On What Rock?

Is Protestantism legitimate? What are the keys to the kingdom? If true Christians agree on essential matters, why the rivalry? Let’s look at Rome’s exclusive claim in Matthew 16:13-20.

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:13-14 NKJV)

Caesarea Philippi, was a city built on a rock for Caesar Augustus. This brutal leader called himself the son of a god. Among other things, Jesus came to teach us right leadership. What world leader has willingly gone to the cross for his people? Church leaders are to be servants.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17 NKJV)

Who do we say Jesus is? Our answer defines us. What a shame that this passage is overshadowed by those who wish to promote their own human church leadership. When we understand who Jesus is, then we too are rocks of the Rock and receive the keys to the kingdom.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

Origen

Origen wrote, “if we too have said like Peter, "Thou art the Christ, … we become a Peter… a rock is every disciple of Christ … and upon every such rock is built every word of the church… all bear the surname of ‘rock’ who are the imitators of Christ…”

[ANTE-NICENE FATHERS, VOLUME 9, BOOK XII, 10]

Salmon

Roman Catholic Scholar, George Salmon, observed that 44 of 85 early church fathers said the “rock” was Peter’s faith, 16 said it was Christ, and 8 all of the apostles. Only 17 of 85 thought that it was Peter. The greater number of fathers disagree with Rome on this passage.

This

The pronoun “this” does not agree grammatically with “Peter.” The conversation moves from “you” to “this.” If it meant Peter in Aramaic then, why choose a different meaning in Greek? Peter is not the rock. It is more plausible grammatically, that the rock is Christ or Peter’s confession of faith.

Even if Jesus nicknamed Cephas “Rock,” it would be nothing more than all followers of Christ being named Christian. Nothing declares Peter as the first pope. Nothing in the Bible or early church writings universally supports the dogma of a Roman papacy as the sole Christian authority throughout church history.

[Saint Augustine, Retractions (20.1) and Sermons (vol 6, sermon 229)]

Wouldn’t Jesus say, “upon YOU I will build my church”? The word “this” contradicts Roman dogma, directing our attention away from Peter as its intended meaning. What did it point to? Many early church fathers said that “this rock” was Peter’s confession of faith. Others said it was Christ Himself.

[Peter, the Rock & Matthew 16:18: A Grammatical Analysis inc. Response to Tim Staples]

Aramaic

Where is the evidence that this conversation was originally in Aramaic? People from Galilee commonly spoke several languages. Internal linguistic evidence suggests that Jesus most likely spoke in Greek. Linguistic markers of a translation from Aramaic are absent. Many early church Fathers did not agree with Rome’s interpretation of this.

[Peter, the Rock & Matthew 16:18: A Grammatical Analysis inc. Response to Tim Staples]

Augustine

Augustine of Hippo wrote, “Christ is the rock (Petra), Peter is the Christian people. For the rock (Petra) is the original name. Therefore Peter is so called from the rock; not the rock from Peter; as Christ is not called Christ from the Christian, but the Christian from Christ.”

He continued, “Thou art Peter; and upon this Rock” which thou hast confessed, upon this Rock which thou hast acknowledged, saying, ‘...I build My Church;’ that is upon Myself, the Son of the living God, ‘will I build My Church.’ I will build thee upon Myself, not Myself upon thee.”

[NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS, VOLUME VI, Sermon XXVI]

Chrysostom

Chrysostom of Constantinople also wrote, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church;” that is, on the faith of his confession… Peter’s authority … did not continue beyond his grave … “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ…”

[St. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew; Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians]

Pope Impossible

Jesus most likely used the pagan Greek term “Hades” as a metaphor for the grave. That which overthrows all other societies will not overthrow the church. Many have tried. All failed to destroy the church. Authority was given to Peter AND other Apostles (Matthew 18:18). “Ye” is “you plural.”