Reference: Power Of The Keys
Hastings
In ecclesiastical history the phrase is associated primarily with the so-called 'Privilege of Peter,' upon which the dogma of papal supremacy has been built, but also with the delegated authority of an official priesthood to pronounce sentence of the absolution or the retention of sins.
1. The fundamental passage is Mt 16:18. When St. Peter at C
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And I gave the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he opened and none shut, and he shut and none opened.
And he said to them, Therefore every scribe, having been a disciple in the kingdom of the heavens, is like to a man, master of a house, who casts out from his treasure new things and old.
And Jesus, having answered, said to him, Happy art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed to thee, but my Father, he in the heavens. And I say to thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not overcome her.
And I say to thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not overcome her.
Truly I say to you, Whatever things ye should bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever things ye should loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Woe to you, skilled in the law! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye came not in yourselves, and those coming in ye hindered.
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, which the Lord will set over his household, to give the allowance of wheat in due time?
And also certain women of ours moved us out of place, having been early at the tomb;
And they recounted the things in the way, and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them: whose soever ye retain, they have been retained.
This Jesus God raised up, of which all we are witnesses. Therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out this, which ye now see and hear. read more. For David ascended not into the heavens: and he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit from my right hand, Even till I set thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. Therefore let all the house of Israel know certainly, that God made him Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
Then truly they having gladly received his word were immersed: and in that day were added about three thousand souls.
Truly therefore the dispersed passed through announcing good news the word.
And Peter having opened the month; said, Of a truth I comprehend that God is no respecter of faces! But in every nation he fearing him, and working justice, is acceptable to him. read more. The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, announcing good news, peace through Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)
The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, announcing good news, peace through Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.) The word ye know, having been through the whole of Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the immersion which John preached;
The word ye know, having been through the whole of Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the immersion which John preached; Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power; who passed through doing good, and healing all oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.
Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power; who passed through doing good, and healing all oppressed by the devil; for God was with him. And ye are witnesses of all which he did in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they killed, having hanged upon wood: read more. Him God raised the third day, and gave him to be manifest; Not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead. And he enjoined us to proclaim to the people, and to testify that this is he appointed by God, Judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets testify, for all believing on him to receive remission of sins through his name. Peter yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all hearing the word. And believers of the circumcision were affected in mind, as many as came with Peter, that also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then answered Peter, Much less can any hinder water, for these not to be immersed, who received the Holy Spirit as also we? And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then asked they him to remain certain. days.
Therefore truly those dispersed by the pressure having been on account of Stephen, passed through even to Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none except the Jews only.
And they serving the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate to me Barnabas and Saul to the work which I have called them.
And having arrived, and gathered the church together, they announced what God did with them, and that he opened the door of faith to the nations.
And the sent and elders were gathered together to see about this word. And much discussion having been, Peter having risen up, said to them, Men, brethren, ye know that from ancient days God chose among us, through my month for the nations to hear the word of good news, and believe.
And much discussion having been, Peter having risen up, said to them, Men, brethren, ye know that from ancient days God chose among us, through my month for the nations to hear the word of good news, and believe. And God the knower of hearts testified to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, as also us; read more. And separated nothing between us and also them, by faith having purified their hearts. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But by grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we believe to be saved, as also they.
And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hear me:
Wherefore I judge, not to molest them, from the nations turning back to God:
Then it seemed fitting to the sent and the elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren: Having written by their hand thus; The sent and elders and brethren to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia from the nations, health: read more. Since we heard that certain of us having come out have troubled you with words, destroying your souls, saying, To be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we sent no word: It seemed fitting to us, having been unanimous, to send to you chosen men with our dearly beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men having delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore have we sent Judas and Silas, and these by the word announcing these things. For it seemed fitting to the Holy Spirit, and to us, for no more burden to be put upon you but the necessities of these;
And Paul yet having remained sufficient days, having taken leave of the brethren, sailed out to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn the head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And Paul arrived at Ephesus, and left those of his: and he having come into the synagogue, discussed with the Jews. read more. And they asking to remain with them for more time, he acquiesced not;
And when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to the face, for he was to be rebuked.
Brethren, if a man be taken in any fault, ye the spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; observing thyself narrowly, lest thou also be tempted.
And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and know all things.
And to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write; Thus says the holy, the true, he having the key of David, he opening, and no one shuts; and he shuts, and no one opens;