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The Rock
Several Catholics have pointed out to me the NUMBER of New Testament passages that mention Peter shows that Peter was unique among all the other apostles.
I would point out that the NUMBER of passages that mention Abraham is far greater than the combined number of those that mention both Peter and Jesus!
Consider –
Is Peter the rock in the Old Testament? No. Christ is the Rock, as taught by the New Testament
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalms 118:22
Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
1 Peter 2:4-8
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Corinthians 10:44
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
The Keys
What door do the keys unlock? The door of the Kingdom of Heaven. How does Peter unlock the door to the Kingdom? Same way the Pharisees are said to have locked the door. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:13.
They shut it up with false claims about Jesus, with customs and doctrines of men. It comes down to words. Pharisees locked or shut up the kingdom by their words
Read Acts 2. You will find Peter stood and raised his voice and by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel for the first time.
Read Acts 10. You will find Peter opening the door to the Gentiles.
Catholics claim that Peter handed the keys to another, to a successor. If they are honest, they would have to admit that there is not verse in the Bible that teaches such a transfer.
My question to Catholics:
Why do you believe the Bible is the Inspired Word of God? What evidence do you rely on for you conviction that the Bible is the Word of God?
Several Catholics have pointed out to me the NUMBER of New Testament passages that mention Peter shows that Peter was unique among all the other apostles.
I would point out that the NUMBER of passages that mention Abraham is far greater than the combined number of those that mention both Peter and Jesus!
Consider –
Is Peter the rock in the Old Testament? No. Christ is the Rock, as taught by the New Testament
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalms 118:22
Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
1 Peter 2:4-8
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Corinthians 10:44
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
The Keys
What door do the keys unlock? The door of the Kingdom of Heaven. How does Peter unlock the door to the Kingdom? Same way the Pharisees are said to have locked the door. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:13.
They shut it up with false claims about Jesus, with customs and doctrines of men. It comes down to words. Pharisees locked or shut up the kingdom by their words
Read Acts 2. You will find Peter stood and raised his voice and by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel for the first time.
Read Acts 10. You will find Peter opening the door to the Gentiles.
Catholics claim that Peter handed the keys to another, to a successor. If they are honest, they would have to admit that there is not verse in the Bible that teaches such a transfer.
My question to Catholics:
Why do you believe the Bible is the Inspired Word of God? What evidence do you rely on for you conviction that the Bible is the Word of God?