"And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
[/SIZE] Hello Marcelo,
And I would also add that, when Jesus said "upon this Rock I will build my church" he wasn't speaking about Peter, but of himself. Jesus had just asked the disciples the question "who do you say that I am?" Peter said, "you are the Messiah of God." So, Peter confessed who Christ was and then Jesus does the same to Peter "and I say that you are Peter." Then Jesus says, "upon this Rock I will build my church," referring to himself, not Peter. Jesus is the Rock.
And you are correct, scripture never teaches that there was to be one man over the entire church. In fact, the RCC is set up exactly opposite of what Jesus said:
"But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Excellent! The idea of an infallible, all powerful human leader is the epitome of this...
Rev 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
A little research into this brings one to the conclusion that lording it over God's people is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. How does God feel about it?
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
Mat 20:26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
Mat 20:27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
Mat 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
A real Christian leader is the one who serves others not in CHARGE of others.