What is the biblical argument against the Papal succession?

The issue of Papal succession, or the belief that the Pope is the rightful successor of St. Peter as the head of the Catholic Church, has been a topic of debate and controversy for centuries. Some critics, particularly those from non-Catholic Christian denominations, have argued that the belief in Papal succession is not supported by the Bible.

One of the most common biblical arguments against Papal succession is based on the passage in Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus tells Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Critics of Papal succession argue that this passage does not support the idea that the Pope is the sole successor of Peter as the head of the Church. They point out that Jesus is addressing Peter as an individual, not as a representative of a future line of Popes. They also argue that the phrase "on this rock I will build my church" refers not to Peter himself, but to Peter's faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Another biblical argument against Papal succession is based on the passage in 1 Peter 5:1-4, where Peter exhorts the elders of the Church to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Critics of Papal succession argue that this passage supports a model of shared leadership within the Church, rather than a top-down hierarchy with the Pope at the top. They point out that Peter is addressing the elders of the Church, not a single individual, and that he emphasizes the importance of servant leadership rather than domination.