He didn't have to contradict Peter to have the authority. Peter made a case, and James agreed in James' decision. I don't at all get the impression that if James had disagreed with Peter that Peter would or could have said "I overrule you."
Saul was not renamed ceremoniously by Christ. In fact, he is called Saul well into his converted discipleship.
Are you saying that Paul renamed himself? I doubt it. As a Jew, he knew the importance of names, so I don't think he would have just made a change for no reason unless by order of God. I can't think of any other examples of self renaming by a righteous man.
It is amusing how the Reformed appropriate St. Paul as if he taught something other than Catholic Christianity.
Does Catholic Christianity teach salvation by grace alone through faith, and not by works? Besides, this notion has been projected onto us by your side! You should have seen earlier on the 10,000+ post Pope thread. We were mocked and called names such as "Paulines" because supposedly we follow Paul instead of the Gospels. That label was put on us by Apostolics, not by us. We just call ourselves Christians. :)
Exactly; but only Peter is expressly charged with that at the Last Supper, while all of the the Apostles are also given a task to celebrate the Eucharist. Only in the case of Peter the charge is to strengthen or confirm his fellow apostles.
That is a HUGE stretch. Strengthening each other, etc. is a command to ALL Christians:
Heb 10:19-25 : 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The writer is also asking for himself to be encouraged.
No, of course not; the issue was that this episode does not contradict the Petrine primacy. On the spot, I cannot think of any instance through history when a Pope overruled a consensus of bishops. We are very much a consiliar church. May St. Athanasius did in his Contra Mundum stance against the Arians, but certainly the execrise of papal infallible authority is a very rare occurence, if it has ever happened at all.
Paul renamed himself?
That I cannot say. but the scripture does not attach to his name change any significance. It did not accompamy the conversion. It does not have the same Old Testament ring to it as Simon's renaming into Peter.
Does Catholic Christianity teach salvation by grace alone through faith, and not by works?
Of course not, but neither does St. Paul. Paul teaches that salvation does not come by works of obligation or reward, but the works of slef-denial and love are or primary importance, and we teach accordingly.
called names such as "Paulines"
I would never do that. Pauline Christianity is Catholic Christianity. The reference thatI can recognize is to our conviction that the Reformed theology takes a few verses from Paul out of context and ignores the rest. but "Paulines" you are not; we are.
Strengthening each other, etc. is a command to ALL Christians
It is generally, yes, but the passage gives specific tasks to specific people: the apostles are to give the Eucharist ("do it"), while Peter is aditionally told to "strengthen his brethren".