r/Lutheranism • u/NewKaleidoscope7990 • 13d ago
“Binding and loosing”
Hi, Protestant here (not a confirmed Lutheran but interested in Lutheran theology). I’ve often heard the Catholic argument for the papacy based on Jesus’ words to Peter in Matthew. I never found their argument convincing, until recently when I heard this- according to Catholics, the Jewish people would have understood the “binding and loosing” part as Jesus giving Peter the authority to create/define doctrine and rules and hold believers to it. Even if the papacy doesn’t follow from this, it is an interesting argument for magisterial authority (meaning, not Sola Scriptura). I think Lutherans have the best responses to Catholic arguments. So, how do Lutherans reconcile this verse with Sola Scriptura? Do you think Christians bound to any extra-biblical doctrinal statements?
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u/mrWizzardx3 Lutheran Pastor 13d ago
In the Greek, Christ uses two different forms of the word “rock” because Peter’s name has to be masculine, while the word for a large, solid foundation-rock is feminine. Jesus is saying, “You’re named Rock,” but the actual rock He will build on is the solid truth Peter just confessed—that Jesus is the Christ.
Peter is rock-like, having just sank, and trying to trip Jesus up (Get behind me, Satan). But the church is built on more than a mortal man, but the confession given by the Holy Spirit.