I was taught that Saint Peter is at the gates of heaven, and you have to pass him to get in. Answers to a recent question suggest this is not true.
What is the biblical basis for seeing Saint Peter at the gates of heaven?
asked Aug 21, 2018 at 14:33
-
11I think this has always been a "cartoon" version of the faith, sort of like God the Father being an old man who sits on a cloud. Only atheists think Christians believe that sort of thing, right?– workerjoeAug 21, 2018 at 15:22
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
This view is based primarily on Matthew 16:18–19, in which Jesus says:
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. 19 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. (ESV)
When this concept of "keys" belonging to Peter is combined with the teaching from Revelation 21:12, that the New Jerusalem has walls and gates, it's not a huge leap to see Peter as being the gatekeeper of heaven, who allows entrance to some but not others.
However, this is as explicit as the Bible itself gets on this question. There are a few other sources for Petrine authority, like Matthew 18:18, but the popular image of Peter standing at the pearly gates is a later interpretation or extrapolation of the scriptures. Leading church historian Everett Ferguson identifies a possible source:
The passage [Matthew 16:18–19] moves from a building, to gates, to keys. A popular image has Peter as the doorkeeper of heaven, deciding admission through the pearly gates to each person at death. This understanding of Peter goes back to an early medieval interpretation that identified Peter with a figure in Germanic mythology who was the porter of heaven. (The Church of Christ, 53)
Numerous others make the same connection between the passage and the popular imagery, like Miriam Van Scott in Encyclopedia of Heaven, 208 and Howard Clarke, who ties this imagery to medieval drama (The Gospel of Matthew and Its Readers, 146).
answered Aug 21, 2018 at 14:55
Nathaniel is protestingNathaniel is protesting
42.4k11 gold badges130 silver badges312 bronze badges
-
4Would it be more appropriate to call it a Christian "folklore" rather than interpretation? As was said in a comment, and in my own experience, this is not really believed by anybody, but often said in cliche or metaphor. I'd like to see some expert quotes if it's really an "interpretation", by even just a few. Also, Matt 16:18 is often used as Petrine authority over the Church (arguably the "gate of heaven" and even "kingdom of heaven on Earth"), thus an argument for the legitimacy of the papacy. Does the Catholic Church, since they have the papacy, teach that Peter has heavenly authority?– user3961Aug 22, 2018 at 1:04
-
@fredsbend Updated with a couple sources that make this connection; it's pretty common. Aug 22, 2018 at 1:22
-
Back in those days (say earliest 7 centuries), a lot of folklore from other religions got mixed up with Christianity to make everyone feel included. For example, the mess that Christmas has become. So, yes, it's folklore, but to call it "Christian folklore" is probably offending to both Christians and non-Christians alike.– MastAug 22, 2018 at 6:39
-
3SLM's answer shows evidence of references to St. Peter manning the gates of heaven from as early as the third century AD. Considering that almost all Germanic tribes were Arian until at least 508 (and some much later), and that they were illiterate, I find it very doubtful that Christian authors of the 4th and 5th century would be influenced by 'a figure in Germanic mythology,' who I also find curiously un-named. Everett Ferguson has got it wrong. Aug 22, 2018 at 16:43
-
I'm sticking with Ferguson on this one (given that he's one of the best church historians of the 20th century, that's usually a safe bet). He's probably referring to the Synod of Whitby (664), where the king apparently uses more explicit language than that found in SLM's interesting quotes. Aug 24, 2018 at 19:09
The idea of Peter at the gates of heaven with the keys has a long history that is sourced to the bible. Of course, as things go, sourcing alone and understanding the source may be two different things.
Here is an example of the teaching in the 7th century at the Synod of Whitby over the argument about the Easter observance. (bold mine)
The controversy [Easter] was decided in a Synod held at Whitby in 664 in the presence of King Oswy or Oswio and his son Alfrid. Colman, the second success or of Aidan, defended the Scottish observance of Easter by the authority of St. Columba and the apostle John. Wilfrid rested the Roman observance on the authority of Peter, who had introduced it in Rome, and on the universal custom of Christendom. When he mentioned, that to Peter were intrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the king said: “I will not contradict the door-keeper, lest when I come to the gates of the kingdom of heaven, there should be none to open them.” By this irresistible argument the opposition was broken, and conformity to the Roman observance established. -source-
Previous to this circa CE 200 we find the argument of Tertullian who focuses the giving of the keys on to Peter alone and not to or passed on to the subsequent generations. Peter, he taught, used the keys preaching first to the Jews (Pentecost) and to the Gentiles (Cornelius). It was done once for all. It was not something to be passed on or repeated or needed thereafter. For Tertullian, to hold the keys was to usurp what was given to Peter alone. He then outlines various ways in which Peter already opened the doors.
I now inquire into your opinion, (to see) from what source you [Rome] usurp this right to “the Church.” ... On thee [Peter],” He says, “will I build My Church;” and, “I will give to thee the keys,” not to the Church; -source-
Soon after the time of Tertullian, Cyprian about CE 230 picks up the same keys to the kingdom motif to bolster his argument of one church and one baptism founded on one source of unity; that is, on Christ giving the keys to the kingdom to Peter.
Whither is he to come who thirsts? Shall he come to the heretics, where there is no fountain and river of living water at all; or to the Church which is one, and is founded upon one who has received the keys of it by the Lord’s voice? -source-
John Cassian wrote about CE 410 about the keys and what it means; that is, the confession of Peter (Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God Mat 16:16) is the faith by which the gates are opened.
Do you [the reader] see how the saying of Peter is the faith of the Church? He then must of course be outside the Church, who does not hold the faith of the Church. “And to thee,” saith the Lord, “I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” This faith deserved heaven: this faith received the keys of the heavenly kingdom. See what awaits you. You cannot enter the gate to which this key belongs, if you have denied the faith of this key. -source-
These historic strands relate back to the biblical recording of Christ giving to Peter the keys to the kingdom. The bible is the source, but understandings vary.
And I [Christ] will give unto thee [Peter] the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Mat 16:19
As mentioned, Peter did as Christ commanded. He opened the doors to the kingdom first to the Jews:
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ... Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:14, 38
And then to the Gentiles.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: ... While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Acts 10:34, 44
So, the idea of Peter as the gate keeper is very old. For some, Peter has already done his job. The doors are opened and hell will not prevail. For others, they view Peter or their church still holding the keys and who may or may not open the doors for them.
-
3Great answer so far and +1. I have the same criticism however that I had for Nathaniel. In this quote from the Synod of Whitby can that not just be a metaphor or cliche? After all, it's not a moment of teaching, but a polemic. It is to say "Peter taught X, and I will not contradict it." Again with Tertullian, he only quotes the metaphor. It is a polemic against the authority of the Church (papacy), not a teaching on what "keys to the kingdom of heaven" literally means.– user3961Aug 22, 2018 at 1:12
-
Did Tertullian teach Peter will literally stand at the gates and let people in or turn them away? I highly doubt it, in light of the massive volume of Christian teaching that God will judge the dead.– user3961Aug 22, 2018 at 1:13
-
The common thread is that the keys to the kingdom are the way in. The interpretation of the keys varies from Peter's confession to Peter's preaching first to Jew and Gentile (opening the way by same statement of faith) to Peter's ongoing presence at the gates. The latter interpretation is what Tertullian was against so early on.– SLMAug 22, 2018 at 16:31
What is the biblical basis for seeing Saint Peter at the gates of heaven?
The Catholic Church Tradition does not teach St. Peter as the "Gate of Heaven" so the most that we are familiar to are the one that Jesus spoke to Peter when Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of God and gave him the power to bind and loose in the Gospel of Matthew.
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”(Matthew16:19)
However, the Catholic Church Tradition like the Litany of Loreto teaches that Mary is the "Gate of Heaven".
Mary is also called the "Gate of Heaven," because Our Lord is in Heaven, and She is the way to Him. A holy soul used to say this prayer: O Jesus, in Thy dear Sacrament, Thy Heaven I cannot see. But Heaven is everywhere Thou art, and Thou art Heaven to me.
A gate is the entrance you pass through to get from one place to another. Mary is "the closed gate" of the Prophet Ezechiel, that the prince only could pass through. "This gate shall be closed, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it, because the Lord God of Israel hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut for the prince." (Ezech. 44: 2-3)
As Our Lord came to us through Mary, so must we go to Him through Her. We must think of Mary as the "Gate of Heaven" not only for us, the Church Militant, but also for the Church Suffering—the poor souls in Purgatory, who cannot help themselves. Through Her prayers many a soul may at this very moment be passing through the Gate of Heaven.
There is nothing Our Lady so much wants as our prayers and acts of virtue to enable Her to be the Gate of Heaven to the poor souls in Purgatory, and help Her to deliver them. So let us daily offer Her many aspirations, indulgenced prayers, and acts of self-denial, that by their aid She may deliver poor suffering souls and bring them to Heaven; and then, when our own turn comes, we shall find the "Gate of Heaven" open and the redeemed souls ready and waiting to do the same good turn to us.
http://www.salvemariaregina.info/SalveMariaRegina/SMR-168/Gate.htm
Titles of Our Lady from the Litany of Loreto
"Gate of Heaven"
-
2The OP was not asking for a catholic answer about Mary in fact he rolled back an edit that put the Catholicism tag into his question. As such this is not an answer.– KrisAug 22, 2018 at 14:40
-
The OP tag biblical basis my answer refer to (Ezekiel44:2-3), also tagging heaven & judgement involves Theotokos, as Jesus came into this world thru Mary and we cannot separate the two.Plus biblically Peter owe a lot to Mary for his recovery after betrayal of Jesus, without Mary Peter could suffer the fate of Judas, so it's just important that biblically the "Gate of Heaven" must be understood to be Mary, and biblically 1Timothy 3:15 said the TRUTH is deposited ot the Church,so Catholic teaching is not contradicting to answer it fully.Godbless Aug 22, 2018 at 19:14
"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". Seems clear to me. Loosed means the alternative to heaven It goes with Matthew 13:11, but I wouldn't argue about it. too each his own