Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-20

special powers conferred upon one only, Of the
aposes and my proposition is that in these special
unity which are seeking in the Apostolic college.
We read In John l., ". AZ, (Dousy version: sand
ne lAndrew) brought him (Simon Peter) to Jesus.
And Jesus looking upon him said: Thou art Simon.
the son Of iona; thou shalt be called Cephss: which
is interpreted Peter" Again In Matthew XVI. v.
1919: "And Jesus came into the confines of Caes
erea Philippi, asd he asked his disciples saying:
Whom do men say the son of man is?
and they said: "Some say that thou art John the
Baptist and others, Elias, and others, Jeremas,
one of the prophets" Jesus saith to them: "But
whom do you say that ami" Simon Peter, an
swe1ing, said thou art Christ, the son Of the living
God And Jesus answering, said to him, "Blessed
| art thou Simon iona. because flesh and blood
hath not revealed 1t to thee, but my Father, who s
In heaven And say to thee that thou art Peter,
and upon this rock will build my church, and the
gates of he'll shall not prevail against it, and will
give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon EARTH it shall
be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt
lose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven" And
again in Luke XXI, 1892: "Aud the Lord sad,
you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have
prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and thou
being once converted, confirm thy brethern." And
finally IN John XXI, 1917. "When therefore they
had dined, Jesus said to Simon: Simon, son
OF John. lowest thou me more than these? He saith
to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowesI that love thee.
He saith to him. Feed my lambs. he saith to him
saith to him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that love
lambs. he saith to him the third rd' time s
Simon, son of john, lowest thou me? He said to
him, feed my sheep"
In these passages we have words adj
dressed exclusively to one apostle, Peter
and like the words addressed to his
apostles collectively, they have their meaning. IF
they have not the meaning we are giving to them,
their true meaning will have to be set forth in full
accordance with the context. Our meaning, we
emphatically assert is the sole obvious meaning of
/ the words. and what ia cO0firmat0rv Of
Judgment 1t is the universal traditional meaning Of
| the cary church.
The first passage quoted is simply prophetic Of
some great purpose to be more clearly defined in
the future the second and the third are promises
to Peter of supreme authority the church, and
the fourth Ia the investure of Peter with this author
ity. Each one Of these texts explains and confirms
the others They to be read as parts Of same
design, and they to be read, too. with the re-
membrance present in our minds of what we have
said concerning the general question of the churchs
unity.
"Ihou art Simon, the son of John. Thou shat
be called Cephas." Our Lord spoke the Syro-
Ohaldaic language. The literal translation of this
word "Cephas'' is rock. Thou shalt be called
Rock. Each word falling from the lips OF
Christ was pregnant with meaning
Why change Simon's name, unless
| there were in view some deep purpose? When
Abram was designated be the father of the chosen
people his name was changed; it became Abraham
The new name was prophetic of the future -Abra
ham meaning the father Of multitude. The change
phetic, it marked him out for some special design
not yet revealed, but which, whatsoever it's nature
would sit upon Peter specifically as distinguished
from other apostles.
PETER THE FOUNDATION AND KEY-BEARER,
This special design is unfolded in st. Matthew
Peter has merited well Of Christ by his sterling
faith: "Thou art Christ, the of the living God.'
Christ offered the reward: "And say unto thee.'
This emphatic form of language indicates the ex
this rock will build my church, and the gates O.
hell shall not prevail against it." The word crock
iu both clauses refers to the same Simon Tht
demonstrating pronoun ''this leaves no doubt o.
i build my church " Bloomfield, an Anglican COM
mentator, observes that every modern expositor OF
note has abandoned the distinction between Peter
and rock as untensble. "The rock" says Rosen.
Christ pointing out himself by his finger (which in
depreciation the text does not admit
but Peter himself. The Lord speaking
but in both places sgid Oephas, as the French wore
pierre, is said both of proper and an appellatvt
noun." We'll, on this rock, on Peter, Christ will
build his church, and, because she will be built
this rock the gates of he'll shall not prevail against
her. She shall be enduring and invincible. Here
we have Peter the foundation of the church and the
source to the church Of strength: Two things fol
center of unity for Ohrist's disciples. The stone
which Immediately or mediately does not rest upor
the foundation is no part of the edifice. The be
lever who does not cling to Peter, and is not united
with him. is outside the church, which Christ bull
upon Peter. Again, Peter is the support of ths
church. "On this rock 1 will build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail sgaiost it,
therefore he is the ruler of the church. He is tt
sustain and defend the church but IN moral body
as the church, the fuflment Of this duty ls posi-
bic only through the exercise of moral power. 1
Peter is to provide for the wants of the church, h
needs to be law-giver, with power to give sanction
to his laws, and the safety of the church is made
to depend primarily upon him, he must be su
prone as law.giver.
The full meaning of Peters Office as the rock
upon which the church is built is brough
out in the next clause Of the sentence
land will give the keys Of the kingdom Of hea
sry appellation Of his church The symbolism OF
the keys is easily understood. The giving of thu
keys of building, Of a city, gives control Owe
speaks of himself as having the keys of death ani
of hell" and again IS 'having the key of David
he that openeth, and no man shutteth; shutteth
and no man openeth.' Peter by receiving the keys
becomes the master, the prince of the church: Il
his power no limits are assigned: Whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heavsn
and whatsoever tx on shalt loose on earth, shall b.
looeed in heaven"
PETER THE SIREN aTHENER OF HIS Dir ETHREN.
"Simon behold Satan hath desired you, that ht
may sift you as wheat But have prayed for thee
that thy faith fail not, and thou once being con
verted confirm thy BRETHREN l will observe that
to understand the meaning of the clause 'and thol
being once conyerted"-whieh meaning as the word
read in English seems obscure--we have to go bach
to the Greek rendering. There have 'skai 81
pote epistrephas"-and thou in thy turn one da,
confirm thy brethren. Now as to the general mean
ing of the passage. Christ first addresses the apos
ties, Peter included. They sre he tells them to b.
sorely tried: ''Satan hath sought you plural pro-
noun) that he may sift you as wheat" Ye
it shall be their mission to teach, Il
confirm the disciples, as it will appear from til,
words Of the commission. How, then, are they
themselves to be strengthened? Shall it be immedi
ately by the Savior? No. "I:have prayed for the.
Simon"he says now addressing Simon alone--s'tha
thy faith fail not, and thou confirm thy brethren 81
Peter is to be the strengthened, the guardian ths
support Of the other apostles, and this account
Christs prayer is for Peter alone since he, being
strengthened by Christ will in turn strengthen his
brethren, who again will strengthen the body of The
disciples. need not add, that in order to strength
en- his brethren, Peter must be their SUPERIOR hav
lug power to adopt measures, frame laws as he may
deem necessary for the safety OF those trusted to
| his charge.
PETER THE SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK.
| Before Christ's death promises of future powers
were made to the apostles. After his resurrection
these powers were actually conferred upon them.
We are to expect words Investing Peter with the
special prerogatives that the master had promised
to him. We find these words in John XXI, Dignity
involves duty special prerogatves granted to Peter
demand from Peter special allegiance to Christ.
The promise Of supremacy followed confession of