Theology on the Lighter Side – Why did the man propose in church? – Because he wanted their love to be built on a solid rock!
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.
There are at least four views on what the “rock” was symbolized in the verse above.
- Peter – Catholicism views Peter as the rock (petros, similar to petra) on which the church was built. Further, they believe that their human Pope is a direct decendent of Peter and that lineage, they believe, carries not only authority but even some weight in setting continuing revelations directly from God. This is why Roman Catholic doctrine includes the concept, under certain conditions, of the Pope being infallible.
- Peter’s Faith – In Matthew 16:17, Jesus makes the point that Peter’s faith in Him was revealed by God. It is that unalterable faith that Jesus was who He claimed to be that would usher in the foundational beliefs of the forming church.
- Peter’s Statement on Truth – In Matthew 16:16, Peter makes the valid claim that Jesus is the Son of the living God. In this understanding, the “rock” or foundation of the church is built on the truth of Jesus as the Christ, or Messiah.
- Jesus was the Rock – In Matthew 16:18, Jesus uses the word Petros (Peter) which is the masculine noun for a “detached stone”, one that is small enough to be easily thrown. However, by contrast, the word Petra refers to a very large rock or even a mountain cliff. This “solid rock” is a much better word picture than a small “detached stone.” It would seem that Jesus was making a point of contrast between the faith of Peter as not being sufficient to be the foundation of the church and, instead, Christ Himself would be that cornerstone (Luke 20:17).
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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