In Matthew 16:18, Jesus tells Peter, “on this rock I will build my church,” a verse that has sparked centuries of debate over what “the rock” refers to. Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church interpreted this as Jesus establishing Peter and his successors (the popes) as the foundation of the church. However, the Reformers, like Martin Luther and John Calvin, argued that the “rock” was not Peter himself, but the confession of faith Peter made: that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. For the Reformers, the church is built on the truth of who Jesus is, not the authority of a single leader.
This shift in interpretation had profound effects on Christian theology, challenging papal authority and emphasizing the importance of Scripture and personal faith in Christ. Instead of the pope being the foundation, Jesus Christ himself, and the faith in Him, became central to the life of the church. To fully grasp how the Reformation reshaped our understanding of church authority and Scripture, keep reading for a deeper dive into the historical context and theological shifts that continue to influence Christianity today.
If you’ve ever read Matthew 16:18, you’ve probably come across the famous line where Jesus tells Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” It’s a verse that’s been interpreted in many ways over the centuries, and during the Reformation, it took on particular significance.
In this article, we’re going to dive into what the Reformation taught about the “Rock” in Matthew 16:18, how it relates to the church, and how it differs from some earlier interpretations. We’ll keep things simple and clear, so you walk away with a solid understanding of the key ideas.
The Verse Itself: Matthew 16:18
To start, let’s take a look at the verse that sparked so much debate:
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
At face value, it seems like Jesus is telling Peter that he will be the foundation on which the church is built. But that’s where things get complicated. What exactly did Jesus mean when He referred to “this rock”?
Early Interpretations Before the Reformation
Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church held a particular interpretation of this verse. The Catholic Church taught that Jesus was referring to Peter personally as the “rock.” In this view, Peter was seen as the first pope, and his successors were given the same authority. This interpretation tied the authority of the papacy directly to this verse, implying that the pope, as Peter’s successor, had the authority to lead the church and make binding decisions on matters of doctrine and practice.
Key Catholic Interpretation
- Peter as the Rock: The Catholic Church believed Jesus was declaring Peter to be the foundational leader of the church.
- Papal Authority: This interpretation also implied that the pope, as Peter’s successor, had supreme authority over the church.
But the Reformation challenged this view, and things started to change.
The Reformation: A New Perspective
The Protestant Reformation, led by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, sparked a significant shift in how people read and understood Scripture, including Matthew 16:18. Reformers rejected the idea that Peter himself, as an individual, was the foundation of the church, or that the papacy had the authority claimed by the Catholic Church.
So, what did the Reformers believe about the “rock” in this passage?
1. The Rock Is Christ, Not Peter
One of the main points the Reformers made was that the “rock” Jesus was referring to was not Peter himself, but rather the confession of faith Peter made just before this moment. In Matthew 16:16, Peter declares:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
For the Reformers, this confession of faith was the true “rock” on which the church is built. It’s not about the person of Peter, but about the truth of who Jesus is — the Messiah, the Son of God. The Reformers believed that the church is built on the recognition and proclamation of Jesus as the Savior.
- The Rock Is a Confession: The Reformers argued that Jesus wasn’t building the church on Peter, but on the truth that Peter confessed — that Jesus is the Christ.
- Christ, Not the Pope: This perspective undermined the idea that the pope was the supreme authority in the church.
2. The Role of Peter in the Early Church
While the Reformers didn’t see Peter as the sole foundation of the church, they did recognize his important role in the early Christian movement. Peter was the one who preached the first sermon after Pentecost, leading to the conversion of thousands (Acts 2). So, Peter was a key figure, but not the unifying leader the Catholic Church made him out to be.
- Peter’s Authority: The Reformers agreed that Peter had authority, but it wasn’t a unique, perpetual authority passed down to the pope.
- Peter as an Example: Rather than a source of authority, Peter was seen as an example of faith, with his confession of Christ being a model for the church.
3. The Church Is Built on Christ Alone
The Reformers stressed that Jesus, not Peter or the pope, is the true head of the church. The church’s authority comes directly from Christ and His Word, not from any human leader. This view was central to Reformation theology and led to the emphasis on Scripture alone (sola scriptura) as the final authority in matters of faith and practice.
- Christ as the Head: Ephesians 1:22 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” The Reformers emphasized that Jesus is the ultimate authority.
- Scripture Alone: The Bible, not church tradition or papal decrees, is the source of authority for believers.
The Impact of This New Understanding
The Reformation’s interpretation of Matthew 16:18 had profound implications for how people understood the nature of the church and its authority. By rejecting the idea that the pope was the sole leader of the church, the Reformers placed a stronger emphasis on the individual believer’s relationship with Christ and the church’s foundation on the truth of Scripture.
1. Challenging Papal Authority
The Reformers’ reading of Matthew 16:18 was one of the key reasons they rejected the Pope’s authority. They argued that the Bible did not support the idea that the pope had any special power derived from Peter. This contributed to the larger movement that sought to remove the pope’s control over matters of faith, practice, and politics.
2. Emphasis on Individual Faith
By placing the focus on Peter’s confession of faith, the Reformers highlighted the importance of individual belief in Christ. The church, they argued, is made up of believers who confess Christ, not of an institution led by a single figure with supreme authority.
- Personal Faith: The church’s foundation is the shared faith of all believers in Christ, not in a hierarchy of human leaders.
- Access to God: The Reformation promoted the idea that every believer has direct access to God through Christ, without needing an intermediary like the pope.
Conclusion: The Rock in Matthew 16:18
So, what did the Reformation teach us about the “rock” in Matthew 16:18? The Reformation shifted the focus away from Peter as an individual and emphasized that the foundation of the church is the truth of Peter’s confession: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. The church is not built on a pope or human authority, but on the proclamation of Christ.
This perspective helped shape the Protestant understanding of the church, with a focus on Christ as the true head of the church and the authority of Scripture as the guiding principle. By revisiting Matthew 16:18, the Reformation challenged centuries of tradition and restored the church to its foundational truths.
So next time you read Matthew 16:18, you’ll understand just how much the Reformation changed the way we view that passage—and how it reshaped Christian doctrine for generations to come.
10 FAQs About What the Reformation Taught About the “Rock” in Matthew 16:18
- What is Matthew 16:18 about?
- Matthew 16:18 features Jesus telling Peter, “on this rock I will build my church.” The verse has been interpreted in various ways, particularly in terms of the foundation of the church.
- What does “the rock” in Matthew 16:18 refer to?
- The “rock” is often interpreted as either Peter himself or his confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The Reformation emphasized the latter, viewing the rock as the truth of Christ’s identity.
- How did the Catholic Church interpret Matthew 16:18?
- The Catholic Church traditionally viewed “the rock” as referring to Peter personally, establishing him and his papal successors as the foundation and authority of the church.
- What did the Reformation change about the interpretation of this verse?
- The Reformers rejected the idea that Peter or the pope was the foundation of the church. Instead, they taught that the church is built on Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ.
- What role did Peter play in the Reformation’s view of the church?
- While Peter was seen as an important early leader in the church, the Reformation emphasized that he was not the unifying foundation or supreme authority, which belongs to Christ alone.
- How does the Reformation view the authority of the pope?
- The Reformation rejected the pope’s supreme authority, asserting that Christ is the head of the church and that Scripture, not papal decrees, should guide believers.
- What was the significance of Scripture during the Reformation?
- The Reformation emphasized “sola scriptura,” the belief that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority for faith and practice, challenging traditions that were not rooted in the Bible.
- How did the Reformation impact the structure of the church?
- The Reformation shifted the focus from a hierarchical structure led by the pope to a church centered on the belief in Christ and the shared faith of believers.
- Does this interpretation of Matthew 16:18 affect how Protestants view church leadership?
- Yes, Protestantism generally emphasizes that leadership should be based on Scripture and the shared confession of Christ, rather than the authority of a singular leader like the pope.
- What is the main takeaway from the Reformation’s view of Matthew 16:18?
- The key takeaway is that the church is built on the confession of Christ as the Messiah, not on any individual leader, and that authority comes from Scripture, not from a human institution.
