and this does not quote the passage in connection with Rome but in connection with Peter....Only in the middle of the third century did a bishop of Rome, by the name of Stephen, appeal to the promise to Peter, he did so in a dispute with other churches as to which had the better tradition." (The Catholic Church A Short History, Hans Kung, Modern Library, 2003, p. 41)
And Peter, on whom the Church of Christ is built, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail…” Origen, Commentary on John, 5:3 (A.D. 232).
You are refuting yourself.
“By this Spirit Peter spake that blessed word, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ By this Spirit the rock of the Church was established.”
Hippolytus, Discourse on the Holy Theophany, 9 (ante A.D. 235).
“’…thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church’ … It is on him that he builds the Church, and to him that he entrusts the sheep to feed. And although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single Chair, thus establishing by his own authority the source and hallmark of the (Church’s) oneness…If a man does not fast to this oneness of Peter, does he still imagine that he still holds the faith. If he deserts the Chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, has he still confidence that he is in the Church?”
Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae (Primacy text), 4 (A.D. 251).
“…folly of (Pope) Stephen, that he who boasts of the place of the episcopate, and contends that he holds the succession from Peter, on whom the foundation of the Church were laid…”
Firmilian, Epistle To Cyprian, Epistle 75(74):17(A.D. 256).
“…Peter, that strongest and greatest of all the apostles, and the one who on account of his virtue was the speaker for all the others…”
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 2:14 (A.D. 325).
“And Peter,on whom the Church of Christ is built, ‘against which the gates of hell shall not prevail’”
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6:25 (A.D. 325).
“…the chief of the disciples…the Lord accepted him, set him up as the foundation, called him the rock and structure of the church.” Aphraates, De Paenitentibus Homily 7:15 (A.D. 337).
“Peter, the foremost of the Apostles, and Chief Herald of the Church…” Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures,1 1:3 (A.D. 350).
“
lessed Simon, who after his confession of the mystery was set to be the foundation-stone of the Church, and received the keys of the kingdom…” Hilary de Poiters, On the Trinity, 6:20(A.D. 359).
“[F]or the good of unity blessed Peter, for whom it would have been enough if after his denial he had obtained pardon only, deserved to be placed before all the apostles, and alone received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to be communicated to the rest.” Optatus of Milevis, De Schismate Donatistorum, 7:3(A.D. 370).
You are in error.
And isn't it amazing that Peter never once claimed any such authority and never once did any other apostle recognize any such authority to Peter.
There are 70+ verses in the NT indicating Peter's leadership and spokesman for all the Apostles AND YOU CAN'T FIND ANY OF THEM????
And when Peter speaks in (v) what does he say? "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God,and precious. Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect,precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."
So what? What do you expect Peter to say? I am the dominating dictator and if you don't do as I say I will beat you with my keys? Your interpretation hinges on 16th century politics, and not plain reading of Scripture. Keys symbolize authority. How does 1 Peter 2:4-6 remove Peter's authority? I could quote any 2 random verses from Paul, would that remove his authority?
Peter identifies the believers as living stones with Christ the Corner Stone. Same word is used for 'stone' in both cases. Christ is the Rock, is the Corner Stone, and foundation of the Church. We as believers are also living stones built upon that foundation. Peter calls us 'living stones' because in his confession in (Matt. 16:16) he said 'thou art the Christ the Son of the living God'. And that confession of Christ as the Son of the living God will be what Christ builds His Church on with living stones.
Does that mean everybody is a living stone except Peter?