The 40 Questions Most Frequently Asked
About The Catholic Church
By Non-Catholics
10. Peter - or - Christ -- the Rock?
Christ made Himself the rock foundation in Matthew 16:18 ... Does the Church not usurp the power of Christ by claiming that Peter was the rock foundation and the Popes his successors?
A careful reading of Matthew 16:18 in the light of St. John 1:41 should show us that Christ, in
speaking of the rock, was referring to Peter and NOT of Himself. Of course we all admit that Christ
is the founder of His Church. But St. Peter was the one chosen to be the temporal ruler of this
church. St. John tells the story of the meeting of St. Peter and our Lord in St. John 1:42 when Christ
said to him:
- "Thou art Simon, the son of John; thou shalt be called Cephas" (which interpreted is Peter).
The word "Peter" in Aramaic which Christ was speaking meant "a rock." Christ was following the
practice among Orientals of changing the name of a person to signify a new function which he was to
perform. Two years later, Christ was actually to change the name of Simon and to promise to build
His Church upon PETER.
- "Thou art Peter (i.e., a rock), and upon this rock I will build my church." St. Matt. 16:18
A reading of this chapter from 13 to 20 will show that PETER was the one who was to be the rock.
The LORD first asked for a sign of faith from Peter. Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God." He then rewarded him, "Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona -- because flesh and blood has
not revealed this to thee but my Father in heaven." And then He changed his name.
- "And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will
not prevail against it." St. Matt. 16:18-20
Certainly Christ would not CONFOUND GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTION by saying, "I say to
thee (speaking to PETER), thou art Peter (and then changing in the same sentence), upon this rock
(that is, upon Me), I will build my church."
In the very next verse he then goes back TO PETER, "And I will give to THEE the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatsoever THOU shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
He FULFILLED this promise after His resurrection when He commanded Peter to feed His lambs
and also His sheep. St. John 21:15, 17.
Peter EXERCISED this jurisdiction:
| (a) |
His name was always first on the lists of Apostles. |
| (b) |
He proposed the election of an Apostle to succeed Judas. Acts 1:21-26. |
| (c) |
He preached the first sermon on Pentecost Sunday. Acts 2. |
| (d) |
He worked the first miracle. Acts 3:6-8. |
| (e) |
At the council of Jerusalem, all the Apostles submitted to his authority. Acts 15:7-12. |
History proves that from that time on, both in the East and the West, the successor of Peter was
acknowledged to be the supreme head of the Church. Since that day there have been 265 successors
to St. Peter. That this was Christ's plan is found in the same chapter where He said that the Church
founded upon THIS rock foundation was to endure until the end of time and that the gates of hell
would NOT prevail against it. The Church was to have the same foundation, for if the Church was to
go on there must be successors who would carry on the work of Peter, the rock.
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