Misplaced Pages

Keys of Heaven

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
(Redirected from The keys of the kingdom of heaven) Metaphorical keys of Saint Peter
The emblem of the papacy used by the Catholic Church

The Keys of Heaven, also called Saint Peter's keys, refers to the metaphorical keys of the office of Saint Peter, the keys of Heaven, or the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. It is explicitly referenced in the Bible in Matthew 16:19.

In Catholicism

Saint Peter depicted (by Peter Paul Rubens) holding the Keys of Heaven – Museo del Prado

According to Catholic teaching, Jesus promised the keys to heaven to Saint Peter, empowering him to take binding actions. In the Gospel of Matthew 16:19, Jesus says to Peter, "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." Saint Peter is often depicted in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox paintings and other artwork as holding a key or a set of keys.

The keys of heaven or keys of Saint Peter are seen as a symbol of papal authority and are seen on papal coats of arms (those of individual popes) and those of the Holy See and Vatican City State: "Behold he received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the power of binding and loosing is committed to him, the care of the whole Church and its government is given to him".

Biblical sources

Bible verses associated with Peter and his position of authority include:

  • Isaiah 22:20–23;
  • Matthew 10:2;
  • Matthew 16:18–19;
  • Luke 22:32;
  • John 21:17;
  • Acts 2:14;
  • Acts 10:46; and
  • Galatians 1:18.

Bible verses associated with the transfer of powers from pope to pope include:

  • Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17;
  • 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22;
  • 2 Timothy 1:6
The emblem of the Patriarch used by the Syriac Orthodox Church.

See also

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

References

  1. "The episcopal college and its head, the Pope (para 881)". Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican Archives.
  2. Mannion, Gerard; Mudge, Lewis S., eds. (30 January 2008). The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church. Routledge. p. 235. ISBN 978-0415374200.
  3. Matthew 16:19
  4. Joyce, George (1911). "Power of the Keys". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  5. Joyce, George (1911). "Chronological Lists of Popes". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  6. Joyce, George (1911). "The Pope". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 6 September 2017.

Further reading

External links


Catholic Church
History
Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal
Early Church
Great Church
Middle Ages
Modern era
Theology
Bible
Tradition
Catechism
General
Ecclesiology
Sacraments
Mariology
Philosophy
Saints
Organisation
Hierarchy
Canon law
Laity
Precedence
By country
Holy See
(List of popes)
Vatican City
Polity (Holy orders)
Consecrated life
Particular churches
sui iuris
Catholic liturgy
Culture
Media
Religious orders,
institutes, societies
Associations
of the faithful
Charities
Papacy
Episcopate of the bishop of Rome
Jurisdiction
Holy See
(Full communion)
Vatican City
(index, outline)
Headquarters
Major basilicas
Titles
Papal names
Symbols
Proclamations
Activities
Vestments
Transportation
Household
Staff
Related
Vatican City articles
History
Geography
Major basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
Apostolic Palace
Vatican Museums
Politics
  • Elections
  • Foreign relations
  • Vicar General
  • Law
  • Governance
    Government
    Military
    Economy
    Infrastructure
    Culture
    Media
    Religion
    Symbols
    Sports
    Categories: