What do you understand by what Jesus said to Peter that on this rock I will build my church a?

Answer 1

"You are Peter [Greek, Pe′tros], and on this rock [Greek, pe′trai] I will build my church." As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the close similarity between the two terms shows that Peter is the foundation stone of the true church, or Christian congregation. But since The Bible has much to say about the symbolic stone, it is necessary to examine other verses in order to gain a correct understanding.-Matthew 16:18, Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.

Important prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures had already announced the coming of a symbolic foundation stone and the double role it would play. It was to be an instrument of salvation for those who exercised faith: "Here I am laying as a foundationin Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation. No one exercising faith will get panicky." (Isaiah 28:16) Paradoxically, it was to be a rock over which the unbelieving Israelites would have stumbled: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner." (Psalm 118:22) "As a stone to strike against and as a rock over which to stumble to both the houses of Israel."-Isaiah 8:14.

Was it possible for a mere man, especially impulsive Peter, to play out the double role of the symbolic stone? (Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75; Mark 14:34-42) In whom should we exercise faith in order to obtain salvation, in Peter or in someone greater? Over whom did the Israelites stumble, over Peter or over Jesus? The Scriptures clearly indicate that the prophecies concerning the precious stone were fulfilled, not in Peter, but in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who applied the prophecies of Isaiah and Psalm 118 to himself, as Matthew 21:42-45 shows.

Peter himself, as we read at 1 Peter 2:4-8, considered Jesus, and not himself, to be the foundation stone. On a previous occasion, when speaking to the Jewish religious leaders, he confirmed that "Jesus Christ the Nazarene" was "the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the head of the corner."-Acts 4:10, 11.

The Apostle Paul was of like mind, as can be seen from scriptures such as Romans 9:31-33, 1 Corinthians 10:4, and Ephesians 2:20, this last verse confirming the fact that the members of the Christian congregation are "built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone." He is also 'the head of the congregation,' which he guides from the heavens. "I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things," said Jesus.-Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Matthew 28:20; Colossians 1:18.