Who was chosen by Jesus to lead the church?

Answer 1

The disciples were led by the Holy Spirit after Jesus' death.

A: The disciples travelled to different places in the world, preaching the word of God independently to various peoples. According to The Bible, the Holy Spirit came down to the disciples in a ball of fire, rendering them capable of speaking in all the "tongues of men" The resurrected Jesus told Peter to be the "rock" (Pope) of the Church before he ascended into heaven. Peter then went forth to Rome to preach Christianity and was later crucified upside down. Other disciples went in their own direction, such as saint Thomas who preached in India and is the reason why there are still Indian catholics.

Answer:

For the three days and three nights that Jesus WAS DEAD... the disciples were "LEADERLESS"... terrified, confused and locked away "for fear of the Jews" [John 20:19].

After He RESURRECTED... Jesus led them once more.

After Jesus' subsequent ascension into heaven... the Holy Spirit was sent to His disciples and passed on through baptism and the "laying on of hands" to all the generations of God's church that followed -- and Jesus has continued, uninterrupted, to build, instruct and lead His church [ekklesia; called out ones] to this day.

Answer 2

God chose Peter to be the leader of the church after his Ascension. Mt 16, 13-20 (Before Jesus' death) - When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." No human, but rather the Father revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus stated that Peter would be the foundation of his church. Jon 21, 15-19 (Following Jesus' Resurrection) When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He that said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me" and he said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stetch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this,he said to him, "Follow me." Before Jesus' death Peter denied Jesus multiple times here after the Resurrection the Lord puts the question to him and he affirms Jesus multiple times and Jesus tells him each time to take care of his sheep. God told Peter he would be the shepherd over the whole flock. Acts 15, 7-9 (following Jesus' Ascension) After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts." Peter states what Jesus had said in Apostles presence, that he was chosen to lead the church and "tend to the Lord's flock" and to expand it to all. Peter was the first Pope (Leader of God's church on earth).

Answer 3

Jesus never chose anyone to lead the church; He is its only leader.

Ephesians 1:22, 23 - And He [God] put all things under His [Jesus'] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Christ exercises His authority in the church through groups of godly men whom the NT alternately refers to as elders, bishops, pastors or presbyters.

Scripture uses the terms almost interchangably, depending on whether it's referring to the man holding the office or to the duties of the office itself; sometimes an individual is meant ("elder" or "bishop"), sometimes they're spoken of as a group ("pastors" or "presbytery").

The important points are these: Every congregation was to have its own elders, and no congregation was ever to be led by only one man. The divine arrangement made it more difficult for apostacy to creep in, take hold and spread.

Acts 14:23 - So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

These men, "commended to the Lord," were led by Christ through the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

In the infant church, the Spirit's presence was miraculous; powerful and profound.

Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

In today's church, the Spirit's presence is no less powerful and profound, but it is no longer miraculously imparted.

1 Corinthians 13:8 - Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Rather, the Spirit's guidance is now gleaned from careful study and submission to the entirety of God's word, the Bible.

1 Corinthians 13:10 - But when that which is perfect ["complete" or "finished," i.e. the New Testament] has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

[Quotes from NKJV]

Answer

Jesus had specifically appointed the new hierarchy over the "new Israel" which is His one Church, and had delegated to this new magisterium the power to bind and loose (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Jesus is the ultimate Head of His Church, and King Jesus chose a Prime Minister to act as visible head His Church along with the Apostles (Bishops) in union with the head Apostle (Bishop), which is the Church's Magisterium (see Matt 16 for giving of authority, and Isaiah 22 as a foreshadowing of the NT Prime Minister role). As foreshadowed in the OT, the King chooses a Prime Minister to act in his behalf while the King is away. The authority is symbolized by the keys, and the PM can bind and loose on behalf of the King. King Jesus works with His Prime Minister to ensure what is bound is of the will of God. As shown in Scriptures (Matt 16), Christ built only one Church. This one Church is His Bride, His Body. it is a lamp that cannot be hidden, a city on a hill, which is visible to His people to identify it. It is not called the invisible Soul of Christ, but the visible Body of Christ.

Jesus described the Church He was to build, and its authority. Jesus took His Apostles to Caesarea Philippi, a backdrop where people worshiped the false gods at a temple built on a massive rock, to reveal the true God and His True Church. Jesus asked His Apostles who they say He is, and only Simon answered correctly. Jesus told Simon that the Father had revealed this to Simon (only to Simon and not the others). Jesus then changes Simon's name to Kepha (Aramaic for "Rock", as Jesus spoke to them in Aramaic). It is the first time in recorded history that a man is called "Rock". We know that God changes someone's name when He has a specific mission for them, like was done with Abram to Abraham. Immediately after Jesus renames Simon to Rock, Jesus tells Rock that He will build His Church on this Rock, and gives the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven only to Rock (Kepha in Aramaic, Petros in Greek, Peter in English).

The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, . . . subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him (CCC 870). While Christ is the overall Head of His Catholic Church, He established the visible head of the entire Catholic Church as this office of Prime Minister, who acts as spiritual father to his people (Isaiah 22), and is popularly called Pope (from the Greek for father). So, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is headed by the Pope who is Bishop of Rome. The Roman Catholic Church was never just a "particular church within" the overall Catholic Church. in 1054, the eastern Catholic Churches broke away to become localized national affiliated Churches which are still Rites of the Catholic Church. There are 22 Rites in the Catholic Church, but the Roman Catholic Church is the original that began in 33 AD in Jerusalem, and which moved the headquarters to Rome with the first Pope, St. Peter.

Why would Jesus change Simon's name to Rock? It's quite obvious for Simon's new mission as Rock of the Church.

Why would Jesus tell Rock (Peter) that Rock has the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, unless Jesus is specifically going to work with Rock to ensure that what is bound is that of God's will? The other Apostles were not confused about this. They knew from Isaiah 22 about the Prime Minister and the Keys representing authority in the Kingdom. So, we have Peter as the Rock of the Church, because Jesus will be working with Peter. Since Jesus tells His Apostles that the Church will last until the end of time, we know that Jesus also intended that these Bishops offices be filled throughout time. We know that the gates of Hell will never prevail against Jesus' one Church. God is able to teach infallibly and Minister His Sacraments through fallible men. It's not Rock's Church, but Christ's Church. Christ bears the responsibility for keeping His Bride spotless in teaching faith and morals and in ministering the indefectible Sacraments. Christ clearly shows that He will work with fallible man to teach and have His Sacraments administered infallibly. It's all because of Christ.

The Rock of the Church is the office of Head Bishop, the Prime Minister to the King Jesus by which Christ would affirm His teachings. He called this office holder Rock because he would stand firm in teachings of faith and morals. This is exactly what has happened. If you want to learn about the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, please review Isaiah 22. Note what God says about the Prime Minister "I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father." The Apostles knew this very well, and understood how this related to Peter and future office holders of the Head Bishop, the Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Questions to ask and ponder:

Why did Jesus rename Simon to call him Rock? Recall God changes one's name to coincide with a new mission God has for you, like changing Abram to Abraham. Simon becomes the first man in history to be called Rock. Jesus renames Simon to be called Rock, to coincide with God's mission for this person.

Why did Jesus hand the Keys of the Kingdom only to Rock (Peter in English), and to no other Apostle? Recall that in Isaiah 22, the Prime Minister to the King receives the Keys symbolizing authority. God says that what this Prime Minister shuts, no one shall open, and what the Prime Minister opens, no man will shut. This tells us that God is with this Prime Minister guiding him and what the Prime Minister does has binding authority. The Apostles knew that Rock is now acting as Prime Minister to the King Jesus.

Why did Jesus tell Rock (Peter) alone and no other Apostle, that Rock would bind and loose in Heaven? The Apostles knew this meant that Jesus would be working with His Prime Minister Peter so that what Peter would bind would be from the King of Heaven and Earth. The Apostles knew that Peter alone would not be in charge of binding things in Heaven and earth, but that the King Jesus would be working with His Prime Minister Peter (Rock).

Why did Jesus say the gates of Hell would never prevail against His Church built on His Prime Minister Peter the Rock of the Church?. This shows too that Jesus would be working with Peter to never allow any pernicious error to be taught in Jesus' Church. Jesus is in Charge ultimately, and works with His Prime Minister to ensure His flock has the true and correct teachings for all time.

Some become fooled by the false "petros, petra" argument, but it's a ruse for the uneducated. First, Jesus spoke to His Apostles in Aramaic. In Aramaic, Jesus would say to the one Apostle whom He renames from Simon, "you are Kepha, and upon this Kepha, I will build my church." Kepha is Aramaic for Rock. The Gospel of Matthew was written originally in Aramaic, and later translated to the Koine Greek, which had feminine, neuter, and masculine words. The word petra (feminine) was proper to be used for rock, and the the translator used the word "petros" for the man since you could not use the feminine. In the Koine Greek of the first century, petra and petros meant exactly the same thing, just one feminine and one masculine.

Answer 4

Christians generally believe that Peter was designated to lead the Church, based on Matt 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church...".

However, Paul's epistles seem to indicate that Paul regarded James as the real leader of the church in Jerusalem. This is supported by the fact that at the Jerusalem council, (Acts 15) where Peter was present, James (the brother of Jesus) presided and gave the 'final verdict' and decision about what action to take. If Peter had been recognised as head of the church, he would have taken this role.

Answer 5

According to Christian tradition, Jesus chose Peter to be the leader of his Church when he declared, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18). Peter is considered the first pope and the head of the apostles.

Answer 6

saul/paul