The Church Fathers: Peter Is the Rock

 ECCLESIOLOGY

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are
the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you,
Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly
Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the
kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16, 16-19

My Explications of the Patristic Texts

Tertullian (c. 200 A.D.)
Prescription against Heretics
Chapter 22. Attempt to Invalidate This Rule of Faith Rebutted.
The Apostles Safe Transmitters of the Truth.
Sufficiently Taught at First, and Faithful in the Transmission.

“The evidence is so close at hand that nothing would be left to discuss if it were immediately
presented. Let’s temporarily give in to the opposing argument if they believe they can disprove
this rule, as if we had no evidence to support it. They often argue that the apostles did not know
everything. But in doing so, they contradict themselves by suggesting that the apostles did know
everything but chose not to share it with everyone, which would imply that Christ made a
mistake in sending out apostles who were either too ignorant or not sincere enough. Who, in their
right mind, could believe that the apostles were ignorant of anything? After all, the Lord
personally instructed them and explained everything to them when they were alone, indicating
that they had knowledge of mysteries that were not meant for the general public to understand.
Do you think anything was kept from Peter, who was called the rock on which the church would
be built, and who was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the power to bind and loose
in heaven and on earth?”

The text responds to those who argue against the apostolic authority of the early Christian church. Tertullian asserts that the apostles knew everything and were not ignorant, as some skeptics suggest. He points out that the apostles were chosen by Christ himself to be masters and that they were kept inseparable from him in their attendance, discipleship, and society. He further notes that Christ often revealed to the apostles things that were obscure to others and that he told them that to them, it was given to know those mysteries which it was not permitted the people to understand. The author asks if anything would be concealed from Peter, who was called the rock on which the church should be built, and who obtained the keys to the kingdom of heaven, with the power of loosing and binding in heaven and on earth? Would anything be hidden from John, the Lord’s most beloved disciple, who leaned on Christ’s breast and to whom Christ pointed out Judas as the traitor and commended to Mary as a son in his own stead?

Tertullian contends Christ showed his glory to his apostles with Moses, Elias, and the Father’s voice from heaven. He maintains that Christ approved of the other apostles but kept the number of witnesses to three so that every word would be established. He concludes that those who reject the scripture cannot belong to the Holy Spirit, as they cannot acknowledge that the Holy Ghost was sent to the disciples. Tertullian asserts that these skeptics cannot claim to be a church since they cannot prove when and with what swaddling clothes this body was established. He emphasizes that it is essential for these skeptics not to have any proof for the things they maintain, lest, along with them, damaging disclosures of those things they mendaciously devise are introduced.

Hippolytus (ante A.D. 235)
The Discourse on the Holy Theophany, 9

“This is the Spirit that moved upon the waters in the beginning; the Spirit by whom the world
moves, creation exists, and all things have life. This is the Spirit who worked mightily in the
prophets and descended upon Christ. The apostles received this Spirit in the form of fiery tongues.
David sought this Spirit when he said, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
within me.’ Gabriel also spoke of this Spirit to the Virgin, saying, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon
you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you.’ Peter spoke the blessed word by this
Spirit, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ The rock of the Church was established by
this Spirit. This is the Spirit, the Comforter, who is sent because of you, to show that you are the
Son of God.”

This text speaks about the Holy Spirit and its role in the creation, sustenance, and life of all things. The Spirit is described as the same force that moved upon the waters at the beginning of creation, and it is by this Spirit that the world continues to move and all living things have life. The Spirit is also said to have worked powerfully through the prophets and descended upon Christ. The text also mentions how the apostles were given this same Spirit, which appeared to them as fiery tongues. David also seeks this Spirit to create a clean heart and renew his right spirit. Gabriel is said to have spoken of this Spirit to the Virgin, telling her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you.” It is also mentioned that Peter spoke the blessed words “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” through this same Spirit, and it was by this Spirit that the rock of the Church was established. The Spirit is also called the Comforter, sent because of us to show us to be sons of God.

Cyprian of Carthage (A.D. 251)
On Church Unity, 4

“‘…You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church’… He builds the Church on Peter and entrusts him to feed the sheep. Although he gives similar power to all the apostles, he establishes a single Chair, demonstrating the source and symbol of the Church’s unity through his authority… If a person does not adhere to this unity of Peter, can they still claim to hold the faith? If they abandon the Chair of Peter on whom the Church was built, can they still be confident they are part of the Church?”

The text is an excerpt from a theological treatise that discusses the concept of unity in the Church. St. Cyprian argues that the unity of the Church is derived from its foundation on Peter, as Jesus stated in Matthew 16:18-19. Although Jesus gave all of His Apostles equal power, the author contends that unity was manifest by beginning from one. The other Apostles were similar to Peter in honor and power, but the origin of that unity came from one.

Cyprian cites the Canticle of Canticles, where the Holy Ghost designates the one Church as “My Dove, My perfect one, one is she to her mother, one to her that bare her.” He concludes that those who do not hold the unity of the Church cannot hold the Faith, and those who resist the Church cannot be confident that they are part of it. Overall, the text emphasizes the importance of unity in the Church and how it is derived from its foundation on Peter. Cyprian uses biblical passages to support their argument and highlight the necessity of holding the unity of the Church as a prerequisite for keeping the Faith.

Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 350)
Catechetical Lecture 11,3

Our Lord Jesus Christ once became man, but many people did not recognize him. To teach what was unknown, He gathered His disciples and asked them, “Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13). He did not ask this out of vanity but to reveal the truth to them. He wanted to prevent them while living with God, the only begotten of God, from thinking lightly of Him as if He were just an ordinary man. When they answered that, some said He was Elijah, and some said He was Jeremiah. He told them it was understandable for people to not know. Still, His disciples, who performed miracles in His name, should not be ignorant of Him through whom they did these wondrous works. When they all became silent (for the matter was too profound for mere mortals to comprehend), Peter, the foremost of the Apostles and chief proclaimer of the Church, not by clever invention or human reasoning, but through illumination from the Father, said to Him, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” A blessing followed Peter’s words, as it was truly above human understanding, and it confirmed that the Father had revealed it to him. For the Savior said, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17). Therefore, the one who acknowledges our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God shares in this blessedness, but the one who denies the Son of God is a poor and miserable person.

The text discusses the proof of faith in a short summary of the truth. The Lord speaks to Peter, stating that he is the rock upon which He will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The Lord also gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, allowing him to bind or loose anything on earth and in heaven. After His resurrection, the Lord again speaks to Peter and tells him to feed His sheep. While the Lord gives all the apostles equal power after His resurrection, He arranges the origin of unity by His authority, beginning from one. The rest of the apostles were also endowed with a similar partnership of honor and power as Peter, but the beginning proceeds from unity. The Holy Spirit in the Song of Songs designates this one Church in the person of our Lord, stating that it is but one. The Church is the only one of her mother, the elect of her, who bore her. The text also questions whether those who do not hold this unity of the Church think they keep the faith and whether those who resist the Church trust that they are in the Church.

The Apostle Paul teaches the same thing and sets forth the sacrament of unity, stating that there is one body, one spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. This text provides insight into the proof of faith in a short summary of the truth. The Lord speaks to Peter, portraying him as the rock upon which He will build His Church, and conveys that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The Lord gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, allowing him to bind or loose anything on earth and in heaven. After His resurrection, the Lord again speaks to Peter and instructs him to feed His sheep. Although the Lord gives all the apostles equal power after His resurrection, He arranges the origin of unity, beginning from one, to set forth unity. The rest of the apostles are similarly endowed with a partnership of honor and power as Peter, but the beginning proceeds from unity.

The Holy Spirit in the Song of Songs designates this one Church in the person of our Lord, stating that it is but one. The Church is the only one of her mother, the elect of her, who bore her. This text also raises the question of whether those who do not hold this unity of the Church think that they hold the faith and whether those who resist the Church trust that they are in the Church. The blessed Apostle Paul teaches the same thing and sets forth the sacrament of unity, stating that there is one body, one spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.

Ephraim of Syria (A.D. 373)
Homilies 706 4, 1

“Simon, My follower, I have made you the foundation of the Holy Church. I called you Peter
(Kepha) because you will support all its buildings. You are the inspector of those who will build
on earth a Church for me…I have given you the keys of my kingdom. Behold, have given you
authority over all my treasures.”

The text is a message from Jesus Christ to his follower, Simon, whom he has selected as the foundation of the Holy Church. In the message, Jesus explains that he has given Simon the name Peter, meaning “rock,” as he sees in him the unyielding support and strength required to sustain the weight of the Church’s mission. Simon is to oversee the construction of the Church on Earth and ensure that each building block aligns with Jesus’ teachings. Simon is the head of the fountain from which Jesus’ teachings flow, the leader of his disciples, and the chief of the Church. Through Simon, Jesus will nourish all peoples spiritually, quenching their thirst for knowledge and understanding.

Simon is also selected to serve as the firstborn or cornerstone of Jesus’ institution. As the executor of his treasures, he is responsible for safeguarding Jesus’ wisdom and ensuring that the Church remains true to its mission. Jesus has given Simon the keys to his kingdom, symbolizing his authority over all of Jesus’ treasures, the responsibility he bears for the salvation of humanity, and the trust he has placed in Simon to carry out his divine plan. Overall, the text conveys the immense importance of Simon’s role in the Church’s establishment and the trust that Jesus has placed in him to carry out his mission.

Ambrose of Milan (A.D. 397)
Commentary on Luke 6.98

“Try, my friend to be a rock. You will not find this rock outside you, but inside. Your rock is your
action; your rock is your spirit. Your house is built on this rock so that no hurricane of evil spirits
can topple it over. Your rock is the faith; faith is the foundation of the Church. If you are a rock,
you will be within the Church, for the Church rests on the rock. If you are in the Church, the gates
of Hell shall not prevail against you. The gates of Hell are death’s gates, and death’s gates cannot
be the entrance to the Church.”

St. Ambrose reflects on the significance of faith in Jesus Christ and the importance of Peter’s declaration of Christ’s identity as the Son of God. He emphasizes that knowing Christ and having faith in him is the church’s foundation. He further highlights the importance of being a rock, which means having solid and unwavering faith, a firm mind, and demonstrating good deeds. The author also draws attention to the fact that Christ shared his name with his disciples, demonstrating Christ’s grace towards them. When Christ called Peter “rock,” he recognized Peter’s faith and constancy and compared them to a rock, which is firm and steadfast. This recognition of Peter’s faith and constancy by Christ is a significant moment in the history of Christianity. The text encourages us to strive to be like Peter by placing our faith in Christ and being unwavering in our beliefs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of not relying on the opinions of others when it comes to faith. Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ of God, which showed his faith and belief in Christ’s divinity, incarnation, and passion.

Ambrose further emphasizes that to be a part of the church, we must conquer our flesh and imitate Peter’s faith and constancy. Even if we cannot equal Peter, we can still follow in his footsteps and be the church’s foundation. The author encourages us to try to be a rock, which means having solid faith, a firm mind, and good deeds. If we are a rock, we will be part of the church, which is built on a rock, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

In summary, this text highlights the importance of faith in Jesus Christ and the significance of Peter’s declaration of Christ’s identity as the Son of God. It encourages us to follow Peter’s example through unwavering faith in Christ and demonstrating good deeds. It emphasizes the need to be a rock, which means having solid faith, a firm mind, and steadfast beliefs. If we do this, we will be part of the church built on a rock, and nothing can overcome or shake us.

Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 419)
Tractates on the Gospel of John, 124.5

“The Church acts in blessed hope through this troubled life, symbolized in its generality but
personified in the Apostle Peter due to the primacy of his apostleship. As an individual, Peter was
one man by nature, one Christian by grace, and the first apostle through even more abounding
grace. When Jesus said to him, “I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven,” Peter represented the universal Church. This Church, shaken by
various temptations in the world, stands firm because it is founded upon a rock (petra), from
which Peter received his name. The rock (petra) is not derived from Peter, but Peter from the rock.
Similarly, Christ is not called so from the Christian, but the Christian from Christ. When the Lord
said, “On this rock will I build my Church,” He referred to the confession that Peter made, “You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So, Peter is to be understood as representing the Church
founded on the rock, Christ Himself. As Christ is the foundation, the Church, represented by Peter,
received from Christ the keys of the kingdom of heaven, signifying the power of binding and
loosing sins. Living amidst evil, this Church delivers from evil by loving and following Christ.”

St. Augustine describes the Apostle Peter’s role as the Church’s representative due to his apostleship’s primacy. While Peter was just one man by nature, he became the apostles’ leader by God’s grace. When Jesus said to him, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” He was referring to the universal Church that would be built on the foundation of faith in Him. Despite being shaken by various temptations and trials, the Church remains steadfast because it is founded upon a rock (petra). Peter received his name from the Greek word petra, which means rock. It is important to note that petra (rock) is not derived from Peter’s name, but rather, Peter’s name is derived from petra. Similarly, Christ is not called so because of Christians, but Christians are called so because of Christ. Therefore, when Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my Church,” he referred to Peter’s confession when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The Church is founded on Christ, represented by the Rock (Petra), and Peter built on this foundation. No other foundation can be laid other than Christ Jesus. The Church, founded in Christ, received the keys to the kingdom of heaven in the person of Peter, which is the power of binding and loosing sins. This means the Church has the authority to declare what is sinful and what is not. Peter represents the Church in the Rock (Petra), Christ is the Rock, and Peter is the Church. The Church, founded on Christ, is the true representation of the Rock. Therefore, the Lord said, “On this rock, I will build my Church,” because Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Church, as a whole, is founded on this confession, and it is upon this foundation that the Church stands today.

Cyril of Alexandria (A.D. 428)
Dialogue on the Trinty, 4

“The divine Word pronounced Peter, the chosen one of the holy apostles, to be blessed. For when, in the parts of Caesarea called Philippi, the Saviour asked “Who do men say that the Son of man is? ” . . . he cried out saying ” Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, and speedily received,the reward of his true conception about him, Christ saying “Blessed art thou . . . “, calling, I imagine, nothing else the rock, in allusion to his name, but the inmovable and stable faith of the disciple on which the Church of Christ is founded and fixed without danger of falling.”

The text is an insightful reflection on the significance of faith and the divinity of Christ. It begins by referencing the passage from Matthew 16 in which Christ questions the people in the region of Caesarea, specifically in Philippi, about who they think He is and what rumors about Him are spreading throughout Judea and the surrounding towns. Peter, one of the apostles, boldly declares that Jesus is the Son of the living God, seen as an extraordinary act of wisdom and understanding. This declaration of faith is recognized as crucial because it establishes Peter as the foundation of the Church.

St. Cyril explains that Peter’s faith was not based on human understanding but on divine instruction. Christ rewards Peter by calling him blessed and declaring that the Church will be built upon the rock of his faith. He highlights that Peter’s faith is unshakable and unwavering, so he is called the rock on which the Church will be built. The author then criticizes those who reject God’s teachings and deny Christ’s divinity, stating that such people are ignorant and misguided. Cyril argues that those who deny Christ’s divinity are wretched and abandoned because they are missing out on the truth that is revealed through faith. He further argues that those who reject God’s true teachings and recklessly rail against His will are miserable and abandoned. The text concludes by emphasizing the importance of faith in recognizing Christ’s true nature as the Son of God and the foundation of the Church. It highlights that faith is not based on human understanding but is instead a result of divine instruction from above. The passage is seen as a powerful reminder of this.

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:
and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.
Luke 22, 32

Pax vobiscum