the authority of the sovereign that the vicar performs his duties as the visible leader of the church. The pope by virtue of his position governs the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can a pope usurp what was given to him by his sovereign?
Mt 16:19, Peter is given the keys of kingly authority held by his sovereign, and the priestly and kingly power of binding and loosing.
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Some commentators have viewed this passage as referring to Christ, but improperly; for the Prophet draws a comparison between two men, Shebna and Eliakim. Shebna shall be deprived of his office, and Eliakim shall succeed him. What has this to do with Christ? For Eliakim was not a type of Christ (king) and the Prophet does not here describe any hidden mystery, but borrows a comparison from the ordinary practice of men, as if the keys were delivered to one who has been appointed to be steward, as has been already said. For the same reason Christ call the office of teaching the word, (Mat 16:19) 'the keys of the kingdom of heaven,' so that it is idle and foolish to spend much time in endeavoring to find a hidden reason, when the matter is plain, and needs no ingenuity. The reason is, that ministers, by the preaching of the word, open the entrance into heaven, and lead to Christ, who alone is the way. By the keys, therefore, he means here that government of the king's house, because the principal charge of it would be delivered to Eliakim at the proper time" (John Calvin, Commentary of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, 1948, 136-137).
It is by virtue of his title as Christ the king that he appointed Peter as his Vicar.
INCs think that is a blasphemy that we call the pope the “Vicar of Christ”. What is blasphemous about this title? Nothing!! For it is by the authority of the sovereign that the vicar performs his duties as the visible leader of the church. The pope by virtue of his position governs the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can a pope usurp what was given to him by his sovereign?
Mt 16:19, Peter is given the keys of kingly authority held by his sovereign, and the priestly and kingly power of binding and loosing.
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Let me borrow the words of various scholars of various denomination regarding the Keys.(taken from Jesus, Peter and the Keys)
Albright and Mann - "The symbol of authority"
Calvin A Protestant reformer - "the office of teaching the word"
IVP Bible Commentary - "delegation of God's sovereignty"
De Vaux - "Master of the house"
Interpreter's Bible - "plenary authority"
Cullman - "authority to establish rules"
France - "making halakhic pronouncements"
Earle - "making decisions based on the teaching of Christ"
IVP Bible commentary - "legislative authority in the Church"
Willoughby - "power to admit, power to exclude"
From these quotes, one can conclude that the Church through her leaders has full authority to prescribe doctrines on matters of faith and morals. Christ made it so with the protection of the Holy Spirit ( John 14:16, 26, 16:13).
So to non-Catholics I ask, would our Lord Jesus Christ leave his kingdom unattended, yes or no, and why?
Knowing the promise of our Lord Jesus that he will be with us forever until the end of times (Mt 28:20) would he leave us unattended even for a second to be ravaged by savage wolves?
Will the Good Shepherd abandon us (Jn 10:16) even for a second?
Would the King who restored the Kingdom of David leave his people unattended without a second in command?
Time for you think about those questions and honestly answer them by using historical and biblical exegesis, and plain common sense.
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