Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
But though there were no strife or controversy about Peter, 449 still this passage would not lend
countenance to the tyranny of the Pope. For no man in his senses will admit the principle which
the Papists take for granted, that what is here granted to Peter was intended to be transmitted by
him to posterity by hereditary right; for he does not receive permission to give any thing to his
successors. So then the Papists make him bountiful with what is not his own. Finally, though the
uninterrupted succession were fully established, still the Pope will gain nothing by it till he has
proved himself to be Peter’s lawful successor. And how does he prove it? Because Peter died at
Rome; as if Rome, by the detestable murder of the Apostle, had procured for herself the primacy.
But they allege that he was also bishop there. How frivolous 450 that allegation is, I have made
abundantly evident in my Institutes, (Book 4, Chapter 6,) to which I would willingly send my reader
for a complete discussion of this argument, rather than annoy or weary him by repeating it in this
place. Yet I would add a few words. Though the Bishop of Rome had been the lawful successor of
Peter, since by his own treachery he has deprived himself of so high an honor, all that Christ
bestowed on the successors of Peter avails him nothing. That the Pope’s court resides at Rome is
sufficiently known, but no mark of a Church there can be pointed out. As to the pastoral office, his
eagerness to shun it is equal to the ardor with which he contends for his own dominion. Certainly,
if it were true that Christ has left nothing undone to exalt the heirs of Peter, still he was not so lavish
as to part with his own honor to bestow it on apostates.
MATTHEW 16:20-28; MARK 8:30-38, 9:1;
LUKE 9:21-27
Matthew 16:20-28
Mark 8:30-37
Luke 9:21-27
20. Then he charged his 30. And he threatened, and 21. And he threatening
disciples forbade them to tell any one charged them not to tell this to
451 not to tell any one
any one, 456 concerning him. 22. Saying, The Son
454 that he was Jesus the Christ.
31. And he
21. From that time Jesus began began to teach them, that the of man must suffer many things
to make known to his disciples, Son of man must suffer many and be rejected by the elders,
that he must go to Jerusalem and things, and be rejected by the and the chief priests, and the
449 “Mais mettons le cas que ce qu’ils disent de Pierre soit hors de doute;” — “but let us suppose that what they say about Peter
were beyond a doubt.”
450 “Combien cela est faux et frivole;” — “how false and frivolous it is.”
451 “Lors il commanda expressement a ses disciples;” — “then he expressly commanded his disciples.”
456 “Adonc usant de menaces il leur commanda qu’ils ne le dissent a personne;” — “Then employing threatenings, he commanded
them not to tell it to any one.”
454 “Et il leur defendit avec menace qu’ils ne dissent [cela] de luy a personne;” — “and he forbade them with threatening to
tell [this] concerning him to any one.”
207
John Calvin