Hi guys,
I just listened to a tape by Scott Hahn dealing with the papacy. And I just wanted to share what I've come across.
In Matt 16:18-19, 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
There's a few things to note here:
1) Peter in Greek is 'petros'. HOWEVER, rock in Greek is 'petra'. Protestants look at that and say that there's a discrepency, so they say that when Jesus said 'on this rock' it's referring not to Peter, but to someone else.
So why the difference? Simple. Petros is a masculine noun, whereas petra is a feminine noun. Why is this important?
Here's why: Protesteants go on to say that 'petros' is basically like a small pebble, like a throwing stone, something insignificant. However, the 'petra' feminine counterpart is defined as a MASSIVE rock. This is where they say the 'rock' is referring to Jesus, not Peter.
So why the Greek feminine and masculine emphasis on rock and peter? Simple: It's highly unlikely that the translator would allow Peter to have a 'feminine' name. I guess it's like the distinction between Joseph and Josephine!! LOL =) Thus Peter in Greek is Petros, not Petra.
Also, in Aramaic, the language Jesus and Peter probably spoke, there is no masculine and feminine noun for rock. In Aramaic, 'rock' is 'rock' (if you get my drift!) =)
So the fact is, the use of 'rock' and 'Peter' are referring to one and the same thing.
2) Jesus is talk'n to Peter, and in every instance of 'you' it's obvious that Jesus is talking to Peter. I guess this is self-evident =)
Also....
I had no idea that Matt 16:19 is almost a quotation of Isaiah 22:22! Hahn goes on to explain that in Isaiah 22 Sheba was prime minister, but was being replaced by Eliakim. So Eliakim was given authority (Is 22:21), and as a result he was given the 'key of the house of david' by King Hezekiah, one of the sons of David. In fact, Isaiah 22:21 even goes on to say that Eliakim would be called a 'father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem'!
Likewise, In Matt 16:18-19, Jesus, the Son of David, entrusts Peter with the keys of the Kingdom of God! No wonder the Pope is the Holy Father!! Because the Kingdom of God is clearly foreshadowed with David's kingdom =)
This is neat stuff!!
God bless!
-Jason
I just listened to a tape by Scott Hahn dealing with the papacy. And I just wanted to share what I've come across.
In Matt 16:18-19, 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
There's a few things to note here:
1) Peter in Greek is 'petros'. HOWEVER, rock in Greek is 'petra'. Protestants look at that and say that there's a discrepency, so they say that when Jesus said 'on this rock' it's referring not to Peter, but to someone else.
So why the difference? Simple. Petros is a masculine noun, whereas petra is a feminine noun. Why is this important?
Here's why: Protesteants go on to say that 'petros' is basically like a small pebble, like a throwing stone, something insignificant. However, the 'petra' feminine counterpart is defined as a MASSIVE rock. This is where they say the 'rock' is referring to Jesus, not Peter.
So why the Greek feminine and masculine emphasis on rock and peter? Simple: It's highly unlikely that the translator would allow Peter to have a 'feminine' name. I guess it's like the distinction between Joseph and Josephine!! LOL =) Thus Peter in Greek is Petros, not Petra.
Also, in Aramaic, the language Jesus and Peter probably spoke, there is no masculine and feminine noun for rock. In Aramaic, 'rock' is 'rock' (if you get my drift!) =)
So the fact is, the use of 'rock' and 'Peter' are referring to one and the same thing.
2) Jesus is talk'n to Peter, and in every instance of 'you' it's obvious that Jesus is talking to Peter. I guess this is self-evident =)
Also....
I had no idea that Matt 16:19 is almost a quotation of Isaiah 22:22! Hahn goes on to explain that in Isaiah 22 Sheba was prime minister, but was being replaced by Eliakim. So Eliakim was given authority (Is 22:21), and as a result he was given the 'key of the house of david' by King Hezekiah, one of the sons of David. In fact, Isaiah 22:21 even goes on to say that Eliakim would be called a 'father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem'!
Likewise, In Matt 16:18-19, Jesus, the Son of David, entrusts Peter with the keys of the Kingdom of God! No wonder the Pope is the Holy Father!! Because the Kingdom of God is clearly foreshadowed with David's kingdom =)
This is neat stuff!!
God bless!
-Jason