In John chapter 20, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me..” and delegates forgiveness of sins to his disciplines? Apparently so.

[Multicolored Lemur]

If the Bible is written by people,

Maybe one group of early Christians were sincerely talking and thinking among themselves, and they decided, no, not just Peter, but Jesus gave this authority to all the disciples.

And decades later, both made it into the Bible. Both the belief that God specifically and particularly gave authority to Peter, and the belief that God gave authority to all the disciples. I mean, there is a verse in another gospel about Peter.

Sincere people all the way down, but human beings who can be mistaken.

 

[Scooter]

@Scooter

When Albert Barnes says, “The meaning of the passage is not that man can forgive sins--that belongs only to God (Isa 43:23), but that they should be inspired; . . ”

He seems to be saying the more specific verse takes precedence over the less specific.

Verses do not take precedence over others. They harmonize with each other. Proper hermeneutics are essential in understanding the scriptures.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

If repeat business is important enough and if you anticipate seeing this particular customer again in the near-term, then Yes!, Win-Win is most probably the way to go.

Once again, B+ ethics are relatively easy to find. And if you’re asking for absolute perfection, you’re probably asking for too much!

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

In the two episodes of “Time’s Arrow,” the Star Ship Enterprise goes back in time . . . and meets Mark Twain!

Twain — “I know what you say, that this is a vessel of exploration and that your mission is to discover new worlds. Mmm, that’s what the Spaniards said, and the Dutch, and the Portuguese. It’s what all conquerors say. I’m sure that’s what you told that blue-skinned fellow I just saw before you brought him here to serve you.”

Counselor Troi — “He’s one of the 1000’s of species that we’ve encountered. We live in a peaceful federation with most of them. The people you see are here by choice.”

Twain then brings up “the privileged few,” and Troi sets him straight there, too.

—————————-

Point being, that a big part of ethics is to expand the circle, eventually even to that blue-skinned fellow!

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 16 - King James Version

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and...

www.biblegateway.com

Matthew, chapter 16 —

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16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

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In these verses, Jesus specifically grants authority to Peter.

 

[Scooter]

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 16 - King James Version

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and...

www.biblegateway.com

Matthew, chapter 16 —

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.

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

—————

In these verses, Jesus specifically grants authority to Peter.

Nope. Peter had no more authority than any other disciple. Jesus said He would build His church on the truth that Peter confessed. That Jesus was the Son of God.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Jesus said He would build His church on the truth that Peter confessed.

But this isn’t what the verses say.

 

[Scooter]

Jesus said He would build His church on the truth that Peter confessed.

But this isn’t what the verses say.

That is exactly what the verse says. What Jesus called Peter was Πέτρος (petros). The word petros means “a piece of rock, small stone” (Strongs G4074) However, Jesus said He would build His church on the rock (petra) πέτρα which means “mass of rock; boulder” (Strongs 4073).

Jesus was making a pun by calling Peter a small rock but saying He would build His church on the boulder of Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Son of God. Peter is NOT the rock the church is built on. The church is built on Jesus Christ the Son of God.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Jesus was making a pun by calling Peter a small rock but saying He would build His church on the boulder of Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Son of God.

I don’t want a line of reasoning to depend on Jesus making a pun.

Plus, Jesus says, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (verse 19)

This sounds a whole lot like granting authority to a human being.

I’d rather just for us to say, “I don’t know.”

The same as when a child is facing a serious medical challenge. Instead of laying a lot of religion or philosophy on the parents, I’d rather for the minister just to say, “I don’t know.” And to respectfully offer each parent a hug.

 

[Scooter]

I don’t want a line of reasoning to depend on Jesus making a pun.

Plus, Jesus says, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (verse 19)

This sounds a whole lot like granting authority to a human being.

I’d rather just for us to say, “I don’t know.”

Feel free to research this for yourself. You don’t have to take my word for it.

If I said “I don’t know “, I would be lying. And I don’t lie.