The Meaning of the Rock
Throughout church history, there has been discussion and debate on exactly what Jesus meant when he said, ‘on this rock I will build my church’ (Matt. 16:28). The cliff face in Caesarea Philippi that was used for centuries in idol worship provides yet another metaphor for the ‘rock’ Jesus mentioned. In this setting, the ‘rock’ can mean the ‘rock’ of pagan values and dead idolatry that was so prominent in Caesarea Philippi. Jesus, then, was saying that his church would replace those values.
Two other viewpoints within the traditional understanding of the meaning of the ‘rock’ are:
1) The ‘rock’ is the confession of Peter that is Christ (i.e., Christ, the Son of the living God, is the foundation of the church. See Acts 4:10-11 and 1 Cor. 3:10-15).2) The ‘rock’ is Peter, whose confession on behalf of the other disciples encouraged the truth that Jesus is Messiah.
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Upcoming Tours
We would love to walk with you in the Holy Land. Here are upcoming opportunities:
Nov 01 — Nov 15, 2020 Walking with the PatriarchsLed by George DeJong |
Spring 2021 Israel in DepthLed by George DeJong |
Summer 2021 Ancient Paths to Modern LeadershipLed by George DeJong |
Sep 18 — Oct 02, 2021 Israel & Turkey in DepthLed by George DeJong |
Fall 2021 Through the RoofLed by George DeJong |