But I also tell you that you are Peter; and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
16:18
— And I also tell you, that you are Pedro, — Gr. and on this rock Gr. .
THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL. “The gates of Hades” represent Satan and all the evil in the world who strive to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.
(1) This passage does not mean that any particular believer, local church, group of churches, or denomination will ever fall into immorality, doctrinal error, or apostasy. Jesus himself predicted that many will fall away from the faith, and he warns churches that are abandoning the NT faith to turn from their sin or they will be locked out of his kingdom (Matt 24:10-11; Rev 2:5; Rev 2:12-29; Rev 3:1-6; Rev 3:14-16; see 1Ti 4:1footnote, and the PERSONAL APOSTASY ARTICLE, P. 1774. ). The promise of v. Matt 16:18 it does not apply to those who deny the faith or to lukewarm churches.
(2) What Christ means is that the church will not be destroyed, even if Satan does what he wants, apostasy occurs among believers, churches become lukewarm, and false teachers infiltrate the kingdom of God. By his sovereign grace, wisdom, and power, God will always have a remnant of believers and churches throughout redemptive history who will remain faithful to the original gospel of Christ and the apostles, and will experience the fellowship of God, the lordship of Christ. , and the power of the Holy Spirit. As true people of God, they will demonstrate the power of the kingdom and the Holy Spirit against Satan, sin, disease, the worldly and the demonic. It is that church that Satan and all his armies cannot destroy or stand against.
Source: Full Life Study Bible
ARTICLE.
Church.
Matt 16:18 And I also tell you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
The Greek word ekklésia (church) refers to the meeting of a called and summoned people. In the NT it designates in the first place the congregation of the people of God in Christ, who gathers in their capacity as citizens of the kingdom of God (Eph 2:19) for the purpose of worshiping God. The word “church” can refer to the local church (Matt 18:17; Acts 15:4) or the universal church (Matt 16:18; Ac 20:28; Eph 2:21-22).
(1) The church is presented as the people of God (1Co 1:2; 1Co 10:32; 1Pe 2:4-10), the body of redeemed believers that exists by the death of Christ (1Pe 1:18-19). It is a pilgrim town that no longer belongs to this land (Hebrews 13:12-14), whose first function is to persevere as a community in a living and personal relationship with God (1Pe 2:5; see Hebrews 11:6note).
(2) The church is a people called out (Gr. ekkaleo) from the world and into the kingdom of God. Separation from the world is inherent in the nature of the church and is rewarded by having the Lord as one’s God and Father (2Co 6:16-18; see ARTICLE THE SPIRITUAL SEPARATION OF BELIEVERS, P. 1654. )
(3) The church is the temple of God and of the Holy Spirit (see 1Co 3:16note; 2Co 6:14-18; 2Co 7:1; Eph 2:11-22; 1Pe 2:4-10). That truth about the church demands that it separate itself from worldly injustice and immorality.
(4) The church is the body of Christ (1Co 6:15; 1Co 10:16-17; 1Co 12:12-27). That image indicates that there is no genuine church apart from the vital union of the members with Christ. The head of the body is Christ (Eph 1:22; Eph 4:15; Eph 5:23; Col 1:18).
(5) The church is the bride of Christ (2Co 11:2; Eph 5:22-27; Rev 19:7-9). That image of marriage highlights the church’s devotion and fidelity to Christ and Christ’s love and familiarity with his church.
(6) The church is a spiritual fellowship (Gk. koinonia) (2Co 13:14; Phil 2:1). That encompasses the indwelling of the Spirit (Luke 11:13; Joh 7:37-39; Joh 20:22), the unity of the Spirit (Eph 4:4) and baptism in the Spirit (Acts 1:5; Acts 2:4; Acts 8:14-17; Ac 10:44; Acts 19:1-7). The fellowship must demonstrate visible love and care for one another (Joh 13:34-35).
(7) The church is a spiritual ministry (Gr. diakonia). Serve through the use of the gifts (Gr. charismata) conferred by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6; 1Co 1:7; 1Co 12:4-11; 1Co 12:28-31; Eph 4:11).
(8) The church is an army engaged in spiritual conflict. Fight with the sword and the power of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). The church is in a spiritual warfare against Satan and sin (see ARTICLE THE KINGDOM OF GOD, P. 1302. ). The Spirit, with which the church is filled, is like a warrior who wields the living Word of God, to free people from Satan’s rule and conquer all power of this dark world (Ac 26:18; Eph 6:10-18; Hebrews 4:12; Rev 1:16; Rev 2:16; Rev 19:15; Rev 19:21).
(9) The church is the column and bulwark of the truth (1Ti 3:15), which supports the truth as a foundation supports a building. She has to uphold the truth and keep it safe, defending it against misrepresenters and false teachers (see Phil 1:16note; Jude 1:3note).
(10) The church is a people with a future hope. That hope is centered on Christ’s return for his people (see Joh 14:3note; 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:8; Tit 2:13; Hebrews 9:28; and ARTICLE THE RAPTURE, P. 1724. ).
(11) The church is invisible and visible,
(a) The invisible church is made up of true believers united by their living faith in Christ (see ARTICLE FAITH AND GRACE, P. 1582. ).
(b) The visible church is made up of the local congregations made up of faithful overcomers (Rev 2:11; Rev 2:17; Rev 2:26; see Rev 2:7note) as well as by those who claim to be believers, but are liars (Rev 2:2), they have fallen (Rev 2:5), they are spiritually dead (Rev 3:1) and are warm (Rev 3:16; see Matt 13:24note; Acts 12:5Note on the Fundamental Characteristics of a New Testament Church).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
on this rock. The word for Peter, “Petros”, means small rock (Joh 1:42). Jesus here used a play on words with petra, which means foundation stone (Cp. Matt 7:24-25). Since the NT makes it clear that Christ is both the foundation stone (Acts 4:11-12; 1Co 3:11) like the head (Eph 5:23) of the Church, it is a mistake to think that any of the apostles could fulfill a founding role in the Church (Eph 2:20), since the role of primacy is reserved solely for Christ and not for Peter. Jesus’ words here are best interpreted as a simple play on words in which a foundational truth comes from the mouth of one who is called a little rock. Peter himself explains the figure of speech in his first epistle: the Church is made up of “living stones” (1Pe 2:5) who, like Peter, confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Christ himself is the “cornerstone” (1Pe 2:6-7). church. The Gospel of Matthew is the only one where this term is mentioned (see also Matt 18:17). Christ calls it “my church,” emphasizing that He is its only architect, builder, owner, and Lord. The Greek word for church means “called out.” While God was gathering from the beginning of redemptive history those who were to be redeemed by grace, the only Church that He promised to build began at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, with which the Lord baptized believers belonging to the Church. to his body, that is, his Church (see Acts 2:1-4; 1Co 12:12-13). the gates of Hades. Hades is the place of punishment for the spirits of unbelievers already dead. You get here through death. Therefore, this is a Jewish phrase to refer to death. Even death, the last weapon of Satan (Cp. Hebrews 2:14-15), has no power to stop the Church. The blood of the martyrs has, in fact, fueled the Church’s growth in size and spiritual power.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
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There are many valid arguments refuting Peter’s supposed pre-eminence (which, of course, he never claimed for himself): (1) If Jesus had meant that the church would be built on Peter, he would have said, “Thou art Peter and on Peter.” I will build my church.” He only reminds him of the nickname “Peter” that he had given him (Jua 1:42, his name is Simon), to refer to the character that he would later have, not perfect but solid; (2) Mat 18:1-35, “:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” If Christ intended to choose Peter as prince of the apostles, he would have answered that Peter was the greatest in the kingdom; (3) Acts 8:1-40, “14 When the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John there.” Did they send the “Pope”? (4) Acts 11:1-30, “2 And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision argued with him, 3 saying, Why have you entered the house of uncircumcised men, and eaten with them?” Did they argue with the “Pope”? Didn’t they know he was infallible? (5) When the apostles and elders met to examine the controversy about imposing the law of Moses on the Gentile brothers (Acts 15:1-41), without a doubt Peter would have presided, or rather, he would have once and for all resolved the issue without the need for such an assembly; (6) Gal 2:1-21, “11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him face to face, because he was to be condemned.” Would Paul have dared to publicly rebuke the “Pope” of the church? (7) In writing two letters Peter did not write as the “Pope”; (8) Rom 1:1-32, “11 For I desire to see you, to communicate some spiritual gift to you, so that you may be confirmed.” If Peter was the “Pope of Rome” why did Paul need to go to Rome to communicate some gift to confirm the brothers?
Eph 2:1-22, “20 built…