Jesus and Jewish Roots of the Papacy

Dr. Brant Pitre

Why the early Church—Mary and the disciples—accept easily the authority of Peter?

4 Main Jewish Literatures

1. Mishnah—“Catechism and Canon Law”

2. Babylonian Talmud—“Church Fathers”
3. Midrash—Commentary of Scriptures
4. Targums—“Aramaic Lectionaries with Interpretation”

Matthew 16

1. Rock
“Eben setyah”
1st Foundation: Foundation stone of the Temple
Center stone- remained even after Ark of the Covenant was missing; where the blood (Day of
Atonement) is placed; rabbis believed to where Abraham tried to offer Isaac
2nd Tradition: the whole world is founded; Zion; center of the world; “Out of Zion”
Peter: foundation stone of a New Temple
Connection of the Foundation stone and the High Priest

2. Keys
Isaiah 22:
Priestly authority
Josephus and the Mishnah
Keys of the Temple: priestly authority to offer the sacrifice
Peter: offer Eucharist
“Gates of Hades will not prevail over against it”: They’ll gonna plunder Hades

3. Binding and Loosing

Language of authority
Josephus:
Compare: Mt 16 & Mt 23
Sit on Moses’ seat
Isaiah 22: Prime minister

4. Priestly ministry
Refer to the Book of Isaiah 22
CCC 553: Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: "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." The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is
the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "Feed my sheep."
The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal
judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the
Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one
to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.