is not the Rock of Ages, Christ is. And for Christ to entrust something as important as his church to someone as unfinished as Peter was, would be taking great risks, for much depends on the the foundation on which rests that church. He is the Rock and Cornerstone, Almighty Adonai, King of Kings and El Shaddai.
Don't come back at me and quote Matthew 16:18, for the following reason.
"In secular Greek ptra denotes a large 'rock,' but also a 'cliff'; or 'rocky mountain chain.' Figuratively it suggests firmness, immovability, and hardness. ptros is more often used for smaller rocks, stones, or pebbles."
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, by Geoffrey W. Bromily. 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Peter was a rolling stone.
And guess whose name is 'Petros'.
Rome says that the reason Peter is called petros is because petros is the masculine form of the feminine noun petra (meaning 'rock'), and it was fitting that Peter's name should be masculine. However, I have never seen them offer an explanation for why the feminine petra is always used in the Scriptures to refer to Christ, but never the masculine petros, which is only used to refer to Peter. I believe it is because, by definition, petra more accurately typifies Christ, while petros more accurately typifies Peter. It is upon the petra that Christ is building his Church.
by J. Michael Gainor
Quoted from: Upon this Rock
http://JMGainor.Homestead.comGoogle UPON THIS ROCK, the http doesn't want to work for me.
Try it out, you will learn something.
This message has been edited by PecosGeorge, 07-17-2004 03:04 PM
"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit!"
2 Cor. 7:1