Patristic consensus on who the Rock is doesn't favor Rome

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totorodaisuki

Puritan Board Freshman
Here is a quick summary of the way that the Church Fathers interpreted that verse "Thou are Peter and upon this rock...."

Archbishop Kenrick, who was one of America's extraordinary bishops, was opposed to the doctrine of papal infallibilty and at the First Vatican Council in 1869 he voted against it. He wanted to deliver a speech against the proposed doctrine at the Council but instead he ceased to attend the Council meetings. He published his speech in Naples the following year.

It is important because he lists the five different patristic interpretations of Matthew 16:18.

Let's look at how the Church Fathers line up over this verse:
1...."That St. Peter is the Rock" is taught by seventeen (17) Fathers.
2....That the whole Apostolic College is the Rock, represented by Peter as its chief, is taught by eight (8 ) Church Fathers.
3....That St. Peter's faith is the Rock, is taught by forty-four (44) Church Fathers.
4....That Christ is the Rock, is taught by sixteen Fathers (16)
5....That the rock is the whole body of the faithful. Archbp. Kenrick gives no figure.

Archbishop Kenrick summarises:
"If we are bound to follow the greater number of Fathers in this matter,** then we must hold for certain that the word "Petra" means not Peter professing the Faith, but the faith professed by Peter."

**This is an important point by Archbishop Kenrick and it should be given its full weight. It is RC doctrine that where there is something disputed the choice must be made for the consensus of the Fathers, the consensus patrum.

You can look this up and check that I have it accurately in Friedrich, Docum ad illust. Conc. Vat. 1, pp. 185-246
As to who Archbishop Kenrick was. Please see the Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08618a.htm

So we can see that it's been demonstrated, using Catholic sources, that the patristic consensus does not support the Roman position.
 
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