OFFICE OF THE KEYS

 Following a recent sermon, I submitted an inquiry to the pastor. The response was, “I’m unable to find the biblical warrant.” The inquiry follows:

Pastor:

As a preface to my confusion and request for the biblical warrant regarding your reference to the “Office of the Keys” serving as a prohibition against administering sacraments in your absence, I note, among other issues, the following:

In 2007, the LCMS convention adopted Res. 1–03, which reaffirmed the Synod’s commitment to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.

I realize that in Matthew 16:15–19. Jesus says to his disciples,

“Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I also realize that in sacerdotalism (e.g., Catholicism), priests, at least from my perspective, continue to ostensibly serve as intermediaries between God and man. One of the primary reasons this position is maintained is because of the foregoing exchange.

However, it is my understanding that Jesus was making a play on words, because Peter’s name, Petros, means rock or stone. Jesus said, “You are Petros, and on this rock [petra], this ‘bedrock’ I will build my church.” They are not the same words. It is a play on words. It was the “petra,” not “Petros,” on which the church was to be built and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. 

Furthermore, in Matthew 18:18, Jesus says to those believers present at that time, “Truly, I say to [those of you gathered in my name], not simply to Peter, “whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” This appears to refer to the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

In conclusion, petra has a different connotation than petros. Petros, per my understanding, suggests a loose stone. Contrariwise, petra implies bedrock stone. It is upon this bedrock stone (i.e., petra), not Peter (viz., petros), on which the church will be built.

Thus, it suggests to me that Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven (i.e., “Office of the Keys”) to all believers.