This is a continued discussion from three gentlemen in one of the men’s Bible studies online here. It is, in part, a discussion between Catholics and Protestants, and I will not take sides, though it surely seem I do. It is my goal to simply look at the language and hermeneutics of the passages as a backbone for our discussion. I let the reader decide. Responses are welcome.

Upon this Rock

Simon Peter’s name, even in the official listing of the Vatican does list his name, Σιμεον κεφασ, Simeon Kephas, “the pebble.” Hebrew listed as שמעון בן יונה “Shimon ben Yona” though here in the Koino it is Petros (Peter). This is important for the particular text we are studying.
(Change your browser’s encoding to UTF-8 if you can’t read the Greek and Hebrew)

In Matt. 16:18Matt. 16:18
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

WP-Bible plugin Jesus tells Peter “upon this rock will I build my church.” The Roman Catholic Church uses this scripture quite often to back up the authority of the Papacy. When it comes to a theology or foundational world view, and especially doctrines in the Bible, one must test it against the rest of the Bible. Satan attacked Christ with scripture, out of context, and Christ defended by quoting scripture back. Taking things out of context can be very harmful. Testing scripture against itself is called hermeneutics. It means the methodology of interpreting literature, esp that of the Bible, by inner-contextual criticism. In other words, you cannot take a quote from the Book and make any form of dogma on it, without taking the Bible as a whole.
Psalms describes wanting to dash the brains of infants on the stone streets. Do you think God approves of that? No, of course not. It also says that we are gods, and taken alone, Mormons love it. But the verse continues, “but you shall die as men.” Kinda damning on the whole myself-as-god idea there. Comparing that theology to the rest of the Bible, for instance, Isaiah 43:10Isaiah 43:10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
10 My people, you are my witnesses and my chosen servant. I want you to know me, to trust me, and understand that I alone am God. I have always been God; there can be no others.

WP-Bible plugin, the Lord says “Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” This quote from Isaiah is foundational as well. It shows that God is the Savior, not the church, nor no one in it. Which leads us back to our study in Matthew.

In this case, we are looking into the Roman Catholic Church (and I am not attacking Catholics, as I know some of us here are.) basis for Papal authority. It is difficult for me to believe that this is the only text supporting such authority, and when taken in full context of the Bible where “Rock” and or “foundation” are used, it appears fairly weak. The Rock that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 16:18Matthew 16:18
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

WP-Bible plugin is either ‘the Truth’ which Peter spoke – which was given to him by the Holy Spirit, or that rock was Peter himself. We must therefore look also at Isaiah 44:8Isaiah 44:8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
8 Don't tremble with fear! Didn't I tell you long ago? Didn't you hear me? I alone am God— no one else is a mighty rock. v mighty rock: See the note at .

WP-Bible plugin, “There is no other rock; no I know not one!” (God speaking of Himself), Isaiah 28:16Isaiah 28:16
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
16 And so the Lord says, “I'm laying a firm foundation for the city of Zion. It's a valuable cornerstone proven to be trustworthy; no one who trusts it will ever be disappointed.

WP-Bible plugin, “So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed” Psalm 118:22-23Psalm 118:22-23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
22 ; . ; . The stone that the builders tossed aside has now become the most important stone. ²³ The Lord has done this, and it is amazing to us.

WP-Bible plugin, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Jesus Himself took this as a reference for His own life) and finally, 1 Cor. 10:41 Cor. 10:4
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
4 ; . and drank the same spiritual drink, which flowed from the spiritual rock that followed them. That rock was Christ.

WP-Bible plugin “the Rock was Christ”

Jesus is the Son of He Who Is, the Living God, the Lion of Judah, and the truth that Peter spoke in proclaiming the Authority of Christ is that rock. Jesus is the Rock according 1 Cor. 10:41 Cor. 10:4
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
4 ; . and drank the same spiritual drink, which flowed from the spiritual rock that followed them. That rock was Christ.

WP-Bible plugin. This is scripture, and the theme is riddled throughout the entire Bible. There is nowhere in the Bible that says otherwise. First century Jews would certainly understand that. Peter would not have made that mistake, for sure. Besides, the Roman Catholic Church didn’t institute the actual “Papacy” until Dec. 11, 384ec. 11, 384
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV


WP-Bible plugin with Pope Siricius – well, he was the first to use that title anyway. Peter didn’t try to claim it himself, and that at the very least should be taken into serious consideration.

Now the second part of Matt 16:18Matt 16:18
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
18 So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.

WP-Bible plugin(b) “and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” is covered here in a separate post due to its length.

The Key’s to the Kingdom

As the scripture continues in verse 19, the Greek makes it very easy to understand.

“δωσω σοι τας κλειδας της βασιλειας των ουρανων και ο εαν δησης επι της γης εσται δεδεμενον εν τοις ουρανοις και ο εαν λυσης επι της γης εσται λελυμενον εν τοις ουρανοις”

The Greek here in Matthew 16:19Matthew 16:19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
19 ; . I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don't allow.

WP-Bible plugin makes the plural “I give youses” the keys. To confirm this, go to Matt 18:18Matt 18:18
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Allowing and Not Allowing ¹⁸ ; . I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don't allow.

WP-Bible plugin,

“αμην λεγω υμιν οσα εαν δησητε επι της γης εσται δεδεμενα εν τω ουρανω και οσα εαν λυσητε επι της γης εσται λελυμενα εν τω ουρανω”

If you cannot read the Greek, you will just have to take our word for it. It’s plural too. These two texts are essentially the same thing. Jesus is talking to the disciples as a group. Christ does not therefore give the “key’s” to the Kingdom only to Peter, not even to only the disciples, but to anyone who believes (otherwise He would be giving those ever-so-precious keys to Judas the betrayer too). Even the view that only the twelve have the keys shows a lack of understanding as to the nature of the Kingdom of God in it’s most basic form, ie doing the will of God and acting out of His love is living in the Kingdom. It is for all. He opens the Kingdom to all who call on Him, all who believe and abide in the Father. This is not an argument against the priesthood so much as this particular textual basis for it. I’m simply pointing out that the language here does not seem to point to a priesthood exclusive to these twelve. In fact, if it is about Peter we argue, we must include his word as well. Peter himself speaks of the royal priesthood of all believers in 1 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:9
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
9 a But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say,

WP-Bible plugin. The priesthood is for all who believe. The portion allotted to the house of Levi is now ours. Deuteronomy 18:2Deuteronomy 18:2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
2 . because he has promised to provide for them in this way.

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That should suffice, I think.