Peter and the Rock

The Lord Jesus built his church on a rock. But what was that rock? Was it the person of Peter? Or was it Peter’s faith in Jesus Christ?

This study is based on the following verse:

Matthew 16:18. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (English Standard Version)

This verse is hotly contested. The two main interpretations are Protestant and Catholic:

SUMMARY

PROTESTANTS say the rock is not Peter himself. Rather, the rock is Peter’s faith in Jesus Christ.

CATHOLICS say the rock is Peter himself. That is why, they say, he is in charge of the Apostles. And therefore why the pope is in charge of all Christians.

THE WORD “PETER”

PROTESTANTS point to the actual Greek word in the New Testament. It is pétros. That Greek word means a stone or pebble. Jesus did not build his church on a pebble.

Here is the Bible verse, incorporating a transliteration of the Greek word pétros:

And I tell you, you are a pebble, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

CATHOLICS assume the Greek word pétros is equivalent to the Aramaic word kepa. That Aramaic word means Rock.

Here is the Bible verse, incorporating a transliteration of the Aramaic word kepa:

And I tell you, you are the rock, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

THE WORD “ROCK”

PROTESTANTS point to the Greek word which is petra. It means a huge mass of rock, such as a boulder or a projecting cliff. It is massive. It is far too massive for people to be able to throw it.

Here is the Bible verse, adding a transliteration of the Greek word petra:

And I tell you, you are a pebble, and on this Boulder I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

CATHOLICS assume the Greek word petra is equivalent to the Aramaic word kepa. That Aramaic word means rock.

Here is the Bible verse, incorporating a transliteration of the Aramaic word kepa:

And I tell you, you are the rock, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

MY CHURCH

In Greek, ekklēsian. That is, the “called out” people.

Most translators render it as “church.” However, in our day, in many countries the word “church” merely implies “mainstream Christian culture” rather than “called out.”

THE GATES OF HELL

The Lord Jesus Christ talks about Hades, Gehēnna, fire, and darkness. Christians often call those things Hell.

Is Hell a location where people are sent? Or is Hell a state of being? Read more »

LANGUAGE

PROTESTANTS reply on the Greek, which is the actual language of the New Testament.

CATHOLICS rely on the Aramaic, which is not a biblical language.