I Was Wrong — What Matthew 16:18 Actually Means

Recently, I had the opportunity to have a friendly conversation with a Roman Catholic historian and former professor. In Part 1 of our two-part dialogue, we discussed the differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants as they relate to the Bible and authority (you can watch it HERE).

During the conversation, I misinterpreted a very important passage. While I probably could have just let it go, I take seriously the platform God has blessed me with, and I aim to steward this gift with as much precision as possible. That includes admitting when I am wrong. In this case, I was in the wrong, and I would like to spend some time here offering what I find to be the correct interpretation.

You might be wondering which passage I misinterpreted. It was none other than one of the most commonly raised passages during debates between Catholics and Evangelicals: Matthew 16:15–18. Here is the passage:

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:15–18 ESV)

Roman Catholics have interpreted this passage to mean that Peter is the “rock” upon whom Jesus declared the church would be built. On this interpretation, Jesus was using a play on words in the following manner: “You are Peter [petros] and on this rock [petra] I will build my church.”

Since Peter’s name means “rock,” and Jesus was saying to Peter that the church would be built on “this rock,” it is presumed that Jesus was referring to Peter. This is where Catholics ground their belief in Peter being the first Pope and the beginning of the papacy. As Dr. Ed Mazza mentioned during our debate, this is backed up further by the fact that Peter was the first to proclaim the gospel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14–47) and was the first to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1–48).

In response, I stated that Jesus was not just talking to Peter, but to all the apostles—for the apostles are the foundation of the church. I will not try to justify what I now think to be an incorrect interpretation, but if anything, I believe my mind went to Ephesians 2:20, where Paul states that believers are members of the household of God, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” But if one is to just keep reading the second half of this verse:

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:20–21 ESV).

Here, it’s clearly Jesus being the cornerstone—more on this will be said later.

Nevertheless, I do not find the way in which I interpreted this important passage adequate. In this article, I would like to offer what I find to be two much more plausible interpretations than the idea that Jesus was declaring Peter as the “rock,” which is the Roman Catholic view.

In other words, the question I will be addressing here is: What does Matthew 16:15–18 mean?

The “Rock” Is Peter’s Confession

The first of two alternative interpretations that I find more plausible than the Catholic view is that the rock is not Peter nor the apostles, but the confession of who Peter said Jesus is. This seems to fit more in line with the context of the passage. The passage begins in verse 13, where it says:

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (Matt. 16:13–14 ESV).

It is right after this that Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” (verse 15, emphasis added).

Then, Peter gives the right answer:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16 ESV)

On this view, the “rock” that Jesus says His church will be built on is the truthfulness of that confession—that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God.

By being the only one recorded as making such a confession, Peter seems to be displaying stability by standing on the truth of that statement, which might be one reason Jesus gave Peter the nickname Cephas elsewhere, which means “rock” or “stone” in Aramaic (John 1:42).

The “Rock” Is Jesus Himself

After Peter made the right confession of who Jesus is, Jesus said it was revealed to Peter by the Father and not by mere flesh and blood. Then Jesus said the verse in question:

“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18 ESV).

The word for “Peter” in the Greek is Petros, which is the masculine form of the word used as Peter’s name. The word translated “rock” is petra, the feminine form of the noun meaning “rock” or “rocky mass.”[1]

Jesus is clearly making a wordplay between Peter and the rock. However, whether “this rock” refers specifically to Peter, Peter’s confession, or Christ Himself must be determined from the broader context rather than simply from the difference between Petros and petra.

While Peter—and certainly the apostles—had foundational roles in building the church, the role of being the ultimate foundation seems best understood as belonging to Christ Himself.

Therefore, Jesus may very well be using wordplay here in verse 18, where Peter, the one who correctly confessed Jesus as the Christ and Son of God, is connected with the “rock” upon which Christ will build His church. But the broader New Testament consistently identifies Christ as the ultimate foundation and cornerstone of the Church.

One reason why this particular interpretation carries more weight is that it’s better supported by other passages as well.

Ephesians 2:20–21

Going back to this passage in Ephesians, notice who Paul identifies as the foundation of the church:

“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20 ESV, emphasis added).

Again, while the apostles undoubtedly played a foundational role, it was all built upon the cornerstone of Jesus Himself. For without Jesus, there is no church. Just as without a foundation laid down, there is no house—at least not for long.

1 Corinthians 3:11

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:10–11 ESV, emphasis added).

Here we have Paul again restating the same point. The apostles played foundational roles, but this was only made possible on the true foundation of Jesus. Paul makes it clear in this passage that Jesus, not Peter, is the foundation of the church.

1 Corinthians 10:1–4

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1–4 ESV, emphasis added).

Paul is clarifying the nature of the life-giving provisions that God gave to the Israelites in the Old Testament, specifically speaking of the life-giving water that was poured out from the rock that Moses struck in Exodus 17:6. Paul explicitly said this life-giving Rock was Christ.

Just as Jesus was the Rock back then, so is Jesus the Rock today.

1 Peter 2:4–8

This might be the most evident of all. If it was clearly understood that Jesus was declaring Peter to be the foundational rock of the church upon which it was to be built, surely Peter would be the first to attest to this fact, and it would reflect in Peter's other teachings.

However, in one of his letters to fellow believers, he alludes to Jesus, not himself, as being the true rock.

“As you come to him [Jesus], a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him [Jesus] will not be put to shame.’ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do" (1 Pet. 2:4–8 ESV).

Rather than alluding to himself as the rock, Peter points to Jesus as the cornerstone—to either not be put to shame for those who believe or a rock of offense for those who do not.

The chief cornerstone of any building was that upon which a building is anchored. If Christ is the cornerstone, how could Peter be the ultimate rock upon which the church was built?

Believers are the stones that make up the church. They are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets—not just Peter—and anchored to the Cornerstone, which is Jesus—the true foundation.

If Peter truly was the founder of the Roman Catholic Church, it would be in full agreement with what Peter taught (Acts 2, 1 Peter, 2 Peter). However, this is not the case.

Both interpretations of Matthew 16:18—whether it is Peter’s confession or Jesus Himself—seem much more plausible than the interpretation that it is Peter alone. Which one do I favor?

I see no reason why they ought to be mutually exclusive. For it seems reasonable to conclude that the church is founded on Jesus, who is properly understood to be the Christ and the Son of the Living God.

“The Gates of Hell”

Many Roman Catholics who favor their interpretation of Matthew 16:18 will say that the second part of the verse means that the Catholic Church will endure through any opposition. The second part of the verse is as follows:

“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18b ESV).

But what are “the gates of hell”?

Properly understanding this phrase gives more clarity into the true interpretation of this passage as a whole and further points toward the “rock” being Jesus and/or the confession of Peter about Jesus.

It’s important to first clarify the terms. The Greek word translated “hell” is Hades, which in this context is better understood as the realm of the dead. In the biblical world, Hades refers to the abode or realm of the dead rather than the final place of punishment commonly associated with the English word “hell.”

Many today understand hell to be some fiery underworld with red, long-tailed demons holding pitchforks and looking to torment whoever enters their domain. This is not the biblical view of hell, and especially not of Hades.[2]

So, what did Jesus mean by “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it [the Church]?”

Hades is also the name associated with the god of the realm of the dead in Greek mythology. However, in Matthew 16:18, the word is best understood as referring to the realm of the dead.

In ancient times, the protection of a city was determined by the strength of its gates, for the gates would be the first to be assaulted during times of war. Therefore, when Jesus references “the gates of Hades,” it is likely He is referring to the power of death.

This fits nicely with the passage in context, for right after this dialogue with Peter, the very next section consists of Jesus predicting His impending death and resurrection. Here is the passage in full:

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" (Matt. 16:21–23 ESV).

It's quite ironic that Peter, after accurately acknowledging Jesus' true identity as the Christ and Son of God—the cornerstone of the church—is the very disciple who gets rebuked by Jesus! Despite having just made the correct confession revealed by the Father, it appears that moments later, Peter speaks from a purely human perspective (setting his mind on the things of man rather than that of God).

In a sense, Jesus said the gates of hell, or Hades, would not prevail against His church, and it’s almost as if Matthew anticipated the question, “What does that mean?” He then records Jesus providing a clarification.

The church, founded on Jesus, who is the Christ and Son of the Living God, will not be taken over by the power of the dead, just as Jesus Himself overcame death through His resurrection. Thus, Jesus is declaring that the power of death will have no power over Him and, after His resurrection, neither over His church.

As we read elsewhere, the Lord has conquered death (Rom. 8:2; Acts 2:24). Since “death is no longer a master over Him” (Rom. 6:9), it is no longer a master of those who belong to Him either.

How does this show that Jesus was speaking of Himself as the Rock through the proper confession of who He is?

Because right after saying He will build His church on “this rock” and that “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it,” He immediately predicts His impending death and resurrection.

Thus, showing that the “gates of Hades” have no power over the church, being founded on Him, being the Christ and Son of the Living God. Consequently, then, not on Peter, but built upon the apostles.

If you’re interested in watching Part 1 of the two-part debate, check it out on the Truthful Hope Podcast (click HERE). Stay tuned for Part 2, releasing this upcoming Tuesday, where Dr. Ed and I discuss the central topic of salvation. You will not want to miss it.

Footnotes:

[1] Zodhiates, S., The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, AMG Publishers, 1992, p. 1,154

[2] For a breakdown of the differences between eternal hell and Hades, see here https://www.gotquestions.org/sheol-hades-hell.html.