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June 16,1995 (Rev. 7/4/95) God alone is infallible. Universally directed statements on matters of faith and morals proclaimed as doctrine of the Church, established by Jesus, by Peter and his moral successors are infallible due to the power of the Holy Ghost who is entrusted to guarantee the authenticity of such statements to be in accordance to the will of the Heavenly Father. The complete harmony between Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost is the unity, the oneness of God. They are collectively the fullness of God. When Jesus refers to God or to His Father He is referring to the primal necessary being known as Yahweh or God the Father. In the Old Testament Yahweh is the primary focus of attention. In the Gospels Jesus is the primary focus of attention. Before His ascent into Heaven Jesus made it clear that the holy Ghost was to have responsibility for us following His departure. Mark 13:11 When they lead you away Luke 11:13 If you then, who are Ghost that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. whom I will send you from the Father, the Ghost of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. Also before His final departure from active ministry He made it clear that He was leaving a visible reliable authority to govern His Church. The reliability (as found in authenticate teachings) of this visible authority should be understood to be guaranteed by the power of the holy Ghost. Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas" (which is translated Peter). Kephas translates to mean rock, i.e., a large mass of stone such as a cliff. A mountain made of rock would be capable of producing many thousands of boulders. Rock, because of its solidity and permanent durable nature, is considered a sound foundation for building. listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. [25] The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. Jesus made Peter (the moral office of Peter) the permanent foundation for the Church which would last until the end of time. (Mat 16:18) to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. and over the whole flock of which the holy Ghost has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. It is unreasonable to believe that the Church was intended to be a divided entity. Indeed it was intended to be united in belief and profession of faith. seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful, and there is no wrong in him. not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. [22] And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Kephas = Peter = petros. Petra and petros are the Latin forms of Kephas (Cephas) and are
genderized. Peter is the anglicized form of petros. Genderization in this manner is not a part of
the Hebrew, Greek, or English languages. Therefore the distinction in translation found in Latin
is not valid but is a necessity of usage. It should be clear from this that Simon was to be the first
in a line of office holders that formed the permanent foundation of the Church founded by Jesus
which the gates of the netherworld would not prevail against. The office of Peter was to have the power of binding and loosening on earth -- a term which should be understood to include the whole of the inhabitable universe. Since faith, morals, and Church discipline are the primary concerns of God and His Church, it would be reasonable to infer that the office of Peter was to be concerned with these matters. Simon the person was not in any since to be considered perfect (Mat 16:23 He turned and said to Peter [the person], "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.") but the office of Peter properly understood and controlled by the holy Ghost should be seen as the expression of the will of God. The person of Peter (and his successors) was also to have temporal authority over the affairs of the Church. His temporal authority is in no sense of the word to be considered as infallible. However, when he morally used his temporal authority in conformity with the universal teachings of the Church, such authority was to be considered as binding in conscience. Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, [32] but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." Peter to strengthen the brothers, i.e. the rest of the apostles, -- a quality of leadership. 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, "Feed my lambs." [16] He then said to him 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, "Tend my sheep." [17] He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs = teach the word of God to those who are not familiar with it. Tend my sheep = direct, control, and discipline the members of the Church. (Bibles which translate this as "feed my sheep" are setting up a redundancy in regard to the next instruction of Jesus.) Feed my sheep = increase the knowledge and wisdom of the members of the Church as they are ready to receive new information. The jurisdiction of Jesus is assigned only to the apostles and by extension to their successors. Luke 22:29 I for my part assign to you The Council of Jerusalem should not be considered a general council of the Church for the following reasons: 1. Not all of the apostles and bishops nor even the majority of the apostles and bishops 2. The final directive as given by St. James while answering the needs of an immediate Comments would be greatly appreciated. Permissions granted for non-profit purposes.  Editor |
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