(Mat 16:18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Peter himself disclaims that the “rock” which Jesus spoke of is not himself….(Act 4:8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, (Act 4:9) If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; (Act 4:10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Act 4:11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (Act 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
AND…(1Pe 2:4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1Pe 2:5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Pe 2:6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1Pe 2:7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1Pe 2:8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Jesus himself uses the same figure of speech to describe who the chief is…(Mat 21:42) Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Luke 20:17-18
The term “rock” used by the Hebrews always referred to God…(Deu 32:4) He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
AND…(Psa 18:2) The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Paul affirms that Jesus was the “rock” in ancient times …. (1Co 10:4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. AND…(2Sa 22:32) For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
Only Jesus Christ is “the rock of our salvation”. Only Jesus alone is the foundation of the church, for (1Co 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Christ is the “rock”. A “living stone” is chosen by God, all who believe in Him (1Pe 2:4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1Pe 2:5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The “living stones”, such as the apostles ( a holy priesthood) will build up a spiritual house.
Jesus is the “Rock” , the chief cornerstone, on which the entire structure rests….(Eph 2:20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Eph 2:21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Eph 2:22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
In Mat. 16:16, Peter answered on behalf of the 12 disciples as the spokeperson ( as Peter has done on past occasions…John 6:69; Matt. 14:28; Mark3:16)
The scriptures tell us beyond a doubt why Christ did not appoint Peter as the “rock”.
Had Christ made Peter chief among the disciples, then they would not thereafter been involved in repeated arguments about which of them “should be accounted the greatest”… Luke 22:24; Matt. 18:1; Mark 9:33-35.
As I researched, Leo I was the first Roman pontiff to claim that his authority came from Christ through Peter. There is no historic facts in which prior to Leo I ( in about AD445) , that Peter was referred to as the “rock”.
written with love to all my friends responding