Was The Apostle Peter The First Pope? (A Biblical Response)

Roman Catholics claim that the Apostle Peter was the first pope.  They base this assertion on several passages in the Bible, but primarily on Matthew 16:16-19.  

(Matthew 16:16-19)"Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (ESV) 

When Peter said Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, he was speaking on behalf of the other apostles as well.  The rock on which the church is built is Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, not Peter himself.  This is the confession of all true believers.  Jesus says, "on this rock" referring to the confession of Peter.  He does not say on you Peter I will build my church.  

Also Catholics believe the giving of the keys of heaven was meant for Peter alone as pope and not for the other apostles.  But in Matthew 18:18 this authority is given to all the Apostles, not just Peter.  

Peter never refers to himself as the pope, in fact in 1 Peter 5:1 he refers to himself as a fellow elder.  Peter also refused to be worshiped and said I too am a man (Acts 10:25-26).  The apostle Paul never refers to Peter as pope and he actually rebuked Peter in Galatians 2:11-14.  This would be strange conduct from Paul if Peter was the infallible Pope.  At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 Peter functions as one of the apostles and not as pope, while James seems to direct the meeting.  

The office of pope is found nowhere in the Bible.  The papacy is not Biblical and therefore has no authority.    

God Told Me

 It has been said that one of the most dangerous things a person can say is, "God told me." That is most definitely true.  When a person says, "God told me" he is claiming to receive direct revelation from God.  This person is actually making himself equal with Scripture itself.  This is a very foolish and dangerous assertion to make.  

You should be skeptical of anyone claiming that, "God told me." It is likely only the person's own imagination, not a word from God.  The Lord does lead his people but he does not give them additional revelation.  

The Bible is the ultimate authority because it is the actual Word of God.  If you want to hear God speak, open your Bible and read it.  The modern church needs to recover the doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).  

(Proverbs 30:5-6)"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar."  (ESV)  

John 1:18 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

(ESV 2016)"No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." 

(ESV 2025)"No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." 

(LSB)"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."  

(NIV)"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." 

(NKJV)"No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."  

There are two significant issues with the translation of John 1:18.  The first is how to translate the Greek word "monogenes". Should it be "only" or "only begotten"?   The second issue is a textual variant in the manuscripts.  Is the original reading (monogenes theos, the only God) or (monogenes huios, the only Son)?  The majority of manuscripts have "the only Son" but the earliest manuscripts have "the only God".  

(ESV 2016) "the only God"

(ESV 2025) "God the only Son"

(LSB) "the only begotten God"

(NIV) "the one and only Son, who is himself God" 

(NKJV) "The only begotten Son"  

What Do Catholics Believe About The Pope?

Roman Catholics believe the Pope is the "Vicar of Christ" on earth.  In other words they believe the Pope is the representative of Christ on earth.  They see the Pope as the head of the church on earth.  Catholics believe the Apostle Peter was the first pope and the ones that followed him are his successors.  

Roman Catholics teach that the Pope is infallible when he speaks "ex cathedra" or from the chair.  This means he cannot be wrong when he speaks in his official capacity as Pope.  Catholics often refer to him as the Holy Father and the term pope actually means father.  

Roman Catholics reject the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone as the ultimate authority).  They believe the authority resides in the Magisterium of the Church, that is the Pope and the bishops.  Catholics believe Scripture can only be interpreted authentically by the Magisterium of the Church.   

Jesus, The Name Above All Names

 It is common for people in our modern culture to throw around the name of Jesus and to use it as a curse word.  But misusing the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the height of foolishness and stupidity.  These people do not honor or respect the Lord.  They are actually expressing their hatred for him.  

Why is there all this hatred for Jesus?  It is because people love the darkness rather than the light.  Jesus exposes them as sinners who stand guilty before a holy God(see John 3:19-21).  As guilty sinners they face the wrath of God and eternity in hell.  Yet these people express hatred for the only hope of salvation they have, namely Christ Jesus himself.  

Jesus is the name above all names, deserving the utmost respect and honor(see Philippians 2:5-11).  Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah), the only, unique Son of God.  He came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).  Christ died on the cross to pay for the sins of his people, to turn away the wrath of God from them.  He was raised from the dead victorious over sin, death, and the devil.  Jesus lived a perfect life without sin enabling him to be our perfect substitute.  Christ took the sins of his people on himself and his righteousness is credited to us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  

We must repent of our sin and place our faith in Christ alone for salvation.  Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).  

(John 20:31)"but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)

ESV 2016 vs ESV 2025 (Genesis 3:16) A Bible Translation Comparison

With the 2025 update to the ESV, one of the most significant changes from the ESV 2016 text edition is at Genesis 3:16.  

(ESV 2016)"To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.  Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you."  

(ESV 2025)"To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.  Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."  

The ESV 2016 text edition renders the last part of the verse as, "Your desire shall be contrary to you husband, but he shall rule over you."  This rendering is less literal and more interpretive.  But it does seem to fit the context of the passage better.  This passage is about judgment because of sin.  The ESV 2016 shows the conflict and struggle that will result between the husband and wife because of the sin curse.  The NET and NLT have a similar rendering of this verse.  

The ESV 2025 text edition renders the last part of the verse as, "Your desire shall be for you husband, and he shall rule over you." This rendering is more literal and more traditional.  It is also a return to the original 2001 ESV text edition.  Most Bible translations render the verse in this way.   

Are People Basically Good?

 Most would answer yes, people are basically good.  But let us look at how the Bible answers the question of the basic goodness of man.  

(Psalm 51:5)"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did by mother conceive me."  

(Ecclesiastes 7:20)"Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." 

(Isaiah 64:6)"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." 

(Jeremiah 17:9)"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" 

(John 3:19)"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." 

(John 8:34)"Jesus answered them, Truly, Truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin." 

(Romans 3:10-11)"as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." 

(Romans 3:23)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," 

So we see that people are not basically good, but basically sinful.  We are all sinners in need of a savior.  Salvation is found in Christ alone.  

(All Scripture quotations from the ESV)