The word "Pope" is Latin for "Father". The Bible speaks of God as "Our Father",
Scripture also says that the Apostles considered themselves the Fathers of their flocks:Matthew 6:99 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
1 Corinthians 4:15
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 John 2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:Because Jesus Christ appointed Simon to "feed" His flock. The Church has always called him the first "Pope" or "Father" of the Church:
John 21:1717 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Hi De Maria,
ReplyDelete1.) The apostles thought of themselves as being "fathers" in a strictly spiritual sense, which is not the same as merely parading around religious titles for honor. In fact, I find it interesting that we never see names such as "Father Paul" or "Doctor John" recorded in the New Testament Scriptures.
2.) All bishops of the church have been commissioned to care for God's church (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5). So the Apostle Peter was not alone in being appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of "feeding the sheep". To "feed the sheep" means to "preach to and exhort the household of God". But one does not need to be endowed with the gift of infallibility to fulfill such tasks.
The truth of the matter is that you can only have one "Father" and one "Good Shepherd". So who are you going to submit to, De Maria?
This is some of the worst Scripture-twisting I've ever come across.
ReplyDelete>>>Jesse said:
ReplyDeleteAugust 17, 2017 at 1:34 AM
Hi De Maria,>>>
Hi Jesse,
>>>1.) The apostles thought of themselves as being "fathers" in a strictly spiritual sense, which is not the same as merely parading around religious titles for honor. In fact, I find it interesting that we never see names such as "Father Paul" or "Doctor John" recorded in the New Testament Scriptures.>>>
a. The New Testament shows that the Apostles already considered themselves fathers to their congregations. For example, we find St. John saying:
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not....
And St. Paul saying:
1 Corinthians 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
b. In addition, there was already an existing Jewish tradition to consider priests as fathers. Example:
Judges 18:19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest:....
Thus, the reason tht you come to this conclusion is because you have denied the Traditions that Jesus Christ passed down through His Church.
>>>2.) All bishops of the church have been commissioned to care for God's church (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-5). So the Apostle Peter was not alone in being appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of "feeding the sheep". To "feed the sheep" means to "preach to and exhort the household of God". But one does not need to be endowed with the gift of infallibility to fulfill such tasks.>>>
Need has nothing to do with it. It is God's will that His Church be infallible. Just as it His will that the Scriptures contain no error. If God didn't do it, it couldn't be done.
>>>The truth of the matter is that you can only have one "Father">>>
You contradict Scripture. See the post by St. Paul above. He says, "yet have ye not many fathers". In other words, we don't have many fathers, but we do have more than one.
>>> and one "Good Shepherd". >>>
Again, you contradict Scripture. Scripture says:
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Now, if Christ is the chief Shepherd, then there are subordinate shepherds.
>>>So who are you going to submit to, De Maria?>>>
To all whom Christ puts over me in the Church. Let's continue reading 1 Peter 5:
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
And let's see to whom else we need to submit:
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: ....
Whom will you obey? To whom will you submit?
De Maria,
Delete[The New Testament shows that the Apostles already considered themselves fathers to their congregations...In addition, there was already an existing Jewish tradition to consider priests as fathers.]
The word "father" found in the texts of 1 Corinthians 4:15 and 1 John 2:1 are used metaphorically to denote that the apostles "birthed" (meaning that they made new converts through the preaching of the gospel and thus gave them eternal salvation) and educated them in the principles of the faith. In other words, the twelve disciples worked to establish, preserve, and build up the Christian church of the first century so that it could continue to thrive successfully in future generations. They were fathers in the faith, which can equally be said of the Jewish leaders who served God's nation, Israel.
[It is God's will that His Church be infallible. Just as it His will that the Scriptures contain no error.]
No, the infallible Scriptures of God are to function as the infallible spiritual standard to guide fallible Christian congregations.
[You contradict Scripture...In other words, we don't have many fathers, but we do have more than one...Again, you contradict Scripture...Now, if Christ is the chief Shepherd, then there are subordinate shepherds...]
No, you have utterly misconstrued my words. Succinctly stated, my point is that we can only have one "Holy Father" (John 17:11) and one "Good Shepherd" (John 10:10-14). Man (including the Pope) has no right to reserve these religious titles of honor, for they belong to the Lord only.
And the fact that bishops have been appointed to be "shepherds" of God's flock does not provide any sort of justification for the Roman Catholic tradition of giving leaders religious titles of honor. The metaphor simply denotes a higher level of accountability. But we do see a proud Church hierarchy that does act as being a lord over God's heritage.
[And let's see to whom else we need to submit: Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves...Whom will you obey? To whom will you submit?]
Obedience is required to authorities that are faithful to God's will. But we can only know for certain whether leaders have rightly been appointed by comparing their conduct and ideologies to the inspired pages of the Bible. In other words, Scripture is to be our ultimate standard of authority.