On this ROCK/Peter I will build my church vs Jesus is the CORNERSTONE

tonychanyt said:

I will attempt a historical-grammatical analysis of the title verses.
Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:

BDAG:
① bedrock or massive rock formations, rock as distinguished from stones
Jesus used a Greek pun of Πέτρος (Peter) and πέτρᾳ (rock). He graciously used this metaphor, comparing Peter with the church's bedrock.
What did Peter think of this bedrock metaphor?
Nothing much. After he denied Jesus, he learned humility. Instead of identifying himself as the church's bedrock, he always pointed to Jesus as the cornerstone.
The Sanhedrin seized Peter and John. Peter told them in Acts 4:

Strong's Greek: 3037. λίθος (lithos) — 59 Occurrences
This stone was not some rock in the wild.
BDAG:
②ⓐ of stones used in building

BDAG:
① the part of the body that contains the brain, head
② a being of high status, head
ⓑ of things the uppermost part, extremity, end, point, the cornerstone
In ancient construction, the cornerstone was the first stone laid for a structure, often in a corner. It was carefully selected, shaped, and placed because the rest of the building was oriented and aligned according to this stone. Its placement was critical, as it ensured the stability and accuracy of the building’s foundation and structure. Note the order:

1. cornerstone
2. foundation
3. the rest of the up-ground structure.

Peter was not the cornerstone.

Peter recognized that Jesus was the foremost stone and the cornerstone (head). This head stone would be followed by other stones.
1 Peter 2:

Christians are living stones of the spiritual house of God.

Once again, Jesus was the cornerstone, as prophesied in Is 28:16.
Eph 2:

1. Jesus was the cornerstone (head).
2. The apostles (Peter) and prophets were the foundation according to the ancient building construction order.
3. Christians are living stones of this holy temple in the Lord.

In terms of modern building construction, Jesus is the foundation, symbolized by the ancient cornerstone.

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Spiritual Jew said:

Yes, Jesus is the cornerstone of the church and the apostles and prophets, of which Peter was just one, were the foundation (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Putting Peter on a pedestal as the Catholic Church does is an insult to the true Rock and cornerstone of the church, Jesus Christ. The word "rock" in Matthew 16:18 is translated from the Greek word "petra" which refers to a large rock. So, Jesus was no doubt talking about Himself and was likely pointing at Himself when He said "upon this rock I will build my church". He was contrasting Himself with Peter there as the word "Peter" is "petros" in Greek and refers to a smaller rock or stone than the Rock (petra) and cornerstone, Jesus Christ, that the church is built upon . Peter is just one of the apostles and prophets that are the foundation of the church and there is no basis for elevating him above the others as the Catholic Church does.

The same Greek word "petra" that is translated as "rock" in Matthew 16:18 is used in 1 Corinthians 10:4.

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock (petra) that followed them: and that Rock (petra) was Christ.

And in 1 Peter 2:8 which refers to Jesus as "a rock that makes them fall".

1 Peter 2:7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock (petra) that makes them fall.”

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rturner76 said:

My only comment is the two terms are not opposed to each other. Like the parable of the house build on the sand or on a Rock. The cornerstone is set upon the Rock rather than the sand. Symbolically, that would seem to mean that the cornerstone of what would be the new Universal Church was set upon the Rock who would take over the leadership of the Church. The self-same Church that is laid upon the Cornerstone who is Christ.

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