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From Old to New: Understanding the Continuity of Faith and Authority in the Church

'And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
-Matthew 16:18-19, NRSVCE

In our previous exploration of The Continuity of Faith: Exploring the Links between the Old Covenant and Catholicism, we uncovered the profound and significant connections between Judaism and Catholicism. Now, let's delve deeper into the New Covenant worship and its Jewish roots, especially in the context of the Church's foundation.

The Apostles as Fishers of People

Interestingly, the first four apostles Jesus called were fishermen: Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people" (Matthew 4:19, NRSVCE), fulfilling the prophecy in Jeremiah 16:16. This call to be fishers of people marked the beginning of their mission to spread the Good News.

The Foundation of the Church

Jesus Christ chose 12 apostles to lay the foundation of His Church, with Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, Revelation 21:14, NRSVCE). He entrusted them with authority in the church, particularly in binding and loosing (Matthew 18:18, NRSVCE). Among them, Simon Peter held a special role, as Jesus gave him a unique position of leadership (Matthew 16:18-19, John 21:15-17, Luke 22:31-32, NRSVCE).

When Jesus called Simon Peter "the rock" and gave him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the apostles likely understood the significance of this gesture within the context of Jewish tradition. In Jewish thought, keys symbolize authority and priestly responsibility, including the custody of keys for temple rituals and administration.

Understanding the Keys

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the elder priests had custody of the keys, which they would give to those chosen by lot to perform the Temple service. The holder of the key would serve as the main celebrant for the day. This Jewish tradition is illustrated in the Biblical account of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, in Luke 1:5-10.

When the Temple was destroyed, the priests threw the keys up to heaven, symbolizing the transfer of authority back to God. As the Talmud notes:

"The Sages Taught: When the Temple was destroyed for the first time, many groups of young priests gathered together with the Temple keys in their hands. And they ascended to the roof of the Sanctuary and said before God: Master of the Universe, since we did not merit to be faithful treasurers, and the Temple is being destroyed, let the Temple keys be handed to You. And they threw them upward, and a kind of palm of a hand emerged and received the keys from them. And the young priests jumped from the roof and fell into the fire of the burning Temple."

The Significance of the Foundation Stone

In Jewish tradition, the concept of a foundational stone holds significant importance. The Foundation Stone, believed to be the starting point of the world, was likely part of the Dvir or Holy of Holies in the Temple of Solomon. Notably, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is a site associated with this stone today. By calling Simon Peter 'the rock,' Jesus was drawing a parallel between Peter's role and the foundational significance of this stone in Jewish tradition.

A New Understanding

In the Christian understanding, Jesus has fulfilled and transformed the Jewish tradition, replacing the Temple as the central place of worship with His Church, entrusting Peter with a special role as the 'rock' upon which the Church is built, and giving him the 'keys' of authority. In this sense, the Catholic Church sees itself as the continuation and fulfillment of the authentic Jewish tradition that existed during Jesus' time, with the Church's leadership and sacraments replacing the Temple's priesthood and rituals.

Authority and Priesthood

When Jesus gave Peter the keys and called him 'the rock,' He entrusted him with a special role in the Church, tied to the priesthood and sacramental authority. Consequently, the celebration of the Eucharist, or 'Breaking of the Bread,' is reserved for consecrated priests within the Church, which Jesus established and entrusted to the apostles, who passed on their authority through apostolic succession. Laypeople can participate but not consecrate the sacrament.

By understanding the Jewish roots of these concepts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of Jesus' words and actions in establishing the Church.

From Old to New: Understanding the Priesthood Transition
Old Covenant Priesthood New Covenant Priesthood
The Old Priesthood was established through Moses, where Aaron and his sons from the tribe of Levites were anointed as priests. This consecration was crucial for performing priestly duties, as emphasized in Exodus 29:1-9 and 30:17-30. Jesus ordained His disciples as priests before celebrating the Passover, marking the beginning of the New Priesthood (John 13:2-17). Peter thought it was just ordinary washing, so Jesus said, "You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand." (John 13:6-7)
Only consecrated priests were permitted to perform these duties, underscoring the significance of their role (Numbers 18:7). Jesus chose only the 12 apostles for this role, similar to how God chose Aaron and his sons (Matthew 26:19-20).
Then the Lord said to Aaron: You shall have no allotment in their land, nor shall you have any share among them; I am your share and your possession among the Israelites. (Numbers 18:20) When Jesus washed His disciples' feet, He said to Peter, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me" (John 13:8). This echoes God's words to Aaron.
In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to celebrate the Passover as a remembrance (Exodus 12:14). Similarly, Jesus commanded His apostles to celebrate the Passover of the New Covenant, which is the Eucharist celebration, as a remembrance (Luke 22:19-20).

Important Note: Initially, the Israelites celebrated their first Passover in their homes. Later, they were instructed to bring their sacrifices to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, ensuring proper offerings to the Lord (Leviticus 17:5). As they prepared to enter the Promised Land, the Israelites were strictly instructed to offer sacrifices only at the designated place of worship, rather than anywhere else (Deuteronomy 12:10-14).

A Comparison of Leadership and Hierarchy
Moses and the Priestly Hierarchy Jesus and His Disciples
Moses Jesus
The 1 Aaron, the High Priest (Exodus 28:1) Peter, leader of the Apostles. (Matthew 16:18-19)
The 3 Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu (Exodus 24:1) Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1)
The 12 Twelve Pillars / "Young Men" of the Twelve Tribes (Exodus 24:4-5) Twelve Apostles of the Twelve Tribes (Luke 6:14-16, 22:28-34)
The 70 Priestly Elders of Israel (Exodus 24:1-11) Appointed and sent out. (Luke 10:1-20)

The fascinating parallels between the leadership structures of ancient Israel under Moses and the early Christian Church under Jesus. This insightful comparison reveals the divine blueprint for leadership and authority, tracing the roots of apostolic succession and the hierarchical structure of the Church. From the High Priest Aaron to Peter, leader of the Apostles, discover the profound connections between the Old and New Testaments and gain a deeper understanding of God's plan for His people.

The Power of Binding and Losing

In the New Testament, Jesus describes the scribes and Pharisees sitting on Moses' seat, possessing the authority to bind and loose (Matthew 23:2-4). This authority is not based on their personal holiness but rather on their position. However, Jesus also critiques them for locking people out of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 23:13). In contrast, Jesus grants the authority to bind and loose to Peter and the other apostles (Matthew 16:19, 18:18).

The Authority of the Cathedra

In the Catholic tradition, a bishop's Cathedra symbolizes their authority and teaching role. When a bishop teaches from Cathedra (Latin for "chair" or "throne"), that is, from their official teaching chair or throne, their teachings are considered authoritative and binding. The concept of Ex cathedra (Latin for "from the chair") is particularly significant relating to the Pope, who is seen as the successor to Peter. When the Pope teaches Ex cathedra, his teachings are considered to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and the entire Catholic Church is bound to obey.

The Office of Peter

The position of Peter is an office that requires continuity. Isaiah 22:14-22 provides insight into the role of a steward, who serves as the master of the household and second-in-command after the king. There are a few points we can draw from this:
  1. The steward's position must be maintained. Likewise, a successor to Peter is necessary because this office needs to be perpetuated.
  2. The steward is the master of the household, the 2nd in command after the king. Similarly, now Jesus is the King of the kingdom, and the successor of Peter is the steward or the prime minister.
  3. The steward was both the spiritual and political leader, thus having both spiritual and temporal authority in the House of God. He was the prime minister of the whole country and steward of the temple because Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," referring to Isaiah 56:7.
  4. The steward was a father to the people of Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Likewise, we refer to the successor of Peter as Pope.
  5. The key of the house of David was on the shoulder of the steward. And in the New Covenant, Jesus had entrusted the keys of His kingdom to Peter.
From the points above, we gain several insights into the construction of the Holy Catholic Church. Interestingly, the Pope serves as both a spiritual leader and the head of Vatican City, which is also a nation.

Continuity and Fulfillment

The relationship between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is rich and multifaceted. Jesus' words and actions marked a significant shift in the relationship between God and humanity, introducing a new era of salvation. Through His prophecy of the temple's destruction and His own resurrection, Jesus ushered in this new era, one characterized by worship in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24). As the mystical body of Christ, the Church transcends physical boundaries, finding its unity and authority in Christ's divine plan, with Peter and the apostles at its foundation (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Ephesians 1:23).

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