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And what is the power of God?

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." NASU

To that end if you tamper with the Gospel, Galatians 1:6-9 is clear. What you end up with is 'no Gospel at all' because there is no other. No Gospel, then 'no power of God unto Salvation'.

Greek: NT:1672 GREEK- Hellen (hel'-lane); from NT:1671; a Hellen (Grecian) or inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew: KJV - Gentile, Greek.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary)

1 Corinthians 1:20-24

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. NASU

When one preaches Christ crucified, one is preaching baptism (Romans 6:3-11). If one doesn't think so, one understands neither the Gospel call nor the answering of the call as in 'calling on the name of the Lord' (Acts 2:21; Acts 22:16).

Jesus did not say 'key' (singular) to Peter. He matter of factly said 'keys' (plural). Consistent with that, when baptism is dealt with in the New Testament whether by command, example, teaching or inference, all of these keys are self-evident or understood. One must:

a) Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:14-17)

b) One must believe (Acts 2:37, Acts 8:34-39 Ethiopian Eunuch);

c) One must repent (Acts 2:38)

d) One must be baptised into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16)

Hebrews 11:6; Acts 2:36-38; 40-41; Acts 22:16; Then there's the gift of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; Titus 3:4-7, Cornelius and his household in Acts 10.

Baptism is a necessary key to salvation (1 Peter 3:20-21, Romans 6:3-11, Galatians 3:27) yet is just one of the keys on the same key chain.

Titus 3:4-7

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NASU

'washing' NT:3067 - GREEK: loutron (loo-tron'); from NT:3068; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), immersion, baptism: NASU/KJV - washing.

NT:3068 - GREEK: louo (loo'-o); a primary verb; to bathe (the whole person; whereas NT:3538 means to wet a part only, and NT:4150 to wash, cleanse garments exclusively)

'Regeneration' NT:3824 - GREEK: paliggenesia (pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah); spiritual rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (figuratively) spiritual renovation; specifically, Messianic restoration. NASU/KJV - regeneration.

'renewing' NT:342 - GREEK: anakainosis (an-ak-ah'-ee-no-sis) renovation. KJV - renewing.

(New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary)

By 'joining the dots' it can be seen that one can't escape or ignore the direct role baptism has, along with hearing, faith, repentence and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in relation to being keys to get into the kingdom/church. Not that one is 'joining' anything. Through baptism one is added to the church/kingdom by our Lord Himself. Acts 2:37=38; 40-41; and 47 whereby: "... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved". NKJV

No suprise then as the Lord opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 10), He did so by the same means in the same way He did when the church/kingdom began on the day of Pentecost for the Jews in Acts 2. Same 'keys', same approach, same method- same door unlocked by which to enter, being of course in the name of Jesus, the door that is Jesus. Irrefutable evidence from on high that the Jews should accept the Gentiles into the 'now' one fold Jesus (the door) was talking about regarding the 'other sheep, not of this fold' he was referring to at that time (the lost sheep of the house of Israel). How fitting (by design not accident or chance) that Peter would facilitate in both situations. Does God know how to cover all the bases or what? Not surprising considering both game plans were intended for 'beginnings'.

Acts 10:44-48

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

Then Peter answered:

47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"

48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. NASU

Regarding 'just as we did...' remember?

Acts 2:4-8

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each; hear them in our own language to which we were born? NASU

The promise thus made was fulfilled after the Resurrection, on the occasion narrated in John, xxi. Here Christ employs a simile used on more than one occasion by Himself to denote His own relation to the members of His Church—that of the shepherd and his flock. His solemn charge, “Feed my sheep”, constituted Peter the common shepherd of the whole collective flock. Actually, mostly what the latter assertion 'constitutes is wolves in sheep's clothing trying to get at the flock and I'm certainly not including Peter in the pack trying to pull the wool over anybody's eyes.

For that matter, yielding to scripture instead of pushing an institutionalized personal agenda which scripture readily refutes on all points claimed so far, let's continue to allow scripture to interpret scripture. Listen to what God has to say. The approach surely has worked so far in reaching truth. Let's also see if anybody is listening. As somebody once or twice said, God gave us two eyes and two ears but one mouth.

When Jesus referred to His own relationship to members of the church (sheep) or when others referred to Jesus in the same context, scripture clearly tells us just who the Chief Shepherd' is. Scripture otherwise does not bestow upon any one else the equivalent of the same 'office'. Unfortunately, that fact doesn't seem enough to dissuade pretenders to the throne from attempts to usurp it. In truth, if one reads the first part of the following passage, note how Peter describes himself as he exhorts other elders (as in Pastor, Bishop, Overseer, Shepherd which are all terms describing the same 'office). He refers to himself as "your fellow elder").

1 Peter 5:1-5

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, NASU

1 Timothy 3:1-2 and Titus 1:7 list qualifications. Again, Pastor, Shepherd, Elder, Overseer, Bishop - all describe one and the same. You really don't want to go 'there' as two of the qualifications are a) being the husband of one wife and b) having believing children c) blameless, being of good behaviour and 'must be above reproach' presumably include not molesting children and not engaging in homosexual behaviour among other stuff. Objections anyone? Let's have a recorded vote.

1 Timothy 3:2-5

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) NKJV

1 Timothy 3:8-13

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. NKJV

Titus 1:5-9

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you — 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife,having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. NKJV

Overseer NT:1985 episkopos, episkopou an overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian, or superintendent 1 Peter 2:25 (notice: no reference to a 'chief overseer, shepherd, bishop' or 'Pope' type figure with plenary authority)

Elder NT:4245 GREEK- presbuteros (pres-boo'-ter-os); comparative of presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically, an Israelite Sanhedrist or Christian "presbyter": KJV - elder (-est), old.

NT:4166

Pastor/ Shepherd Eph 4:11 NT:4166 GREEK poimen (poy-mane'); of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively): KJV - shepherd, pastor.

Ephesians 4:11-13

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. NASU

John 21 (xxi)

John 21:15-17

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs."

Tend NT:1006 GREEK bosko (bos'-ko); a prol. form of a primary verb [compare NT:1016]; to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze: KJV - feed, keep.

NT:1016 GREEK bous (booce); an ox (as grazing), i.e. an animal of that species, ("beef"): KJV - ox.

16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." NT:4165

Shepherd NT:4165 GREEK- poimaino (poy-mah'-ee-no); from NT:4166; to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser): KJV - feed (cattle), rule.

17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep." NASU

Tend NT:1006 GREEK bosko (bos'-ko); a prol. form of a primary verb [compare NT:1016]; to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze: KJV - feed, keep.

NT:1016 GREEK bous (booce); an ox (as grazing), i.e. an animal of that species, ("beef"): KJV - ox.

Whether in the scripture presented as evidence (John 21) or in the Greek/English definitions nowhere is it hinted, that in Peter is to becreated an 'office' of Chief Shepherd (essentially Pope) with plenary (unlimited) authority. Secondly, certainly not the Chief Shepherd over other shepherds. Jesus simply admonished Peter to do just what any shepherd was expected to do , feed, tend and graze the sheep- keep them out of harm's way. There is a distinct and separate role for sheep and shepherds as the terms imply and are used scripturally. Paul says to Titus, Titus 1:5: For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you... NASU. That said, it doesn't mean an elder (Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop) doesn't have some authority over the 'flock'. All Bishops do.

1 Timothy 3:7, "Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil", NKJV.

Headlines:

Almost 1,700 priests and clergy accused of sex abuse are unsupervised

An Associated Press investigation found that those credibly accused are now teachers, coaches, counselors and also live near playgrounds. (2019 AP)

Benedict was criticized for his handling of the church’s sex abuse scandal.

His efforts to rid the church of what he called “filth” went further than those of John Paul II, but he was reluctant to hold bishops accountable. (Dec, 2022 NY Times)

Etc, etc, etc. And The Beat Goes On...

Well, so much for that! or Defending The Indefensible. Look, I don't have the time, energy or space to mention even a fraction of the headlines never mind stories.

However-

Revelation 20:10-15

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Still, it's not over 'til it's over.

Revelation 20:10-15

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NASU

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Did Christ build His church on Peter? Does biblical scripture authenticate and/or support such a claim? Part 1

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