THE POPE AND THE BIBLE We heard recently the surprise announcement on 28 February 2012 that the current

pope had decided to resign from the papal office. Pope Benedict XVI, who was born Joseph Ratzinger, was elected pope in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II. The resignation has shocked even Roman Catholic theologians, as the last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415 to end the Great Western Schism. The 86 year-old Pope Benedict stated he was retiring because, that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. Sad to say many professing fundamentalists have an astounding ignorance of Roman Catholicism. Few understand what are the differences and why are there differences between biblical Christianity and the Church of Rome. One of the most profound differences is in relation to the office of the pope. WHAT DOES THE ROMAN CHURCH TEACH? In the popes resignation, Pope Benedict stated that he was no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. This statement stems from the Roman Catholic belief that Peter was the first pope and all other bishops of Rome are his successors. At the Second Vatican Council in 1965 it was decreed, This church, constituted and organised in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in union with that successionBut the college or body of bishops has no authority unless it is simultaneously conceived of in terms of its head, the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, and without a lessening of his power and primacy over all, pastors as well as the general faithful. For in virtue of his office, that is as vicar of Christ and pastor of the whole church, the Roman Pontiff has full, supreme and universal power over the Church. And he can always exercise this power freely. In 1870 at the First Vatican Council the Church of Rome decreed that the Pope was infallible when in discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church. The pope is also seen as the one who mediates salvation for believers between heaven and earth. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences it states, For Gods only-begotten Son ... has won a treasure for the militant Church ... he has entrusted it to blessed Peter, the key-bearer of heaven, and to his successors who are Christs vicars on earth, so that they may distribute it to the faithful for their salvation. They may apply it with mercy for reasonable causes to all who have repented for and have confessed their sins. As the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope is often called the Holy Father, the Head of the Church, and the Vicar of Christ. These are names and roles that only apply to the Three Persons of the Trinity. So the pope is held up as being the head

of the church, infallible in his public teachings, having supreme authority, and being an intercessor to God on behalf of believers on earth. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH? (1) The Bible does not teach that Peter was appointed in a position over the other apostles as head of the church. Repeatedly we are told that Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the Church, And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence (Col. 1:18; cf. Eph. 1:22; 5:23). The pope has assumed a position that for himself that there is no vacancy! Indeed, Paul stated that his authority as an apostle came from Christ and not from any man such as pope Peter, Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead (Gal. 1:1). (2) Peter had a very important role in the church. However, he never once claimed such an exalted position as the pope does. He explicitly stated his ruling authority is the same as every other church leader, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 5:1). If he were truly superior over the other apostles, then why would he make such a misleading statement? Indeed, Peter was subject unto the leadership of the other apostles when the other apostles sent him to Samaria (Acts 8:14). It is interesting to note that Paul stated, I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles (2 Cor. 11:5; cf. Gal. 2:8), which is wholly inconsistent with the notion of supreme apostolic authority of Peter and the succeeding popes. It is also strange that when Paul was listing the offices in the church that he omitted the office of pope but puts all the apostles on the same level, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Eph. 2:20; cf. 4:11). Even if it could be shown that Peter did have greater authority than the other apostles, there is no hint that his apostolic authority was passed on to future generations of popes as bishops of Rome. (3) Peter was far from infallible in his teaching and actions. In his later ministry we are told that under inspiration that Paul withstood Peter to the face, because he was to be blamed (Gal. 2:11). Peter had to rebuked because he was fallible not because he was infallible! Interestingly, Peter never used his subsequent writings to attack what Paul did in exposing his error, but rather commended Paul and his teachings (cf. 2 Peter 3:15-16). (4) No believer on earth acts as mediator between God and man. The office of mediator is exclusively the role of the Lord Jesus Christ, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5; cf. Heb 12:24). The popes claims are an attempt to usurp the position that is solely reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ. That we must oppose. CH Spurgeon in a sermon titled Christ Glorified said: Christ did not redeem His church with His blood so the pope could come in and steal away the glory. He never came from heaven to earth and poured out His very heart that He might purchase His people so that a poor sinner, a mere man, should be set upon high to be admired by all the nations and to call himself Gods representative on earth! Christ has always been the head of His church.

The doctrine of the papal office is wrong because it attributes to a mere man what belongs only to God. As a church, we stand in the line of Protestant churches that protest against any attempts to diminish the glory of Christ. It is not some attempt to be merely schismatic or to be different but our love and respect for what Jesus Christ has accomplished. He alone must be glorified. While we love and witness the truth of the gospel to individual Roman Catholics, we cannot fellowship with the Roman Church while it teaches false doctrine. We are commanded, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them (Romans 16:17).

The churchs one Foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is his new creation by water and the Word: From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.