Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Someone asked, “Can you explain what Jesus means in Matthew regarding Peter being the rock. The Catholic Church believes he was the first pope.”
There are two words in Matthew 16:18 which must not be confused. “PETROS” is the Greek word for a pebble, a small stone that can be thrown around. That’s the name which Jesus gave Simon when He first met him (John 1:42). From the beginning, Jesus knew Simon’s character. By the time of Matthew 16 (which was near the crucifixion) Peter had distinguished himself for being brash and unstable, living up to that humble name Jesus gave him in an effort to prepare him for that night when Peter denied Him three times.
The second word in Matthew 16:18 is “PETRA,” which means a great outcrop of rock on which people could build a skyscraper. That’s the “rock” on which Jesus said He will build His church. Peter himself vigorously denies that he is the “petra” on which Christ builds His church (see 1 Peter 2:4-8). The Bible frequently identifies the Lord Himself as the “rock” or “stone” of our salvation (Deut. 32:4; 2 Sam. 22:32; Psalm 18:31; 95:1; 1 Cor. 3:11).
This is something you may be able to share with your Catholic friends.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 28, 2005.
Copyright © 2013 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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