Customer Reviews

Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church (Modern Apologetics Library)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Upon This Rock was a well written and thought out book. It gave all the sources that he used and helped me to understand the depth of the Catholic position. I do not agree with Mr. Ray's conclusion but now I realize I may well be wrong. I think one goal of this book was to defend the Catholic Church and show why the church claims the authority it does. I have to admit many of my presuppositions have been changed and his work has helped me understand and even respect the faith of Catholics that much more.

After reading opinions by James White and William Webster on the same subject, I thought I'd been given the full truth. But Mr. Ray's further, deeper development on White's/Webster's study showed me that I had only been given an incomplete story. What else about the Protestant faith is only "partially" developed ? Mr. Ray's presentation is overwhelming. One particular nugget in the goldmine of truth was not detailed in the New Testament, Old Testament, or the Church Fathers. It was a geography lesson on Caesarea Philllipi. It had never dawned on me what a long journey this was for Jesus and his disciples. The significance of the journey and the rock have come into focus!
I am now dedicating myself to learning what other partial truths have been developed fully by the catholic church.

The discussion was excellent in that it chronicled the Office of the Papacy both in Scripture and in history. It is an excellent source book and demonstrated excellent research techniques especially in the Early Church Fathers documentation and reference. There are a great deal of footnotes, but unlike some books, these footnotes are very readable and useable either in a discussion as a Catholic Christian Apologist or as a bibliography in a paper. I highly recommend this book.

Stephen K. Ray does an excellent job of presenting the scriptural and historical case for the papacy. He writes clearly and well. I would like to make a point about a book mentioned in the review by the Eastern Orthodox gentleman, namely Brian Tierney's "The Origins of Papal Infallibility". Moved by that review I read Tierney's book. Brian Tierney, though a good scholar, has an axe to grind, specifically a liberal Catholic axe. I am surprised that an Eastern Orthodox person would commend the arguments of Tierney, since Tierney obviously is against not just PAPAL infallibility, but ALL infallibility, including the infallibility of Ecumenical Councils and the infallibility of the Church herself, both of which doctrines are believed in by the Eastern Orthodox. Tierney, as a liberal, does not believe that the Church can definitively commit herself to truths. In other words, he rejects the possibility of dogma. Essentially his position is that of Hans Kung.

The mistake that this Eastern Orthodox reviewer makes illustrates a basic problem with attempts to interpret the historical evidence in an Eastern Orthodox or Anglican way: these via media are self-destructive, as Newman realized. The Orthodox accept the hierarchical authority of bishops and the infallibility of Ecumenical Councils. But the scriptural evidence and the evidence from the ante-Nicene Fathers is stronger for the papacy than for the authority of Ecumenical Councils. One can pick holes in the evidence for the papacy, but only by using arguments that ultimately can be used even more effectively against other doctrines that the Orthodox would wish to uphold. Protestants have the same problem: the same arguments that are used against the papacy can be turned even more effectively against the New Testament. To return to Ray's book, I recommend it very highly.

Already in the First Century you see the Church of Rome exercising it's jurisdiction and Vicar of Christ Role with St. Clement's Letter to the Church at Corinth! So please if you know anybody asking questions about Catholic Teaching please share this book. My sponsor (I'm a recent convert to the Catholic Church) gave this book to me as a gift and I must say it's created a zeal in me for obedience to our Pope. It has been most helpful to me also at my campus (UW-Madison) where Roman teaching can often be unpopular. Thank you Mr. Ray.

Matthew 16:18 has long been one of the most disputed verses in Scripture between Catholics and Protestants. From the Catholic perspective, this verse points to the office of the Pope where Jesus grants divine authority to Peter and his successors. Obviously, this interpretation does not sit well for Protestants who deny this authority. But do Protestants correctly interpret this verse as well as other verses regarding the Papacy? The answer is no and this book will explain why. The office of the Pope will come alive for you as the author takes you through the Old and New Testaments as well as the writings of the earliest Christians outside of biblical times. The author left no STONE unturned (pardon the pun) as he methodically destroys any attempt to disprove the Papacy in Scripture. An insightful book and a must read for both Protestants and Catholics. Reviewed by Gospel Truth.

I commend Stephen Ray for his efforts in assembling such a complete book on the Papacy. The use of Patristic sources is impressive. Mr. Ray has done a professional job in presenting and demonstrating the Papacy as an undeniable Truth of Christ's Church. He has done a masterful job in pointing out the errors of opponents. This is a great resource for anyone wanting a fuller understanding of the Papacy. In addition, the efforts taken to obtain an Imprimatur gives proof for the reader that substance and truth have the highest priority.

Well done Mr. Ray!

Stephen Ray's book, Upon This Rock, is the most comprehensive book I have read on the subject of the position the Bishop of Rome holds in the Christian community, even if some do not recognize that position. It is the most thoroughly documented discussion available on the primacy of Peter in the early Church, and the primacy his successors in office have in the Church today. This book belongs in the library of every thinking Christian, Catholic or not.

James H. Dobbins, Ph.D.
Author of Take My Hand

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... Anyway, I loved this book because it deals with many of the Protestant and Eastern Orthodox arguments against the papacy. I am extremely glad Steve Ray gave evidence for Peter being in Rome despite what our Eastern Orthodox friend says. This book was aimed more toward the fundamentalist Evangelical Protestant than the Eastern Orthodox. And as many people know many of the Evangelical fundamentalists one talks with deny the fact that Peter was ever in Rome. If you don't believe me then go to an Evangelical messageboard to find out. Even some major Protestant apologists also has denied Peter presence in Rome so it was essential for Ray to give the evidence for Peter in Rome. The Eastern Orthodox also mentioned that not all the Fathers interpreted Matt 16:18 the same way as Rome and the Catholic apologists don't want to let that be known. This assertion is untrue and many Catholic apologists have said that was true. But there is a great answer to that and the answer can be gotten from the author if you e-mail him. Btw, most if not all of the books that the Eastern Orthodox recommended were part of Upon This Rock's bibliography. Please get this book and e-mail the author if you have any questions. Another book I would recommend is Jesus, Peter, and the Keys. Look out for follow-up books to JP&K to answer more objection to the Papacy using more of the Church Fathers. Upon This Rock would make an excellent gift for non-Catholics or Catholics who don't know their faith. Catholics must learn how to defend their faith.

As a Catholic convert of just two years I had much to learn about the history of the universal church of Jesus Christ. Many doctrines were still hard to accept after my conversion, however, with books like that of Mr. Ray's, Mr. Hahn's, Mr. Jurgen's and Mr. Lewis' I am shedding off my Protestant 'tendancies' faster than jaguars can sprint. WARNING: This book is for serious Bible and history-lovin' Christians only! This work is another 'must-have' for Catholic apologists. The only criticism that I had for this book is that it provided too much evidence for the Catholic position of the papacy. I was literally overcome by the mountain of truth which displayed itself in full technicolor within this book's covers! After reading this book, I will never 'see' the Holy Father the same way again. A positive look to be sure! Pax