Tainted Tradition
A.W. Tozer critiques the contradictions and manufactured honors given to Peter in Roman tradition, highlighting the distortion of history by leaders.
A.W. Tozer addresses the contradictions surrounding the figure of Peter, highlighting how traditions have distorted the truth about his life and role in the early church. He points out the absurdity of claiming Peter was never married while the Bible mentions his mother-in-law, and questions the legitimacy of Peter's supposed position as the first pope, given Paul's prominence in the early Christian community. Tozer emphasizes that these fabrications serve the interests of certain traditions rather than the authentic history of the church, and he suggests that both Peter and Mary would be bewildered by the exaggerated honors attributed to them by later leaders.
Text
By a kind of poetic justice, Peter has been the center of a number of historical contradictions, or perhaps we should say traditional, for many of them lack the dignity of authentic history. They are the fabrications of the Roman special pleaders who will make a case for themselves even if they must assassinate truth to do it.
Peter is, for instance, the only man in the world who was never married and yet had a mother-in-law; for the Bible says Peter's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and Rome says he was not married. He was, according to legend, the first pope, yet Paul crowded him out of first place and eclipsed him easily. That first pope took a position of meek deference before Paul, a position so definitely below him that one wonders how things got that way. If Peter was pope and not Paul, why did the great official pronouncements issue from Paul and not from Peter? It is all very confusing, but not much more so than Peter himself.
Well, the good old man of God cannot be blamed for the position Rome has given him. He was long gone from the hustle and bustle of the world before anyone thought of making him a lifelong bachelor and the vicegerent of Christ on earth. Such doubtful honors he shares with Mary the mother of Christ, who in her simple modesty would be shocked speechless if she could know what manufactured glories are being accorded her now by purblind leaders of the blind.
Sermon Outline
- Peter's Contradictory History
- Peter's Position in the Early Church
- The Problem of Peter's Honors
- Manufactured Glories
- The Role of Leaders in Distorting History
Key Quotes
“Peter is, for instance, the only man in the world who was never married and yet had a mother-in-law;” — A.W. Tozer
“Such doubtful honors he shares with Mary the mother of Christ, who in her simple modesty would be shocked speechless if she could know what manufactured glories are being accorded her now by purblind leaders of the blind.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Be cautious of traditions and honors that contradict the simple, modest life described in the Bible.
- Leaders may distort history to serve their own interests, so it's essential to critically evaluate information.
- True greatness is not about manufactured glories but about living a humble, authentic life.