The meaning of “Upon the church I will build my Church”.

The Founding of the Universal Church

Mat 16:18  

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Various Interpretations:

- Peter

- Peter's confession

- to Christ

- the Apostles.

The most natural interpretation of the text

"You are Peter, and on you....", "on you Peter, I will build my church"

Some claim that the Greek word for Peter and Rock were different, but Jesus probably spoke in Aramaic, and in this case, the word would have been the same!

So what does it mean that Peter is the Foundation of the church?

Mat 16

18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

It seems like Peter is Given quite a lot of authority! Or??

The Apostles as the Foundation of the Church?

If we go further in the gospel of Matthew, as Jesus is talking to all his disciples (Mat 18:1)

Mat 18:18

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

In a mysterious way the Apostles are the foundation of the church similarly mysterious to the Election of Israel.

Concluding

Many passages seem to hint Christ is the Rock of the church:

1 Cor. 10:4; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8

The church is founded on Christ and the Apostles.

Eph 2:20 - built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone