The Chosen TV Series and Peter, the Rock

It will be interesting to see how the Chosen, season 4, will portray the Matthew 16 scene at Caesarea Philippi. The trailer for the upcoming season shows that this dialogue between Peter and Jesus will take place with the backdrop of a massive stone cliff with a pagan Temple of Caesar Augustus and to the Roman god, Pan. The set design seems to be historically on point as it features the cave containing an ‘endless pit’ where human sacrifice was conducted. Babies were thrown into the pit as an offering to the god Pan, a Roman deity. This is what Jesus referred to as the ‘Gates of Hell’. His message was that the rulers of this world and the pagan, idolatry will be overthrown and replaced by the Kingdom of God.

One of the most contentious points that Catholic apologists make about the institution of the papacy, the charism of papal infallibility and the primacy of Peter is through citing Matthew 16. It’s the only time Jesus uses the word church and it is here that Simon is said to have been given a new name- Peter. Simon-Peter is then given the keys of the kingdom and the power to ‘bind’ and ‘loose’ (rule and judge) in the Church. 

Much ink has been spilled by both Catholic and Protestants on this critical issue. For Catholics, It is clearly about the institution of the papacy and the primacy of Peter as he emerges from the rest of the apostles. It is also a prophecy or promise about divine protection over the Church and that the Church will not, in the end,  be defeated by her enemies (within or without).

Some Protestants claim the word “rock" is a reference to Christ as ‘The Cornerstone’ or the ‘Word of God’ as a spiritual foundation stone. If they claim that Peter is the Rock on which the Church is built, then they would have to explain why they protested against the papacy and the indestructible Church which they rejected. 

There are weighty theological implications and critical questions that are answered in this passage such as...

What is Jesus true identity?
Did Jesus intend to establish a Church? (What the Church His idea and not just a human invention?)
Did Jesus establish many churches?
Did the Church that Christ established have one human leader and one head of the Apostles?
Does that leader of the Church have the authority to govern: make laws that are binding and to allow certain freedoms?
Is that leader given God’s help (grace) in leading and teaching?
Will the Church survive until the end of time no matter what?

Peter’s Confession About Jesus (Mt 16:13-20)

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi  he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

So far the Chosen has managed to attract a large Catholic audience. So how will the Chosen portray this scene with heavy ecclesial and theological implications? Will they follow the Scripture which is clearly a re-naming of Simon to Peter (petros which is Greek for rock and later, Cephas which means large foundation stone) and an installment of Peter’s governing office, keys and all? Or will they build in dialogue to suggest that the rock on which the Church is built is something or someone other than Peter? If they do, they run the risk of alienating informed Catholics. 

I’m looking forward to seeing how this ecumenical tightrope act will play out in the upcoming season.

click here for follow up article after viewing the episode ...https://www.catholic365.com/article/39234/the-chosen-and-peter-the-rock-recap.html