Peter the Rock A Seventh-day Adventist friend says that Saint Peter was not appointed as Pope and leader of the church here on earth. How do I answer her?

Let’s now look at the scripture for guidance. “ And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,“ (Mt 16:18). Typically, your Adventist friend will tell you that you do not understand the Greek language, if you did you would understand that Jesus is making a comparison between a large rock petra and a pebble petros .

Let’s now look at the scripture for guidance.

“ And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,“ (Mt 16:18).

Typically, your Adventist friend will tell you that you do not understand the Greek language, if you did you would understand that Jesus is making a comparison between a large rock petra and a pebble petros .

Let’s turn to an authoritative Protestant source for clarification of the terms petra and petros. The name Peter means ‘Rock’, and Jesus played on this meaning to designate Peter as the foundation of the new people of God. His leadership would involve the authority of a steward, whose keys symbolized his responsibility to regulate the affairs of the household. Peter would exercise his leadership by his authority to declare what is and is not permissible in the kingdom ( D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition , 4th ed.) We can go on to point out that in the first century Greek petros and petra were considered synonyms.

Let’s turn to an authoritative Protestant source for clarification of the terms petra and petros.

The name Peter means ‘Rock’, and Jesus played on this meaning to designate Peter as the foundation of the new people of God. His leadership would involve the authority of a steward, whose keys symbolized his responsibility to regulate

the affairs of the household. Peter would exercise his leadership by his authority to declare what is and is not permissible in the kingdom ( D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition , 4th ed.)

We can go on to point out that in the first century Greek petros and petra were considered synonyms.

In order to find a difference between the two words we have to go to the Greek dialect of Attic but the New Testament was translated into the Koine dialect. In the Koine dialect both petros and petra simply mean “rock.” If Jesus wanted to call Peter a small stone or a pebble the word lithos would have been used. The next thing to point out was that the New Testament was not only written in Greek but parts were in Aramaic the common language of the people. Many hold that Matthew’s Gospel was written in Aramaic and later translated into Greek most likely by Matthew himself. Jesus spoke Aramaic and the Aramaic words appear in the Gospel. Paul also uses Aramaic in his writings.

In order to find a difference between the two words we have to go to the Greek dialect of Attic but the New Testament was translated into the Koine dialect.

In the Koine dialect both petros and petra simply mean “rock.”

If Jesus wanted to call Peter a small stone or a pebble the word lithos would have been used.

The next thing to point out was that the New

Testament was not only written in Greek but parts were in Aramaic the common language of the people.

Many hold that Matthew’s Gospel was written in Aramaic and later translated into Greek most likely by Matthew himself.

Jesus spoke Aramaic and the Aramaic words appear in the Gospel.

Paul also uses Aramaic in his writings.

Cephas is a transliteration of the Aramaic word kepha. What does kepha mean? Rock, the same as petra. Therefore what Jesus said to Peter in Mt. 16:18 is “You are Kepha, and upon this kepha I will build my Church.” Jesus wasn’t contrasting the two forms of rock. In Greek petra is the female form of the male petros and in order to make sense in the Koine dialect and follow the grammatical the male and female forms of Rock needed to be used and were interchangeable.

Cephas is a transliteration of the Aramaic word kepha.

What does kepha mean?

Rock, the same as petra.

Therefore what Jesus said to Peter in Mt. 16:18 is “You are Kepha, and upon this kepha I will build my Church.”

Jesus wasn’t contrasting the two forms of rock. In Greek petra is the female form of the male petros and in order to make sense in the Koine dialect and follow the grammatical the male and female forms of Rock needed to be used and were interchangeable.

Jesus has made Peter the chief steward or prime minister under the King of Kings. For further clarification ask your friend to read Isaiah 22:22 to you. 22 I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.(Is 22:22). If we back up one verse we see Jesus has made Peter the father figure with authority over the household, the Church. You final suggestion should be to read John 21:15-17 which say:

Jesus has made Peter the chief steward or prime minister under the King of Kings.

For further clarification ask your friend to read Isaiah 22:22 to you.

22 I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.(Is 22:22).

If we back up one verse we see Jesus has made

Peter the father figure with authority over the household, the Church.

You final suggestion should be to read John 21:15-17 which say:

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep. Clearly these are instructions were given to a church leader. When the passage is translated from the original Aramaic, to Greek and then to English it becomes clear Peter has been appointed as “papa” or “father” as it is used in Greek, Latin and Italian. The Pope, the successor of Peter and is then the spiritual “father” of our family.

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Clearly these are instructions were given to a church leader.

When the passage is translated from the original Aramaic, to Greek and then to English it becomes clear Peter has been appointed as “papa” or “father” as it is used in Greek, Latin and Italian.

The Pope, the successor of Peter and is then the spiritual “father” of our family.

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