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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Therefore every teacher, who has been thus instructed in the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven, is like a master of a family, who brings forth out of his store things new and old.
And Jesus replied and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon son of Jonas, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, as thou art called Peter, so upon this rock, which thou hast confessed, will I build my church, and the gates of death shall not prevail against it.
And I also say unto thee, as thou art called Peter, so upon this rock, which thou hast confessed, will I build my church, and the gates of death shall not prevail against it.
Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Wo unto you interpreters of the law; for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered.
And the Lord said, Who is indeed that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his family to give out the measure of food in due season?
And indeed some women of our company much surprised us: who having been early at the sepulchre,
Then these also related what had happened by the way, and how He became known to them in breaking of bread.
and whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; but whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
This Jesus hath God raised up from the dead, of which we all are witnesses. Therefore being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this gift, which ye now see and hear. read more. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he himself says, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this very Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ.
They therefore that received his word with readiness were baptized: and in that same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Now they that were dispersed went about preaching the word.
Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him. read more. According to the declaration which He made to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
According to the declaration which He made to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Ye know the report that was spread through all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached: concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
Ye know the report that was spread through all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached: concerning Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil: for God was with Him.
how God anointed Him with the holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil: for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things that He did, both in the country of Judea, and in the city of Jerusalem: whom notwithstanding they put to death, hanging Him on a tree. read more. Him God raised up the third day, and gave Him to be seen openly; not to all the people, but to witnesses before appointed by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him, after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He who is appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. To Him do all the prophets bear witness, that whosoever believeth on Him shall receive the forgiveness of their sins through his name. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the holy Spirit fell upon all them that heard the word. And those of the circumcision that were believers, who came with Peter, were astonished, that the gift of the holy Spirit was conferred upon the Gentiles also: for they heard them speaking in divers languages, and glorifying God. Then said Peter, Can any one forbid water, that these persons should not be baptized, who have received the holy Spirit, as well as we? And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. And they desired him to stay there some days.
Now they that were dispersed by the trouble, which arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only.
and as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they related what God had done by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe.
And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: read more. and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.
And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me.
wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them,
Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren: and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. read more. Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission; it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul, who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things.
And after Paul had staid there yet a considerable time, he took leave of the brethren, and sailed from thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head at Cenchrea; for he had a vow. And he came to Esphesus, and left them there: but before his departure he himself went into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. read more. Though when they desired him to stay longer with them, he did not consent: but took his leave of them,
But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was indeed to be blamed.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault, do ye, who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, least thou also shouldst be tempted.
And ye have an unction from the holy One, and know all.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith the holy One, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no one shutteth, and shutteth and no one openeth: