A Play On Words: Looking at Peter, the Papacy and the Magisterium

A Play on Words: Looking at Peter, the Papacy, and the Magisterium

Everyone knows the pivotal message given by Jesus to Simon bar Jonah concerning the new name He gave to Simon: "You are 'Peter,' and on this ‘rock’ I will build My Church." What is interesting is that it is quite possible that the name ‘Peter’ may also have an important meaning when transliterated back into the similar-sounding Hebrew word

pronounced

and found in Genesis 40:8 40:16; 40:22; 41:12, 13, 15, 15. The Greek word equivalent, as cross-referenced from the Septuagint, is

which is also used in 1 Corinthians 2:13, and means, in that context, the interpreting of [spiritual] truths.

The Aramaic equivalents for

are

and

which are found as both nouns and verbs in Daniel Chapters 2-5, and mean "to interpret" or "interpretation."

What is interesting is that "to interpret" or "interpretation" are some of the offices and functions given to Peter and the Apostles, and their successors: the Pope and his Bishops, primarily as manifested by the Magisterium.

A kindred Hebrew word is

which is pronounced (approximately) "petron," and is used, along with the kindred

in Genesis 40:8.

The Septuagint cross-reference word is

which also means "interpretation," and is also used in 2 Peter 1:20:

"…..there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation."

Indeed, "interpretation," especially of the Word of God, is to be left ultimately to the Magisterium, the only True and Certain "expert in Humanity" (cf Sollicitudo rei Socialis, element 41), and whose interpretation is not its own (Genesis 40:8; Dei Verbum, elements 7-8). Indeed, it has been upon this "interpretation" (‘Peter’/pah-thar) and Rock that Jesus has built His Church.

You cannot interpret the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3)

But Jesus and His Apostles—and their delegated representatives and successors (the Pope and the Magisterium), can and do interpret those signs [(click HERE for a very good, on-going example of this) Gaudium et Spes, element 4]. Nevertheless, in this age, temporal-realm leaders, ‘wannabe’ "leaders," and people in general, just like the Pharaoh in Genesis and Nebuchadnezzer in Daniel, are having trouble trying to interpret the ‘signs of the times.’ This is because they have failed to seek and thereafter follow the source of all such authentic interpretation, understanding and wisdom (Genesis 41:8; Daniel 2:27) [God, and His appointed and delegated ministers, teachers, and interpreters--the Pope and the Magisterium (Genesis 40:8; 16; Catechism of the Catholic Church, elements 2032-2040].

The Greek word used in Matthew 16:3 is

This word is used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word

which means, roughly, "to instruct and judge."

One place this word is used is in words spoken by Moses in Exodus 18:15-16:

The people come to me to consult God. Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God’s decisions and regulations." (NAB)

The word also means "to rule or govern."

The people went to Moses in order to seek the guidance and judgment of God. When the people didn’t like the answer they got, they more or less said to Moses (and hence God):

"Who the hell do you think you are telling us what (or what not) to do? (Numbers Ch 14:4;11). We're going to select a new leader and return to ‘Egypt’ [where we can be whipped and enslaved in the ‘safety’ of our own fears and idolatries (ie, sins)]"

Is this not the same kind of attitude exhibited by groups like Call To Action (CTA), the We Are Church Coalition (WAC), and the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC), or anyone else who deigns to dissent with Magisterial teachings and directives (Catechism of the Catholic Church, element 817)??? Suffice it to say that the more things change, the more they stay the same (Ecclesiastes 1:10).

Concerning those Bishops and Cardinals who do not adhere to

it is not at all unlike the attitude taken by Joseph’s brothers:

"Are you really going to ….impose your rule on us?" (cf Genesis 37:8).

What is interesting here is that he (Joseph) who spoke for God with authentic interpretation

was despised and ultimately done away with (for a few years, anyway) as a result of attitudes driven by jealousy, selfishness, intrigue, rebellion and dissension.

In terms of the present situation, those schismatic Bishops, Cardinals, lay groups and individuals, likewise driven by jealousy, selfishness, intrigue, rebellion and dissension, may desire to likewise throw into a ‘well’ and do away with their brother "Peter" who guides them, and speaks for God with authentic interpretation

They had better, however, remember the rest of the story, be it in GenesisChs 41-50, or, somewhat more recently, perhaps, the prophetic dreams of "Peter’s" exile as recounted by St. John Bosco.

** NOTE **

For some additional information on how a new name in a "foreign" language may have several different, albeit profound, meanings in several different languages when "transliterated" into similar-sounding words in other languages, click here).

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