There has been some discussion by some in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) that insisted that this verse is referring to Peter as the "rock" and not the Lord Jesus Christ. Following is a summary of that exchange. Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Let's look and see why this verse is not what the RCC claims. (we will identify the Creek words used to illustrate the point)The Church received its authority from its founder, Jesus Christ... "
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter <4074>, and upon this rock <4073> I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
The word Peter is (4074 petroj Petros pet'-ros ) it is a dimunitive form of (4073 petra petra pet'-ra ) this word is never translated as rock (4073 petra petra pet'-ra ) For one thing, we can ask the question when or where did the RCC do anything so that hell will not prevail against it? The reference to hell not prevailing is in reference to the atonement Christ performed. Once we are saved, hell cannot touch us. To look at it another way is to totally disregard the context of the verse.
We see also the word "Peter". Here is how it's used in the new testament (AV - Peter 161, stone 1) out of the 162 times It is used it is used 161 times as "Peter" and once as "stone". It has never been translated "rock" The word means pebble as to a rock likewise Peter is to Christ. Peter is not the rock; Christ is the rock. The RCC has not understood this verse. Christ of course never meant to build his Church on a pebble, a small stone, it is build on a rock. The Lord Jesus Christ. When we look up the other word "rock" <4073> we find it is it is used as rock in all of its 16 uses in the new testament. Peter is a picture of Christ but he is not the Christ as in "pillar" this of course is correct because Peter is a picture of Christ but he is not the Christ Peter can never be the weak link in the chain as we saw how he denied the lord Jesus Christ we read about this in Luke 22:58-62
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly
Is this a picture of anyone whom the gates of hell will not prevail against? That interpretation would make the church a laughing stock of all other religions if it were true. No man can be the foundation a any church. There is no one worthy of such and it is for that reason Christ came. Anyone who wants to associates with that should be embarrassed for having denied the Lord Jesus Christ. God does not do anything haphazard as such and He isn't in this case. The word rock is always referred to Christ. There is no denying the simple and straight language as we find the confirmation of this when we read its commentary in 1Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock <4073> that followed them: and that Rock <4073> was Christ.
The Bible being its own interpreter, we see 1 Corinthians 10:4 that the rock is Christ that the children of Israel drank from when Moses struck it when they left Egypt. This is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ who was struck and by his Stripes we are healed. The water that flowed from that rock is the word of God Whereby we are saved. The salvation provided by the Lord Jesus Christ is the Drink that we drink of and become saved. That is the rock that the gates of hell cannot do anything against. Because Christ has lost none of the elect given him by God the Father. John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:39
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Moreover the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. What can Peter or the Catholic church do to stop people from not going to hell. Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Only Christ can save us not a person or a church. Therefore that verse is also nullified because it won't pass the scrutiny of the whole Bible. Someone has to try and do a lot of explanation to fool those that believe it. The child of God will not be fooled. We cannot try to make something fit when the Bible does not allow it. The RCC did not die to save anyone. How can they prevail against hell. To believe Peter is the rock, Is like saying I want to shoot for second best because I can't have the best. In this case the second best is hell. There is nothing besides heaven and hell. There is nowhere else in the Bible that will verify this information so how can anyone follow it. This is how we know it is unbiblical because no one has the keys to hell. We read in Revelation 9:1 and Revelation 20:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
The star that fell from heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ. He was given the keys to Hell as he is the judge of the world. Those who will not be saved will be judged and would be send there. Revelation 20:1
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
This angel (should be translated messenger) of whom is the Lord Jesus Christ is. The one that has the keys of the bottomless pit which is hell. The chain in his hand refer to the judgment where those whom would be found guilty of their sins would be bound and cast in to the bottomless pit. Where do we find the church being given this authority? The Catholic Church have contorted this to say what they want it to say. The true believers will not fall for it because the shepherd of their salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, will not lead them there. Now they can propagate this, and they will only fool those whose mind are blinded by the god of this world. A child of god will never believe this.
We also find peter being reprimanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:21-23
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
He is trying to a nice guy in trying to prevent Christ from having to perform the duties of which he came; to die on the cross. The Lord Jesus saw through it and accused him of being in cohort with Satan. Is this a picture that god want his church to be build upon? Clearly peter has many faults and some good points but none of us (any man except for Christ; the God-man) could the church, the body of believers could be build on.
Moreover, we do not find anywhere in the Bible where peter was ever in Rome. How can a church choose a founder that never shows up for its inauguration? How does the Catholic Church do this? This is typical of what we find. We are told certain information without biblical validation. Why would and one believe such fables? (It is no different than when my grandma used to tell us fairy tales when was yea little.) We do not reach or learn biblical doctrines by tradition. This is similar to what we se here; the church teaches this principle then that person tells another without anyone checking it out.Let me illustrate the point. I gave the explanation of 1Timothy 3:15. Again let me give the Strongs number as references.
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God , which is the church of the living God, the pillar <4769> and ground <1477> of the truth <225>
We check the word out (4769 stuloj stulos stoo'-los ) And find it is used 4 times as pillar. As 1) a pillar 2) a column 2a) pillars of fire i.e. flames rising like pillars 3) a prop or support. Hardly can we make this, a support as the main house because it refers to a support as how a pillar or post is to a house. The post or pillar is not the house. Again, you are trying to make this verse to say more than what the bible will allows. Simply the believer is the pillar and not the catholic church is the pillar. This is because god does not deal with unbelievers. You are not understanding this or rather your church choose not to see it. By the way, when the Bible talks about church it may refer to the corporate church or the body of believers and never specifically about the catholic church or any other denomination. The true church is the believers in any church if they follow the guidelines of the Bible.
Ephesians 2:20-22, the 'foundation' (cornerstone)
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Who is the foundation of the apostles and the prophet? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. When we read Ephesians 2 we find that verses 1-12 talks about our unsaved condition and how we were. Verses 13-22 talks about the basis of our salvation e.g. Ephesians 2:13
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Christ Jesus is the remedy whereby we did not perish in our sins. This is confirmed when we read 1Corinthians 3:11,
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
When God gives us eyes to see, we can clearly see. In most cases we must read the context of which a verse is a part. If we do not, this is what happen; we end up butchering a verse and therefore will totally misunderstand it. The again we can clearly see how the Catholic Church tries to make a verse say what Its not saying. There is no other foundation other than the Lord Jesus Christ. How then can we make the church, even the Catholic Church as the foundation when the Bible is very clear. Mind you only those that are in the dark those whose eyes are not opened believe this. The Bible is very clear in this situation. There is no explanation needed here. Now the Catholic Church can make apostles and prophets their foundation but it is not from the Bible. The problem I find with all these interpretations is as I stated before is that There seem to be too much credit given to the English translation and much is made of a verse that has no other collaboration from the Bible. When we are between a rock and a hard place we must go to the original language (Hebrew in the OT and Creek in the NT) then there would be no question about what God said, We are commanded in 2Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
The believer is commanded to study the Word of God so that he can rightly divide what we find in the Bible. This is what God says. Is God lying to us? If we do not study the Bible we can not understand it. When we obey God has reminded us he will never leave or forsake us, meaning that we will not be left holding the bag as He will give us the understanding if and when we study providing He is leading us. We are never alone. God has given us His gift of understanding if we are saved. Unfortunately the Bible will always be a mystery to those that are not saved because the Word of God is not for them. Now, I don't know who buys all this nonsense; As ridiculous as they sound a bunch of people believe them. This is scary because as 2Corinthians 4:3-4 says
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
God is forsaking them from understanding the truth of the word. Their eyes are blinded that they cannot see. In my love for them I am willing to be hated for whatever truth I teach. I am given the mandate to teach or else I won't be able to see what I see So for the sake of the Gospel if one person would come to Christ because of it, that is the will of God. May the will of god be accomplished by it however he sees fit.
In closing, I am always willing to discuss any issue whether it be true. One mandate of a Child of God is that we must be willing to look at any verse in the Bible and not to avoid them. God is our rock that we depend upon. If our house is build on it we can never go wrong. I must admit that with great heaviness of heart I say these things because I have relatives and friend that are Roman Catholics. However I Have spared nothing in trying to be faithful. People are people and I hope that these comments will purge the hearts of those that hear them and seek out the mercy of God as I am forever grateful for this opportunity. May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear.Questions or Comments All Rights Reserved*TOGODBETHEGLORY.com