Some say it is Peter but I say it is the revelation of who Jesus is: The Christ =(anointed, the Messiah,) the Son of the living God.
What do you think?
2006-11-09 14:53:27 · 19 answers · asked by littlebill1966 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, if you read the whole quote verse, it is plain:
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I think it's plain to see that Jesus is calling Peter the "rock".
2006-11-09 15:00:43 · answer #1 · answered by mesquitemachine 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. Some DO say that Jesus is referring to Peter, I don't think that this is fully correct or the definitive end to that question.
Yes Peter was the leader of the Acts church of Jerusalem and was instrumental in its massive and explosive growth in the eraly years after Pentecost. However history tells us that James the brother of Jesus assumed leadership of the Church in Jerusalem shortly after.
From this direction of thought comes the Catholic understanding of Sovereign Papal Authority - ie, that Peter and the church's successive leaders are infallible as they have been deemed "rock" (immovable), and sole representative of Jesus in the world (as the successive leaders carry the role and spiritual mantle of Peter).
You will see as a general pattern throughout the Bible that prophecy commonly possesses a short term and long term fulfillment - or refers to something both directly impacting in someones world and then in a general way for humanity or another individual further into future history.
I believe that Jesus here was speaking about the revelation of him as the saviour sent from God.
Truly the church is built on the revelation of who Jesus is - without the understanding of Jesus identity and role in the world there could be no belief in Him and therefore no church.
Lets keep in mind the true understanding of the word "church" - this word refers to the people (both locally and globally) that make up the body of Christ. Jesus then is saying that upon revelation of Him individual lives would be built and fellowships will be built.
What a great scripture.
So - in a loose conclusion - both! i mean - it was definately not beyond Jesus to do so.
2006-11-09 15:12:56 · answer #2 · answered by phill_elegant 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus asked, but whom say ye that I am? When Simon Barjona answered, "Thou art the Christ", he was professing his testimony that the spirit had born witness to him that Jesus was not just another prophet like John the Baptist, but was in fact the promised Messiah--The Christ. When Jesus answered and said, Thou art Peter, he was talking about a new Simon Barjona, a Simon who new his Christ (Jesus) and who was willing to witness this revelation to others.
This revelation that Jesus is the CHRIST and the courage to witness it is the Rock that Jesus would build his church on. The building of the church began with Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone and foundation. Therefore, in this sense, Jesus is likened to a rock. Simon, now knowing and witnessing that Jesus is the Christ was then also likened to a rock and given the new name of Peter to commemorate this witness.
Every person that has a witness in their heart that Jesus is the Christ and witnesses that to others also becomes a rock in the great Church of Christ all stacked nicely together.
Bombs may blow up this chapel or that chapel, but there will always be some of us left alive who believe and profess that Jesus is the Christ and thus the gates of hell will not be able to prevail over Christ and his followers.
I Believe that Jesus is the Christ. He is not a myth as the atheists believe, and he is not just a wise prophet as the Muslims believe(PBUH). He is my Savior, and yours too if only you will believe.
2006-11-09 15:37:42 · answer #3 · answered by asimplegmr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you one-hundred percent. Jesus asked Peter: "Who do you say that I am? Peter replied to Jesus that He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus told Peter that "upon this rock I will build my church." I think that Jesus may have been talking both about the truth of Himself being the Christ, the Son of the living God and the fact that Jesus Christ is the Rock. He is our Rock and our Redeemer. The Bible teaches us to build our house upon the Rock who is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the foundation of His church.
2006-11-09 14:58:21 · answer #4 · answered by jamesdkral 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The Rock Jesus is talking about has nothing to do with Peter. Jesus is telling his disciples that the revelation of who He (Jesus) is will be the Rock the church is founded on. Later on in the Bible you will read that Jesus is the chief corner stone of Christianity, all of Christianity is balanced on Him.
2006-11-09 15:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by atreadia 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This Christ grew to become into the only stated as in historical prophecy a stone that the developers could reject. (Psalm 118:22; Luke 20:17) With such prophecies in innovations, Jesus revealed that Jehovah could set up a congregation on the very stone, or rock-mass, that Peter had only pointed out. Then he bestowed on Peter some significant privileges in that congregation. He did not provide Peter primacy over the different apostles, as some have assumed, yet he gave him commonplace jobs. He gave Peter “the keys of the dominion.” (Matthew sixteen:19) it could be Peter’s job to open the desire of entering God’s Kingdom to 3 distinctive fields of mankind—first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, and ultimately to the Gentiles, or non-Jews.
2016-10-21 13:58:16 · answer #6 · answered by briscoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was Peter's statement that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God. It was on this statement that Jesus told the disciples that he was going to build his Church and that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against it.
2006-11-09 14:58:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Upon the foundation of truth that they were discussing. Jesus is the only true foundation, He is the rock. Not Peter like some other religion teaches..
2006-11-09 16:42:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did not make Peter the cornerstone of the church in rome...Peter never went to Rome..Jehovah made Jesus the king of the kingdom...The Messianic Kingdom...He earned the right. ..He died for our sins......He was referring to Peters rocklike qualities...that when the other disciples were wishy washy..Peter said Lord where would we go...Only you have sayings of everlasting life.
All honor and glory and worship went to Jesus Father Jehovah.
Matthew 16:18 says....Also, I say to you, You are Peter, and on this rock mass I will build my congregation, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. proof that Peter was not the head of the church is 16: 23 ..he rebuked Peter ..calling him satan.
2006-11-09 15:18:23 · answer #9 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Rock is Christ. The Chief Corner Stone.
Peter was a pebble.
2006-11-09 14:54:42 · answer #10 · answered by Mark Fidrater 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋