Let the scriptures speak...
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto you, That you are Peter (petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Whether that saying of Jesus is a play on words in the Greek or not, it denotes a contrast rather than an equivalence. As I don't know Greek, I cannot definitely say that 'petros' is always a little rock, a stone, and 'petra' a (large) rock. So, this interpretation of mine may not be the most linguistically accurate. But beyond all doubt, the language employed brings forth a contrast between Peter and "this rock."
Luke 6:46-49
46 And why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do
not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever
comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to
whom he is like: 48 He is like a man who built a house, and dug deep, and
laid the foundation on a rock (petra):
and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake
it: for it was founded upon a rock (petra).
49 But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation
built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and
immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Notice the parallels between Matthew 16:18 and the Luke 6:46-49 passage concerning what is being built as
well as what cannot prevail against it. In the Matthew passage, Jesus is the builder and the foundation, then in the Luke passage, it's a man who builds and first lays a foundation based on the
words of Jesus that he has received and embraced and acted upon [by obeying the Lord's teachings]. And as a result, his house is built so that it will withstand what may come against it.
Now the spiritual meaning to understand, letting the scriptures speak still:
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that all of
you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all
passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in
the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual food; 4 And did all drink the
same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock (petra)
that followed them: and that
Rock (petra) was Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:4-17
4 For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, just as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. 8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
4 For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, just as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. 8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Peter 4:14-19
14 If you be reproached for
the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 yet if any man suffer as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear? 19 Therefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator.
1 Peter 2:1-10
1 Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby: 3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto __ a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 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, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offenses, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby: 3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto __ a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 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, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offenses, even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Be you
not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion has light with darkness? 15 And
what concord has Christ with Belial? or what
part has he that believes with an
infidel? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God
with idols? for you are the temple of the living
God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore come out from among
them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons
and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Ephesians 2
1 And you has he given life, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conduct in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, just as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has given life to us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made close by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were close. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
1 And you has he given life, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conduct in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, just as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has given life to us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made close by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were close. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands
sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one
that names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.
1 John 1:9
Whosoever
is born of God does not commit sin;
for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Amen!
ANNEX
Recommended study of the history of the word
"church" in our English Bibles
Notice Wycliffe's translation of Matthew 16:18:
And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and on this stone I shall build my church (ecclesia), and the gates of hell shall not have power against it. [And I say to thee, for thou art Peter, and upon this stone I shall build my church, and the gates of hell shall not have might, or strength, against it.]
Notice Wycliffe's translation of Matthew 16:18:
And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and on this stone I shall build my church (ecclesia), and the gates of hell shall not have power against it. [And I say to thee, for thou art Peter, and upon this stone I shall build my church, and the gates of hell shall not have might, or strength, against it.]
Matthew 16:18
And I
saye also vnto the yt thou arte Peter: and apon this rocke I wyll bylde my congregacion
(ecclesia). And the gates of hell shall not prevayle ageynst it.
Some history about Tyndale:
Controversy over New Words and Phrases
Some history about Tyndale:
Controversy over New Words and Phrases
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyndale#Controversy_over_new_words_and_phrases
Bretrayal and Death
Bretrayal and Death
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyndale#Betrayal_and_death
Other Recommendations:
The Correct Meaning of Church and Ecclesia
Other Recommendations:
The Correct Meaning of Church and Ecclesia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyxbRJ0vvAU
Legliz Jezi Bati A
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2019/06/legliz-jezi-bati-a.html
Trouver l'Église que Jésus a Bâtie Face au Puissant Mirage de l'Église Catholique
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2020/02/trouver-leglise-que-jesus-batie-face-au.html
The Bible Speaks about the Wicked (Sinners) and the Righteous (Saints)
Legliz Jezi Bati A
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2019/06/legliz-jezi-bati-a.html
Trouver l'Église que Jésus a Bâtie Face au Puissant Mirage de l'Église Catholique
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2020/02/trouver-leglise-que-jesus-batie-face-au.html
The Bible Speaks about the Wicked (Sinners) and the Righteous (Saints)
Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
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