Is the Pope “’s Successor”? N 2002, Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to the of Limburg, I Germany, overruling a decision by the bishop in connection with abortion. The pope introduced his directive by stating that he was responsible for “the well-being and unity of all individual churches according to the will of .” He claimed authority to overrule the bishop’s decision because as pope, he is said to be “Saint Peter’s successor.”

According to a Roman Catholic defini- that is the Christian congregation, was built, tion, “Christ constituted St. Peter chief of not Peter. all the apostles.” The Catholic Church fur- True, the apostle Peter features prominent- ther asserts that “Christ established that Pe- ly in the . Jesus singled out three of ter should have perpetual successors in this his apostles—John, James, and Peter—to be primacy; and that the Roman are present with him on a few special occasions. these successors.”—New Catholic Encyclope- (Mark 5:37, 38; 9:2; 14:33) Jesus entrusted Pe- dia (2003), Volume 11, pages 495-496. ter with “the keys of the kingdom of the Those are important claims. Have you ex- heavens,” which Peter used to open up the amined their validity for yourself? Consider way to the Kingdom—first to the Jews and the answers to three questions: (1) Does the proselytes, then to the Samaritans, and final- support the claim that Peter was the ly to the Gentiles. (Matthew 16:19; Acts 2:5, first pope? (2) What does history teach about 41; 8:14-17; 10:45) In accord with his out- the origin of the succession of popes? (3) Do going personality, Peter at times served as the conduct and teachings of the popes sup- spokesman for the apostles as a whole. (Acts port their claim to be Peter’s successor? 1:15; 2:14) But do these facts make Peter head of the early congregation? Was Peter the First Pope? The apostle Paul did write that Peter was To prove that the church is founded on Pe- entrusted with an “apostleship to those who ter, Catholics have long pointed to Jesus’ are circumcised.” (Galatians 2:8) However, words recorded at Matthew 16:18: “You are the context of Paul’s words shows that he was Peter, and on this rock-mass I will build my not saying that Peter directed the congrega- congregation.” In fact, those words are in- tion. Paul’s comments were about Peter’s role scribed in Latin under the dome of St. Peter’s in preaching to the Jews. Basilica in Rome. Although Peter was given great responsibil- Augustine, a revered Church Father, at one time held that the congregation was built on  Jesus’ discussion with Peter centered on identifying the Christ and his role, not on the role that Peter would Peter. However, toward the end of his life, he play. (Matthew 16:13-17) Peter himself later stated that changed his view of what Jesus’ words meant. Jesus was the rock upon which the congregation was built. (1 Peter 2:4-8) The apostle Paul confirmed that Je- In a work known as Retractations, Augustine sus, not Peter, was “the foundation cornerstone” of the argued that it was Jesus on whom the church, Christian congregation.—Ephesians 2:20.

24 THE WATCHTOWER ˙ AUGUST 1, 2011 Does the evidence indicate that the popes have followed Peter’s example?

ity, nowhere in the Bible do we find him thwarting for a time the ambitions of those claiming to be the head of the congregation who were seeking prominence.—2 Thessalo- and, as such, making decisions for the disci- nians 2:3-8. ples as a group. In his letter, he called himself Shortly after the last of the apostles died, “an apostle” and “an older man”—nothing individuals began to gain more prominence. more.—1 Peter 1:1; 5:1. The Cambridge History of Christianity says: “Probably there was no single ‘monarchical’ What Does History Teach bishop in Rome before the middle of the sec- About the Origin of the Papacy? ond century.” By the third century, the bish- When and how, then, did the concept of a op of Rome established himself as the high- papacy come about? The idea that it was ac- est authority, at least for parts of the church. ceptable for one man to seek prominence To add weight to the claim that the bishop over his fellow believers began to take root of Rome has superior authority, some have while the apostles were still alive. How did compiled a list of Peter’s successors. the apostles view such thinking? However, this list provides little support for The apostle Peter himself told the men the claim. Why? First, some names on the who were taking the lead in the congregation list cannot be verified. More important, the not to be “lording it over those who are God’s foundation of the list is flawed. How so? Even inheritance”; they were to gird themselves if Peter did preach in Rome, as some secular with lowliness of mind toward one another. literature from the first and second centuries (1 Peter 5:1-5) The apostle Paul warned that implies, there is no proof that he was head of from within the congregation, men would the congregation there. rise who would “speak twisted things to draw One evidence that Peter was not head of away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20: thecongregationinRomeisthatwhenthe 30) Toward the end of the first century C.E., apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, theapostleJohnwrotealetterinwhichhe strongly denounced a by the name of  Both Jesus and the apostles warned that the Chris- tian congregation would be overrun by men who taught Diotrephes. Why the reprimand? One reason apostate doctrine. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 2 Timothy was that this man ‘liked to have the first 4:3; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:18) Those statements came true when the church, or congregation, of the second centu- place’ in the congregation. (3 John 9) Such ry began adopting pagan customs and blending Biblical counsel from the apostles acted as a restraint, doctrine with Greek philosophy.

THE WATCHTOWER ˙ AUGUST 1, 2011 25 he included an extensive list of Christians Pope Leo X: “Involved in political and often there. Yet, he did not mention Peter at all. nepotistic transactions and devoted to lavish (Romans 16:1-23) If Peter were head of the worldly pleasures, Leo X neglected the urgent congregation, could we imagine that Paul tasks of a spiritual nature.” Karl Amon, Cath- overlooked Peter or snubbed him? olic priest and professor of church history, Note, too, that about the time that Peter says that verified reports regarding Pope Al- wrote his first inspired letter, Paul wrote a sec- exander VI betray “a terrific amount of un- ond letter to Timothy. In that letter, Paul did scrupulousness, abuse of authority, simony, not hesitate to mention Rome. Actually, Paul and immorality.” wrote six letters from Rome, all without any What about the teachings of the popes? mention of Peter. How do they compare with the teachings of Some 30 years after Paul wrote his letters, Peter and Christ? Peter did not believe that all theapostleJohnwrotethreelettersandthe good people go to heaven. With reference to . Nowhere in these writ- good King David, he plainly said: “David did ings did John mention that the congregation not ascend to the heavens.” (Acts 2:34) Nor in Rome was the most prominent one, nor did Peter teach that infants should be bap- did he refer to a leader of the church who tized. Rather, he taught that baptism is a step held the supreme office of an alleged succes- that a believer takes conscientiously.—1 Peter sor of Peter. Neither the Bible nor the evi- 3:21. dence from history supports the claim that Jesus taught that none of his disciples Peter established himself as the first bishop should try to be more prominent than any of the congregation in Rome. other. “If anyone wants to be first,” Jesus said, “he must be last of all and minister of all.” Do the Conduct and Teachings (Mark 9:35) Shortly before his death, Jesus of the Popes Support Their Claim? gave this clear directive to his followers: “Do We would rightly expect someone who not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teach- claims to be “Saint Peter’s successor” and er, whereas all you are brothers. Moreover, do “the Vicar of Christ” to follow the conduct not call anyone your father on earth, for one and teachings of both Peter and Christ. For is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be example, did Peter accept special treatment called ‘leaders,’ for your Leader is one, the from his fellow believers? No. He refused to Christ.” (Matthew 23:1, 8-10) Do you feel allow any special expressions of reverence to that the popes have upheld the teachings of be bestowed on him. (Acts 10:25, 26) What Peter and Christ? about Jesus? He said that he came to serve Some say that the succession of popes is others, not to be served. (Matthew 20:28) By maintained even if the officeholder does not contrast, what record do the popes have? Do lead a Christian life. Do you think that argu- they shun prominence, refuse grand titles, ment is reasonable? Jesus said: “Every good and avoid ostentatious displays of wealth and tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree power? produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot Both Peter and Christ were morally upright bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree men who promoted peace. Compare their produce fine fruit.” Based on the evidence, record with what the Catholic encyclope- do you think that Peter or Christ would want ¨ dia Lexikon fur Theologie und Kirche (Lexi- to be associated with the fruits that the popes con for Theology and Church) says about have produced?—Matthew 7:17,18, 21-23.

26 THE WATCHTOWER ˙ AUGUST 1, 2011