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These are my religion notes from last year about the Primacy of Peter. Any additions to these arguments or opposing argument, comments, or anything else would be appreciated ^.^ (If there's already a thread like this, sorry XD)

Foundation of Church- Primacy of Peter
I. Thou Art Peter
A. Name Change
B. Church
C. Keys
D. Gates of Hell
E. Binding and loosening
II. Doctrines/Disciplines
III. Reaffirm authority
IV. Peter’s authority in action
V. Successors
VI. Pope St. Clement
VII. St. Ambrose Quote
VIII. St. John’s importance
IX. Non-Catholic objections and proofs against them

Primacy- Foremost, most important
Christ established head of Church and it still exists
Christ said He came to establish the Church; one church; not lose association
Analogies Christ used: Kingdom, City on the Hill, Sheepfold; these are all visible groups and all have a clear leader/head

I. “Thou Art Peter and upon thy rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”
- Christ said this to Peter after Peter said "Thou art the Christ"
- After Peter’s profession of faith, Jesus gives him the power of the head of the Church
All apostles were infallible- infallibility was passed on to others only through Peter
A. Name Change
Peter= rock- Cephas (Greek)- old name was Simon
This is a significant event; name changing indicates foundation and an essential thing to the Church
- Pope is necessary
B. Church and Peter
“On this rock I will build my Church”
Christ clearly identified His church- one identifiable church
Peter was mentioned in the Bible two times more than all the other Apostles combined; they were not equal
Devine institution would not just disappear
C. Keys
- Shows authority; emphasizes obedience
D. Gates of Hell-
- No evil power greater than hell, so the Church will never be overcome by evil
- Authority of office isn't dependent on the virtue of the Pope- Pope can be sinful but office and authority is valid and still holds (Holy Spirit would prevent him from doing harm to the Church)
E. Binding and loosening
- Pope can bind and loosen issues of disciplines and he can bind us to doctrines

II. Doctrines and Disciplines
Doctrines- unchanging teachings of the church- infallible
Disciplines- rules or customs that may be changed (example is how many hours we must fast before communion)

III. Reaffirm authority
- After Peter denied Christ 3 times, Christ reaffirmed his authority
- Christ asked him 3 times "Do you love me?" And Peter says yes.
- Peter would be Christ's good Sheppard in Christ's place- making up for 3 denials.
- Peter acts as Christ as good Sheppard- visible authority on earth
-Sins can't take away his papal power- nothing can
- Christ does not reestablish Peter’s authority, but affirms it; it was never lost

IV. Peter’s authority in action after the Ascension
Acts of Apostles- Peter shows authority and others acknowledge it
Peter acts as you would not expect him to act if he had not authority
- He acts independently; clear authority and others recognize it
1. Early Church- people would turn possessions over to the Church
Ananias' wife Sapphira claimed that they turned possessions to the Church- they had not. Peter declared they hadn't turned possessions over and they dropped dead- he had authority
2. In choosing Judas' successor Peter chose the method
- 2 candidates and Peter decided to draw lots- Mathias won and Mathias had power of Judas, he was ordained.
3. Council of Jerusalem- question if non-Jews had to go through Jewish rituals to become Christian
God went to the Jews first- would Gentiles have to become Jewish first?
God ordained society like this- first Jews than Christians
Peter took the floor and said it was not necessary and no one continued to debate
- All the apostles were there
- Clear demonstration of authority and clear everyone recognized it

V. Successors of Peter
- There is succession not only for beginning and establishment of Church and authority of Peter
- Authority did not leave Church later due to sin
- Peter's authority is s essential
- Why would Christ establish a head of His church for only the length of Peter's lifetime? The church was expanding; an authority figure was even more necessary
- Entire list of succession of Peter; shows importance- not entire list of Apostles' successors as Bishops
- Authority of Peter was passed on

VI. Pope St. Clement and Ignatius of Antioch
- Apostolic fathers
- In writings they have significant things
- Clement clearly says Pope is head of the Church
- Shows people thought Pope was head in earliest times
- Ignatius declared infallibility of the Pope
- Officially proclaimed as doctrine in 800's- universally accepted before
- Ignatius also talked about primacy of Rome
Titles:
- Bishop of Rome always has primacy- Pope's title = Bishop of Rome
- Supreme Pontiff= Pontiff= bridge between man and God
Vicar of Christ
(verb) vicariously- experienced it vicariously through another
(noun) vicar- stands in place of another- experiences through another
- Takes place of Christ as visible head of the Church

VII. St. Ambrose Quote
"Where there is Peter, there is the Church and where there is the Church, there is Christ"
- Peter is still visible in the Pope; if we find the Pope then we can find Christ’s one true church- we can identify the one true Church through the Pope

VIII. St. John’s importance
- John lived through 4 more popes after Peter died- when there were disputes people went to Rome, not John even though he had been close to Jesus
- Authority was in Rome not John

IX. Non-Catholic objections and Proofs against them
1) Peter was never head of Church
- St. Ambrose, authority He demonstrated in Acts of Apostles, Thou Art Peter quote, reaffirming
2) Brought up by Orthodox Church: Peter is "one amongst equals"; Bishop have equal authority and Peter was never head
- All proofs
3) Peter had no Successors
- Doesn’t make sense to have a head of the Church for Peter's life time alone- head of Church is essential, Thou art peter and St. Ambrose, and John
4) Pope is an Anti- Christ- ad hominem attack- attacking person rather than what he says or does. Pope would have to be demonic and try to lead us away from Christ; he does not
5) Church went astray and lost authority; authority not passed on to the present
- Thou art peter- authority essential and not lost
- Divine institution would not disappear