Rock of the Church

[Frank22]

We all recognize that a person recognized as the earthly rock of the Church invests that person with various special attributes. As Catholics, we moreover recognized that Simon was Petros, the petra of the Church.

However, I would like for us to attempt to rigorously establish this understanding, therefore my question is the following:

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

 

[Jon_S_1]

We all recognize that a person recognized as the earthly rock of the Church invests that person with various special attributes. As Catholics, we moreover recognized that Simon was Petros, the petra of the Church.

However, I would like for us to attempt to rigorously establish this understanding, therefore my question is the following:

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

It means that Peter by nature of his office is the final authority of the earthly church.

That someone is needed to call the apostles together, to lead, and when called upon, to be the final arbiter for disputes or doctrine as seen in Matt 18.

 

[DavidFilmer]

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

Jesus liked to use construction metaphors. For example:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.[Matt 7:24-29]

Building on rock was a good construction practice in Our Lord’s day, and this practice continues today. The foundations of many modern structures either rest directly on bedrock (the topsoil is excavated to expose bedrock), or upon pilings (steel columns) driven down to bedrock. In some places, bedrock extends above the topsoil level. These formations are called “mountains.” And building on them is considered structurally sound.

St. Paul extended the metaphor of a building’s solid foundation:

The Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [Eph 2:19-20]

Jesus is the cornerstone (the first stone laid of the foundation, from which all other measurements are made), and the Apostles and (Old-Testament) prophets form the rest of the foundation. By calling Simon by the name Peter or Cephas (meaning “rock”), Jesus indicated that he has a place of precedence in the “rock foundation” of the Church. Obviously the “rock” of Peter does not supersede the cornerstone, but the rest of the foundation is a subset of the “rock” of Peter (and, along with Peter, forms the complete foundation, “joined together” in Christ).

 

[grannymh]

We all recognize that a person recognized as the earthly rock of the Church invests that person with various special attributes. As Catholics, we moreover recognized that Simon was Petros, the petra of the Church.

However, I would like for us to attempt to rigorously establish this understanding, therefore my question is the following:

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

John 21: 15-17

 

[JerryZ]

We all recognize that a person recognized as the earthly rock of the Church invests that person with various special attributes. As Catholics, we moreover recognized that Simon was Petros, the petra of the Church.

However, I would like for us to attempt to rigorously establish this understanding, therefore my question is the following:

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

John 21:15 Then, when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
21:16 He said to him again: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
21:17 He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” And so he said to him: “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my sheep.

John seems to be very explicit about Simon’s role after Jesus departed.

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[steve_b]

We all recognize that a person recognized as the earthly rock of the Church invests that person with various special attributes. As Catholics, we moreover recognized that Simon was Petros, the petra of the Church.

However, I would like for us to attempt to rigorously establish this understanding, therefore my question is the following:

What does it mean for Peter to be the rock of the Church?

Go through each of the internal links (from parts I-5 ) to see each of the terms used and why this place (Caesarea Philippi) is important for context in answering the question . defendingthebride.com/ch/ca/rock1.html