Mini Exegetical Paper

By Melecio B. Gasmen Jr.

Topic: “The Rock and the Role: An Exegetical Examination of Matthew 16:18, 19 and the

Authority of Peter in the Early Church”

Key text(s): “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,

and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of

heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on

earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18, 19, NKJV).

Introduction

One of the most debated topics in the Bible revolves around the question of to whom

Jesus Christ committed the keys of heaven, whether it was to “petros” or “petra.” This question

arises from the passage in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus says, “And I tell you that you are Peter,

and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The

Roman Catholic Church claims that Peter was the first Pope and the successor of Christ,
asserting that he is Christ’s vicar, the visible and infallible head of the church, with authority

over all the other apostles and the entire church. These claims are based on their interpretation of

the verses found in Matthew 16:18,19. In this mini exegetical paper, we will carefully examine

these verses and seek to understand what Jesus truly meant.

Body

Meaning of “Petros” and “Petra”

The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and according to the Greek text, the

words “Peter” and “rock” used by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 are two distinct words with different

meanings. “Peter,” or “petros,”1 means “a piece of rock, a stone, movable, insecure, shifting, or

rolling.” On the other hand, “rock,” or “petra,”2 means “a rock, a cliff, a projecting rock, mother

rock, huge mass, solid formation, fixed, immovable.” So, the question arises, on which of these

two, “petros” or “petra,” did Christ establish His church? The text itself provides clarity: “Thou

art Peter [petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall

not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). It is evident from this verse that the church of Christ is

built on “petra” and not on “petros.” Theologically, the rock on which Christ built His true
1
Johnson, Robert A. The Meaning of Matthew 16:18 “and the Gates of Hades Shall Not Prevail Against It”. (New
York: Theological Publications, 2017), 72. Johnson explains that the Greek word “petros” refers to a smaller stone
or pebble, highlighting Peter’s role as a disciple within the larger context of Christ’s church.

2
France, R.T. The Gospel of Matthew. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007), 363. France supports the interpretation that
“petra” refers to a massive rock or bedrock, whereas “petros” denotes a smaller stone or pebble. According to
France, Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 16:18 indicates that the church is established on the unshakeable foundation
of Jesus Himself, rather than on the human frailty of Peter.
church is Jesus Himself. This is affirmed by the Bible, where it says, “They drank of that

spiritual Rock [petra] that followed them, and that Rock [petra] was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Peter’s Testimony

In 1 Peter 2:8, Peter refers to Jesus as the “stone of stumbling and a rock [petra] of

offense.” Both Peter and Paul agree that Christ is the Rock upon which God builds His church. If

Jesus intended to build His church on Peter, He would have said, “Thou art petros, and upon this

petros I will build My church.” However, this is not the case; He clearly says, “Thou art petros,

and upon this petra I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Therefore, it is evident that Peter is

not the foundation of the church, but Jesus alone.

Authority and Forgiveness of Sin

Contrary to the claims of the Roman Catholic Church, Jesus did not give Peter

ecclesiastical authority to forgive sins or to sell indulgences. Jesus charged His disciples to

preach the remission of sin in His name among all nations, but they themselves were not

empowered to remove stains of sin from people. Jesus did not establish the papacy as the

foundation of the church, granting authority to forgive sins. Only God, the heavenly Pardoner,

has the authority to forgive sins. This is supported by various passages in the Bible. For instance,

in Mark 2:7, the scribes questioned Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, to which Jesus responded by

demonstrating His authority as the Son of God. Additionally, in 1 John 1:9, it is written, “If we

confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” This shows that forgiveness of sins is obtained through confession to God, not

through an intermediary like the Pope or any human authority.

The Role of Peter and the Apostles

While Peter was a significant figure among the apostles, it is important to recognize that

Jesus did not confer upon him exclusive authority or primacy over the other apostles. In fact, in

Matthew 18:18, Jesus speaks to all the disciples, not just Peter, saying, “Truly I tell you,

whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be

loosed in heaven.” This statement indicates that all the apostles were granted the authority to

bind and loose, symbolizing their role in proclaiming the gospel and making decisions in the

early church.

Furthermore, in Ephesians 2:20, the apostles and prophets are referred to as the

foundation of the church, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. This further emphasizes

the collective role of the apostles in establishing the church, rather than singling out Peter as the

sole foundation.

Conclusion

Based on a careful examination of the texts, it is clear that Jesus’ statement in Matthew

16:18 and 19 does not establish Peter as the foundation of the church or confer upon him
exclusive authority. Rather, Jesus is the rock (petra) upon which the church is built, and Peter,

along with the other apostles, played a vital role in the establishment and spreading of the gospel.

The authority to forgive sins resides with God alone, and the concept of papal supremacy and

infallibility finds no basis in this passage.