Is Peter the Rock?

Peter is the rock upon which Jesus built His Church (Matthew 16:18). But our Protestant friends object, saying that only Jesus is the rock. Two verses of Scripture are offered as proof: “Who but our God is the rock” (Psalm 18:32) and “All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4).

At first glance it appears they have a point. But with a little investigation, we see that the Catholic view is the proper one. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says: “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.” So, Jesus is the only foundation upon which we can build. But in Ephesians 2:19-20 we read: “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus himself as the capstone.”

So, what gives? There can be no foundation other than Jesus. But the Bible tells us the household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Is there a contradiction here? No, not at all. The point here is that Jesus created His Church to continue the work He started. Thus, it would have to possess His authority. He is the rock and foundation in the ultimate sense. Those He chooses can be rock and foundation in a subordinate manner. Since He works through them, their authority is His authority.

We are members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Jesus is the head of the body. The head works through the body. We all have different functions (1 Corinthians 12:27-31). Because God is a God of order, (1 Corinthians 14:33) His Church is hierarchical. Since Jesus no longer walks the earth physically, He has chosen to have a visible head through which He can work. The idea that the body of Christ has no visible head is unseemly and unbiblical. And as we have seen, the headless model results in ever-increasing division. And that contradicts Jesus wish that we be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:21). We know that God’s word will not return to Him void. As Scripture tells us it shall do His will, achieving the end for which he sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, if Jesus said Peter is the rock, Peter is the rock.

Next Week: Did Jesus Condemn Tradition?