Peter's primacy and the development of doctrine

Abstract

Over the past few weeks there has been some correspondence in your paper with reference to the primacy or otherwise of the Pope as the successor of Peter (see, for example, the letter by Dr Joseph Mizzi of February 6).

I would simply like to point out a few things relative to this matter, without entering into a controversy. In the first place, it should be kept in mind that current biblical scholarship (of all mainstream Christian denominations) holds that the Hebrew and Christian communities were very much alive and kicking before they produced their respective writings (the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament) as a reflection of their faith.