Notes on "Upon this
Rock"
In Matthew 16:18
Jesus says. "That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church". Jesus is
using an illusion to Peter's name to make a
point. Peter is the Greek word "petros"
and rock is translated from from
"petra" meaning massive or solid rock.
To understand this we need to examine the context
of this statement. Jesus asked "But whom say
ye that I am?" To which Peter answered,
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God". Jesus attributed this answer to divine
revelation. So it is upon Peter bearer of divine
revelation that Jesus builds his Church.
A note of caution. Many churches including the
Roman Catholic, Anglican/Episcopalian, Methodist,
Coptic, Armenian and Eastern Orthodox to name a
few trace their priestly authority back to Peter.
When the Methodist Church was making its split
from the Anglican Church they went as far as to
rustle up a Greek Bishop to ordain their
ministers to preserve that apostolic line of
descent. This is a convention of man rather than
an ordinance of God. Those such as the Roman
Catholic Church who take it one step further and
insist that this line of descent entitles them to
act as earthly mediators between man and God
abuse the scriptures and usurp the prerogatives
of Jesus Christ.
Mathew
Chapter 16 - Full Text
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References in
Scripture Matthew
16:15 - 18
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Matthew
16:15 - 18
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art
thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
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.
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