In the Bible Jesus says "Upon this rock I will build my church". Is He referring to the Roman Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Yes. But it was just called "the Church" at that time.

By the way, contrary to what a Protestant will tell you, it was never called "The Christian Church" in the bible, only "The Church" because there was only one and all Christians were visibly united to that Church and members of it. Jesus (God in the flesh) established His Church with Peter as the first Vicar of Christ. The Popes are the successors of St. Peter the Apostle.

Later, the same Church changed it's name to the Catholic Church because catholic means universal.

"Roman Catholic Church" is a slang term and is not the official name of the Catholic Church. It was first coined by a Protestant who wanted to call it something other than the Catholic Church in order to rationalize the Protestant split from the Catholic Church since the name "Catholic Church" necessarily means that there is only one universal Church. Over time, the name "Roman Catholic Church" gained popular usage among Protestants and today even Catholics call the Church that in casual talk. But the official name remains "the Catholic Church".

Ignatius of Antioch (Early Christian Bishop, Martyr, and Catholic Saint)

"Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains [i.e., a presbyter]. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 110]).

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

"And of the elect, he was one indeed, the wonderful martyr Polycarp, who in our days was an apostolic and prophetic teacher, bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna. For every word which came forth from his mouth was fulfilled and will be fulfilled" (Martyrdom of Polycarp 16:2 [A.D. 155]).

Tertullian

"Where was [the heretic] Marcion, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago—in the reign of Antonius for the most part—and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherius, until on account of their ever restless curiosity, with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled" (Demurrer Against the Heretics 30 [A.D. 200]).

List of Early Popes of the Holy Catholic Church

1. St. Peter (32-67)
2. St. Linus (67-76)
3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
4. St. Clement I (88-97)
5. St. Evaristus (97-105)
6. St. Alexander I (105-115)
7. St. Sixtus I (115-125) -- also called Xystus I
8. St. Telesphorus (125-136)
9. St. Hyginus (136-140)
10. St. Pius I (140-155)
11. St. Anicetus (155-166)
12. St. Soter (166-175)
13. St. Eleutherius (175-189)

Answer 2

The Old Testament tells us that only God is the true Rock and that only God can walk on the water.
Peter means "Rock", this nickname could have been blasphemous if mis-used. Only God is the Rock. The one person who could give Simon Peter that name without blaspeming was Jesus. Jesus named him Peter.
Both Jesus and Peter walked on water, showing that Peter can be allowed to do such things that only Christ was supposed to do IF Christ allows it.
Peter alone was given "Keys to the Kingdom". Though the other Apostles were given certain authority. Is Isaiah, there is a passage about the King of Israel giving the "Keys to the Kingdom" (all authority concerning it) to a man, essentially making that man Prime Minister. Christ is not merely alluding to it when he speaks to Peter, he is QUOTING it!
After he rose, Jesus asked Peter to be Chief Shepherd. The term 'Pope would not be around for genertations. Jesus set Peter the task of seeing that the Apostles taught Truth. Scripture shows that Peter led the Church in making decisions.

Christ is referring to HIS Church the one that he was establishing then.
Peter was at its head.
As to whether any one Denomination can claim to BE that Church demands a Study of Beliefs and of the History of which Church left which in the ensuing centuries.

Answer 3

No, he's referring to that church he built on the rock. If he were referring to the Roman Catholic Church, he'd have said "Upon this rick I will build the Roman Catholic Church"

Answer 4

Yes. In saying "my Church", Jesus is referring to the Catholic Church.

Answer 5

You didn't finish it! "Though art Peter and on this rock wilt I build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." The Catholic Church can trace it's line of Popes all the way from St. Peter. The Catholic church has people of all races and we worship in the same Mass . We are united wich is what catholic means, Apostolic, meaning from the Apostles. Yes it is THE church founded by Christ.

Answer 6

You've just opened a HUGE can of worms with that question. Personally, I believe that the Lord is referring to Himself in that passage. The Church (which was Catholic) was to be built upon Jesus not Peter.

Answer 7

Good Question!!! Oh boy, you've opened a can of worms. Christ was talking to peter and as you know, that name Christ gave Peter means rock. So the Catholics will say that Christ is building His church upon Peter, the rock, and what they say is the first Pope. However, all other theologians will tell you that Christ was referring to Himself. Christ, in Scripture is known as " the rock of our salvation" , "the stone the builders rejected" and is also mentioned many other places as a "stone".

Answer 8

His church referred to his ministry not a specific denomination of Christianity. The Rock refers to Saint Peter the apostle (Peter is Rock in Greek).

The bones of St. Peter are purported to be buried in the Vatican (their church is built on them, see) but the Catholic church didn't exist while Jesus lived.

Answer 9

The Roman Catholic Church did not exist then.

Answer 10

No, he was referring to himself as the foundational rock upon which he would build his Church. Peter, a mere man, would not make a good foundation for the Church of God.

The Roman Catholic Church does not keep the doctrines of Christ and the Apostles. So, it cannot be the Church of Christ.

Romans 9:33 -- "as it is written, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock-of-offense, and everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame.'"

I Corinthians 10:4 -- "...for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST."

I Peter 2:4-8 -- "For having been drawn to Him [Jesus], a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God; you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him shall never be ashamed." Therefore to you who believe is the honor. But to those who are disobedient, He is the Stone which the builders rejected; this One came to be the Head of the corner, and a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the word, to which they also were appointed."

Though this last Scripture refers to the saints as "living stones," it is Jesus who is the foundational Rock upon which the saints are built up into the temple of God.