Christ & Apostle Peter

I have concerns over other Christian values. After looking at several websites, I found that although there is no consensus regarding the exact date of the crucifixion of Jesus, it is generally agreed by biblical scholars that it was on a Friday on or near Passover during the governorship of Pontius Pilate who ruled from AD 26-36. Various approaches have been used to estimate the year of the crucifixion, including the Canonical Gospels, the chronology of the life of Apostle Paul as well as different astronomical models. Scholarly consensus is that the letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians were written by Paul during his third missionary journey which encompassed the years 52-57 AD. There is sufficient biographical information in both the letters to the Corinthians and in the book of Acts to allow these letters to be dated very accurately and the time frame for both letters is quite narrow (1 Corinthians written just before Passover in 55 AD. and 2 Corinthians being written in 56 AD.). The most frequently suggested date is Friday, April 3, 33 AD. This date makes sense to me as the first Pope (Petrus - St. Peter) recognized by the Catholic Church was Jesus’ Apostle Simon Peter (renamed Peter in Matthew 16:18-19). Peter was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, was the son of John or Jonah, a fisherman, brother of Apostle Andrew and held Papal office from 33 – 64/67.  

Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16:16), was part of Jesus' inner circle (Mark 5:37), walked on water (Matthew 14:29), witnessed Jesus' transfiguration (Luke 9:28), denied Jesus (Luke 22:54-62), was restored by Jesus (John 21:15-19), and preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40). All four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) recount (although placing the 3 denials at different times) that during the Last Supper Jesus foretold that Peter would deny him 3 times before the following cockcrow ("before the cock crows twice" in Mark's account). (It is said that Peter also denied Jesus after the crucifixion.) In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial is coupled with a prediction that all the apostles (you plural) would be "sifted like wheat" but that it would be Peter's task (you singular) when he had turned again to strengthen his brethren. In John's gospel, Peter is the first person to enter the empty tomb although the women and John see it before him. In Luke's account the women's report of the empty tomb is dismissed by the apostles and Peter is the only one who goes to check for himself and after seeing the grave clothes he goes home apparently without informing the other disciples. In Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians (which did not seem to have survived to the time when the Gospels were written) there is a list of Jesus’ resurrection appearances and Paul follows an early tradition that Peter was the first to see the risen Christ. In the final chapter of the Gospel of John, Peter in one of Jesus’ resurrection appearances affirmed his love for Jesus 3 times to balance his denials and Jesus reconfirmed Peter's position; some scholars hypothesize that this was added later to bolster Peter's status.

Peter wrote 2 General epistles, the Gospel of Mark is also ascribed to him (as Mark was his disciple and interpreter). On the other hand, several books bearing his name—the Acts of Peter, Gospel of Peter, Preaching of Peter, Revelation of Peter, and Judgment of Peter—are rejected by the Catholic Church as being untrue. It is said that after working to establish the church of Antioch (presided for 7 years as the leader of the city's Christian community) he preached to scattered communities of believers (Jews, Hebrew Christians and gentiles) in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia Minor and Bithynia and then went to Rome where in the second year of Claudius, it is claimed, he overthrew Simon Magus and held the Sacerdotal Chair for 25 years before being crucified (the cross being upside down at his own request since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus) at the hand of Emperor Nero.

I want to point out that there is disparity in the above accounts and that the Catholic Church does not hold all writings as true. So you asked where I’m going with this. One of the first things I wanted to know was why Catholics confess their sins to a priest (an ordinary man) rather than straight to God. The first mention of confession is in Matthew, Chapter 10, verse 32, in which Matthew says that Jesus said – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. In Luke Chapter 12, verse 8, says Jesus said – Also I say unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. In John Chapter 9, verse 22, it says – These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue; Chapter 12, verse 42 says – Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed in him but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue. To me the word ‘confess’ is used to mean ‘declare’ and not ‘admit’ or ‘come clean or own up’ your sins. So, to get a Catholic’s view of why they confess sins to a priest rather than straight to God even though 1 Timothy Chapter 2, verse 5 says that Christ is the one true mediator between God and man I went to saintaquinas.com/confess. I will tell you what was said tomorrow.