WAS PETER THE FIRST POPE?

Much has been written, both pro and con, concerning the role of Peter being the first Pope.  This is most likely from the fact that whenever the twelve disciples are listed, Peter is always listed first.  In addition, Jesus, in response to Peter's confession of Jesus as being "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Mt. 16:16), gave him the "keys to the kingdom" (Mt. 16:17-19).  I will not deal with the difference between "the rock," and "a rock" here; many have correctly made that argument in the past.  But, I do want to define "keys to the kingdom," which has been wrongly interpreted by the Roman Catholic Church, as well as by many others. 

Keys are for the control of locks.  When the key opens a lock, access or egress is made possible.  When the key locks the lock, passage is prevented.  In the Matthew's Gospel, Peter is told he would control who "gets is locked out," and who "gets allowed to enter" (v. 19).  To understand what Jesus meant by that, one simply needs to look at Peter's life as it is revealed in the Scriptures, to see what he permitted to enter the kingdom, and what he excluded from it. 

Just prior to the Lord's Ascension, He told His disciples to go preach the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and finally, in all the world (Acts 1:8).  Ironically (not really when one understands the meaning of "the keys" as controlled by Peter), we have the clear explanation revealed in the Book of Acts.  On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel to Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5).  In Acts 2:14, Peter preached to Jews from Judea.  In Acts 8:14, the Church sent Peter to Samaria to confirm that the Samaritans had also received Christ.  And finally, in Acts 10, the entire chapter is devoted to God opening Peter's eyes to the fact that the Gentiles were also called to faith in Jesus.  So you see, Peter was the one who confirmed that the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles, were to be received into the fellowship of the Church. 

As for Peter being the head of the Church, there are several verses that would indicate that the leader of the Church was actually James, the Lord's half brother (Mt. 13:55).  They are:

Acts 12:2 - "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."
Acts 12:17 - "But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, (listed first) and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place."

Acts 15:13 - "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me (an indication he was in authority)."

Acts 21:18 - "And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present (all were present, but he addresses his comments to James).

1 Corinthians 15:7 - "After that, He was seen of James (a private appearance); then of all the apostles."

Galatians 2:9 - "And when James, Cephas, and John (again, James listed first), who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

Galatians 2:12 - "For before that certain came from James (James apparently sent them), he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision."

Jude 1:1 - "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James (see Mt. 13:55 - Jude makes no mention of any apostles by name, but reminds his readers he is the brother of James) to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called."

If the Church had a Pope, it would have been James, the Lord's brother!