What Does the Bible Say About the Pope?
“Pope” comes from the Latin word Papa, also a child’s word for father. The title is given to the Bishop of Rome, leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The office of the Pope is called the Papacy, also known as the Apostolic See (or Holy See), based on the understanding that the Pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, considered to be the first Pope.
Following Peter is this unbroken chain of Apostleship as Peter passed his authority on to his successor, and on down the line. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, today’s Pope is regarded as perfect and without error. His revelations, judgments and decrees are as authoritative as the Bible itself.
On the Infallible Teaching Authority of the Roman Pontiff (Session 4,July 18, 1870)
“Indeed, their apostolic teaching was embraced by all the venerable fathers and reverenced and followed by all the holy orthodox doctors, for they knew very well that this See of St. Peter always remains unblemished by any error, in accordance with the divine promise of our Lord and Savior to the prince of his disciples…”
“…when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, he possesses by the divine assistance promised to him in the blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his Church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church irreformable.”
But, while Peter was hugely influential in the building of the Church and spread of the gospel, he was not given authority that superseded the other Apostles.
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. (Jesus to Peter, Matthew 16:19)
Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Jesus to all disciples, Matthew 18:18
At one point, he was rebuked by the Apostle Paul and he called Paul’s writings as authoritative as the rest of Scripture.
But when Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. (Galatians 2:11)
Count the patience of the Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks of these matters. There are things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16)
Peter was also married, which is forbidden for the Pope; and he would not have called himself perfect.
“Persons who are in holy orders invalidly attempt marriage.” (Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, Canon 1087)
The Apostle John wrote that: if anyone thinks they have no sin, they’re deceived and the truth is not in them.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
Now, we are to submit to Apostolic teaching – even today – but it’s the authority of the Apostles who wrote the New Testament, upon whom Christ built His Church.
You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
Paul stated that he was the last Apostle. No others would be appointed after him.
Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:8)
If anyone teaches a doctrine different than what those apostles taught, they’re a false teacher.
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. (1 Timothy 1:3-4)
So, the Pope is not the father of the Church. The only Head of the Church is the Lord Christ.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8)
Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. (Ephesians 5:23)
Roman Catholicism says that if a person does not receive the authority of the Pope, they’re anathema and cursed to hell.
“Should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of [the Pope’s infallibility], let him be anathema.” (First Vatican Council, On the infallible teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, Chapter 4. July 18, 1870)
But the Bible says that curse is for anyone who teaches a different gospel.
…when we understand the text.
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:9)
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)