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
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 argues 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, 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 important 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.
“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, 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.
“‘…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 emphasize the necessity of holding the unity of the Church as a prerequisite for holding the Faith.
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 hold 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 of 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, elect of her that 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.
“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.
“Seest thou that of the
disciples of Christ, all of whom were exalted and deserving of choice, one
is
called rock and is entrusted with the foundations of the church.”
St. Gregory delves into the significant events in the life of Christ and his disciples. The speaker suggests another noteworthy event to share, which can serve as a reminder and inspiration for us. He then highlights the unique roles of Peter and John among the disciples. Peter was entrusted with the foundations of the Church, which is evident in the Gospel of Matthew, where Christ says to Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). John, on the other hand, was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 13:23) and rested upon Jesus’ bosom during the last supper.
The author discusses the moment Christ revealed his divinity to three disciples, Peter, James, and John, by taking them up to a mountain. This event is known as the Transfiguration, where Christ’s face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light (Mt 17:2). The significance of this event is that it confirmed Christ’s divinity and revealed to the disciples that he was the Son of God.
Finally, Gregory mentions that when Christ was in agony and withdrew to pray before his passion, Peter, James, and John were present with him. This event is known as the Agony in the Garden, where Christ prayed to his Father to take away the cup of suffering. The significance of this event is that it shows the loyalty and devotion of Peter, James, and John to Christ, even in his darkest hour. Overall, the text emphasizes the importance of these three disciples and their close relationship with Christ, which inspires us to deepen our faith and commitment to Christ.
“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.
“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.
“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
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