Apostolic succession seems like a logical and natural progression to perpetuate the authority of the Church to prevent confusion to the flock. This is especially the case when there is biblical evidence to support such a doctrine to keep the followers of Christ on the straight and narrow gospel road. There is no better place in the New Testament than the passage found in Matthew 16:15-20 to justify apostolic succession.
Matthew 16:15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18: 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.
Matthew 16:19: 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.
Matthew 16:20: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Peter was seemingly the rock upon which the Lord declared he would build His Church. He was also given the keys of the kingdom of heaven as well wielding great powers to bind and loose earthly matters with heavenly concurrence. If this were the case, then numerous scriptures would have to be rewritten in order to support this assertion.
There are several places in the Holy Bible where rock is mentioned. It is imperative to examine such scriptures in order to arrive at a biblically correct conclusion on this matter rather than to suit the narrative of some church authority.
Deuteronomy 32:4: He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Peter definitely cannot be this rock unless he is God.
Deuteronomy 32:15: But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
It would be ludicrous to suggest that the Rock here was Peter. It is obvious Peter could not be the Rock of Salvation for Jeshurun.
Deuteronomy 32:18: Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Here is another verse that shows Peter could not be the person who is capable of begetting anything. He only came into this world much more than a thousand years later.
Deuteronomy 32:30: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
Again, Peter was non existent. He couldn’t have help the children of Israel fight battles that scared their enemies into flight of frenzy. If Peter was present, he would be of ancient proportion. When the Lord claimed eternal existence much older than Abraham, the Jews wanted to stone Him.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John 8:57: Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:59: Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
The implication is painfully obvious. If Peter claimed to be an ancient entity, this would be classified as blasphemy and a cause for execution by stoning.
Deuteronomy 32:31: For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
The enemies of Israel also is a rock but a different kind of rock.
Deuteronomy 32:37: And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
These enemies of Israel also trust their own gods their own rock which is distinctly different from the Rock of Israel.
King David also mentioned the Rock.
2 Samuel 23:3: The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
The Rock of Israel could not be Peter as well.
The apostle Paul also wrote in the New Testament about the Rock mentioned in the Old Testament.
1 Corinthians 10:4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
He conclusively connected the Rock in the Old Testament as the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
Moreover, the Lord also gave us the meaning of the name of Peter.
John 1:42: And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
So the interpretation of Peter’s name is a stone and not the rock upon which the Lord promised to build the Church. There are a lot of difference between a stone and a rock.
The size of both objects is one difference where a rock is huge and meant for support such as Moses stood upon (Exodus 33:22) while a stone is held in the hand for execution like in the case of David killing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50).
A rock could be smitten and water gushed out to provide sustenance for the children of Israel (Exodus 17:6) and a stone could not.
A rock could be spoken to to provide water as well (Numbers 20:8) and a stone would be too small and insignificant.
A rock is a place of refuge (Numbers 24:21) and a stone can’t protect you.
There are many more so it is ridiculous to conclude that Peter was the rock spoken of when the scriptures clearly stated that the Lord Jesus Christ was only speaking to Peter and did not indicate that Peter was the rock. The Lord was referring to Himself being the Rock of the Old Testament and at the same time giving the keys to Peter to fulfill new missions for the New Testament Church. Peter was just the keyman and not the foundation.
Matthew 16:18: 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.
Matthew 16:19: 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.
Insisting that Peter is the rock instead of a stone would do violence to scriptures. In addition, can Peter be the head of the Church, the firstborn from the dead?
Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Despite the Lord’s open approbation for Peter and given the keys in relation to the kingdom of heaven, he had never bragged about this matter. As a matter of fact, he wrote about himself in relation with his fellow disciples of Christ as follows:
1 Peter 5:1: The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
He humbly submitted that he was simply one of the elders among others. He had never claimed to be the chief apostle. In fact, his Christian behaviour was far from being perfect.
Galatians 2:11: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Galatians 2:12: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Galatians 2:13: And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Galatians 2:14: But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Even though he was blasted by the apostle Paul for his inconsistency in his walk with his fellow followers of Christ, he wrote lovingly about Paul addressing him as a beloved brother.
2 Peter 3:15: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
There was no mention of Peter ever passing those keys given to him to anyone to succeed him. Apostolic succession is a myth and not a biblical fact.
By the way, Peter was a family man. He was not some pious bachelor pretending to be pure and holy living spiritually pure life above everyone else. He had never claimed to be so sanctified that he must not get married and had never encouraged anyone to follow such misplaced ideals.
Matthew 8:14: And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
1 Corinthians 9:5: Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
As far as the Lord revealed to Peter, he was given keys to use in relation to the kingdom of heaven and the Lord Himself is the rock where the foundation of the Church is to be built. The historical fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in the book of Acts.
When asked by the disciples when the Lord would restore the kingdom to Israel after His resurrection just before the Lord’s ascension into heaven, they were told about the three categories of people they had to deal with.
Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:7: And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
They were to be witnesses for the Lord firstly to the Jews, and then to the Samaritans and finally to the Gentiles. The keys were in the hands of Peter where he would play a major role as a vanguard for these missions.
So on the Day of Pentecost, it finally happened.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was preaching to the Jews and proselytes present in Jerusalem. He offered them salvation in the form of repentance and water baptism for the remission of sin and they would then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. So the Jewish believers were the first to enter the Church when Peter opened the door to them.
Next would be the believers in Samaria. Philip had earlier preached the gospel to them and those folks did believe but it was incomplete until the apostle Peter showed up in Samaria according to the prophecy mentioned in Acts 1:8.
Acts 8:14: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts 8:15: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts 8:16: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 8:17: Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
So these believers in Samaria finally received the Holy Ghost when Peter the keyman arrived. This was a historical event and not a doctrinal truth where those living in Samaria today have to go through the same pattern when they believe in the Lord such that they also have to wait for some apostles from Jerusalem to show up and lay hands on them to receive the Holy Ghost. Anyway the apostles had been long dead and so Peter who had the keys had a job to do on that fateful day and that was all.
Finally, it was the Gentiles turn to receive the Holy Ghost. It was not easy to coerce the Jews to go the the Gentiles. It was something unlawful and unthinkable. There is a huge cultural divide and enmity between the Jews and the Gentiles and even with the Samaritans. In fact, the Samaritan woman was surprised when the Lord Jesus Christ spoke with her.
John 4:9: Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
The disciples of Christ marvelled as well.
John 4:27: And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
So in order to prepare Peter to go to the Gentiles, the Lord had to put Peter through visions so that he could justify himself to go to the Gentiles.
Acts 10:28: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Peter told Cornelius it was the Lord who revealed to him not to consider the Gentiles unclean. He was also confronted by his own Jewish brethren after ministering to the Gentiles.
Acts 11:2: And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Acts 11:3: Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
So Peter being the keyman had no choice but to go to the Gentiles. The Lord did not use other apostles to reach the Gentiles first. When Peter had preached to the Gentiles about Christ, they immediately received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10:43: To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 10:44: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
It was a departure from the past where the apostles had to baptize the believers first and then lay hands on them. The Lord here opened the door to the Gentiles as though Peter had forgotten to bring the keys! Nevertheless, the presence and preaching of Peter were necessary being a keyman for the purpose of fulfilling Acts 1:8.
Acts 10:45: And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10:46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Acts 10:47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Peter and those Jewish brethren present were obviously shocked. It was a new normal for them to experience. They recognized the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost like they did.
So water baptism for these Gentile believers became a non event. No more gift of the Holy Ghost follows as a result of water baptism. Water baptism henceforth becomes symbolic as a testimony of the faith of those who profess they believe in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To build a case where Peter was the rock upon which the Lord would build His Church is totally unscriptural. The keys given to Peter had been put into action during the transition period where the nation of Israel had completely rejected their Messiah even after His resurrection with the preaching of the Jewish apostles.
Moreover, Peter was exposed to be a compulsive boaster who eventually denied he knew the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 26:33: Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Matthew 26:34: Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Matthew 26:35: Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Luke 22:33: And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luke 22:34: And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Furthermore just after being given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Peter was scolded as Satan by the Lord Jesus Christ when Peter rebuked the Lord who spoke to them about His sufferings, death and subsequent resurrection.
Matthew 16:22: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Matthew 16:23: But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter’s selective listening regarding the Lord’s revelation got him into serious trouble with the Lord concerning this episode of self-will.
There is no point trying to build a holy aura around the apostle Peter to make him into somebody he was not. His subsequent service for the Lord was remarkable being obedient in using those keys given to him to fulfill prophecy in the historical past opening the gospel door to the Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles. He then bowed out of the way with Israel being set aside and the apostle Paul took over as the Lord deals with the Gentile believers unto this day.
The fallibility of Peter is cleared for all to see in the scriptures and his humility thereafter is an example for all to follow. Christians are not to elevate him to be put on a pedestal creating an unscriptural office for others to succeed pretending to be the new recipients of the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
The priesthood of believers is now universal and all believers in Christ have full and equal access to the throne of grace before the Lord as the apostle Peter clearly declared.
1 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Hence, apostolic succession is unscriptural and to be rejected by all Bible believing Christians.
Don’t ever mistake a keyman as the owner of the house!
Peter is just a servant and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Master.
The Church of the living God is the ground and pillar of truth and not the keyman Peter.
1 Timothy 3:15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.