WAS PETER THE FIRST POPE?

Mike Johnson

The above question is undoubtedly a good question and needs examination. Many think Peter was the first pope. However, the Bible does not even teach that there should be a position of a pope, much less Peter being the first one. Consider just some reasons why Peter could not have been the first pope.

The Bible never says that Peter was the first pope. Peter wrote two books of the Bible. The book of Acts records his actions, yet nowhere in the Bible are we told that Peter was a pope, nor did he serve in that capacity. Jesus is the head of the church, and Ephesians 5:23 calls him that. Other men served as apostles, and the Bible refers to them as that. Where is the passage that refers to Peter as a pope, or where do we find him serving in that capacity? Peter referred to himself as an apostle (II Pet. 1:11) but did not put himself over the other apostles.
Peter was a married man. Peter was married because Matthew 8:14 tells us he had a mother-in-law. He did not abandon his wife when he became an apostle, as Paul said that the apostles had the right to “lead about” a wife and pointed out that Cephas (Peter) did (I Cor. 9).
Consider Paul’s attitude and position. In II Corinthians 12:11, Paul said,”. . . for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles . . .” Could this have been correctly noted if Peter was a pope as well as an apostle? Galatians 2:11-14,16 points out that on one occasion, Paul rebuked Peter before “them all,” accusing him of what amounted to hypocrisy. Was this a case of Paul rebuking the “Holy Father?” If Peter had been Pope, surely Paul would not have done this.
Notice the actions of the other apostles. If Peter was over the other apostles, they seemed unaware of any appointment that made Peter head of the church. Nowhere did they acknowledge him as head, nor did he attempt to exercise authority over them.
The Bible never says that Peter was ever in Rome. In the New Testament, Peter has no connection with Rome, even though the word “Rome” occurs nine times in the New Testament.

Peter was not the first pope. He is never called this, nor did he serve in such an office. The office of the Pope is man-made and exists without Bible authority.

WAS PETER THE FIRST POPE?

Peter was a married man. Peter was married because Matthew 8:14 tells us he had a mother-in-law. He did not abandon his wife when he became an apostle, as Paul said that the apostles had the right to “lead about” a wife and pointed out that Cephas (Peter) did (I Cor. 9).

Notice the actions of the other apostles. If Peter was over the other apostles, they seemed unaware of any appointment that made Peter head of the church. Nowhere did they acknowledge him as head, nor did he attempt to exercise authority over them.

The Bible never says that Peter was ever in Rome. In the New Testament, Peter has no connection with Rome, even though the word “Rome” occurs nine times in the New Testament.

Peter was not the first pope. He is never called this, nor did he serve in such an office. The office of the Pope is man-made and exists without Bible authority.