The Church: A Closer Look

The English word church is related to the German word kirche and the Scottish word kirk, which both derive from the Greek term kyriakon, meaning the Lord's house. Confusingly, the Greek word in the New Testament that is usually translated as Church is ekklesia - the most basic meaning of which is a gathering, assembly, or congregation of people.(1)

The Greek word ekklesia itself derives from two root words: ek meaning out and kaleo meaning to call. We can therefore take the resulting word to mean a called-out assembly. In a general / non-theological sense, ekklesia was typically used to describe a meeting that took place in a public space - people were in a sense 'called out' of their homes into a public meeting or gathering of people. Applied to the Church then ekklesia can thus be taken to mean a called-out assembly of believers in Christ. Followers of Jesus are called out of this world into a Kingdom that is from above (John 17:16, 18:36).

Church Universal 

Strictly speaking in the New Testament the word church never refers to a building. The Universal Church is not limited to a particular denomination, communion, or creed, nor does it include Christians in name only who are actually outside of salvation in Christ. In the broadest sense of the word the Church is the invisible body of the elect throughout all of time - that is, all who were, are, and will be saved by grace through faith via the free gift of Jesus Christ.  

Local Assemblies

Sometimes in Scripture the church in question is a local assembly of believers in a certain location - for example the Church in Jerusalem, Antioch or Corinth. In the early church believers gathered in homes for worship, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, instruction, and ministry.(2) In Revelation chapters two and three seven letters are written by Jesus Himself to seven local churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). 

Upon This Rock

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church... Matthew 16:18

Jesus is building His Church. All too often man sets about to build the Church of Christ without bothering to involve Jesus in the process. Anything that man builds by his own strength using his own wisdom is not the Church that Jesus is building. It will not ultimately stand or last (more on this later).  

Jesus is building His Church on this rock, so we need to discern what is meant by this rock. Historically three main views emerge:

1) Peter is the rock - This is the Roman Catholic position. Matthew 16:18 is given as support of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome and the Papacy. 

2) This Rock refers to Peter's profession of faith. Support for this is taken from two verses earlier in Matthew 16:

[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16)

The Rock upon which Jesus is building His Church is Peter's profession and proclamation of faith. Thus according to this view Jesus builds His Church primarily through the confession and proclamation of Himself as the Son of God who came and took on the form of human flesh.

3) Jesus Christ Himself is the Rock upon which the Church is built.

In the original Greek language there is clearly a word play happening here:

You are Petros (little stone) and on this petra (big rock, Jesus pointing to Himself?) I will build my Church (Ekklesia):

In Koinē Greek, "petros" (πέρτρος) refers to a smaller stone or pebble while "petra" (πέτρα) generally implies a larger, more massive rock or a crag. While the distinction isn't always sharply drawn, "petra" is understood to mean a larger, more substantial rock.(3) Peter is the little stone and Jesus is the large rock upon which Jesus builds His Church.  

The Bible itself identifies Jesus as the Rock. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, speaking of the Israelites in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, Paul writes:

For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  (see Exodus 17:1-7). 

Peter himself, referencing Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16,  called Jesus Christ a living stone, a cornerstone, a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense:  

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

​​“Behold, I lay in Zion ​​

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, 

​​And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” ​ 

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ​ 

​​“The stone which the builders rejected 

​​Has become the chief cornerstone,” ​ 

and ​ 

​​“A stone of stumbling ​​

And a rock of offense.” (1 Peter 2:4-8)    

Jesus Christ Himself is the beginning and the objective point of reference for the Church. Jesus is building His Church upon the foundation of the revelation of Himself. 

Going back to the three options for defining who the rock is in Matthew 16:18, it doesn’t have to be either/or. 

Orthodox and Protestant/Evangelicals alike reject the Roman Catholic view that this verse establishes the Papacy, Apostolic Succession, and a strict hierarchy for a visible earthly Church. According to Ephesians 2:19-21, the household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself being the Cornerstone: 

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Thus Jesus is the Big Rock (Petra) and Cornerstone of the Church. Peter is a little rock (petros), one of many little rock apostles/prophets that form the foundation. Though Petrine Primacy is not intended here, the Apostles were a gift given by Christ to equip the saints and to build up His Church (Ephesians 4:7-14). If Matthew 16:18 is applied less narrowly to all the Apostles then Peter is among the smaller rocks that make up the foundation. 

Putting all of this together, Jesus is the Big Rock (Petra) upon which the Church is built. The profession and proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Peter's profession of faith) is the appointed method through which church growth occurs. Both views are valid, it's not an either / or proposition. 

The practical question for us then is this: Are we building the same Church that Jesus is building? If we are building upon any foundation other than Jesus Christ and the profession and proclamation of Him as our Savior and Lord, then we are not building Christ's Church. We can be busy playing Church. We can implement man-made programs to increase numbers. We can have emotional experiences. But these have nothing to do with the Church that Christ Himself is building. 

Jesus must be the center, the beginning and the end of all that the Church is and does. Let us repent for playing Church. Let us repent for defaulting to earthly wisdom and the things of man. Lord help us to build your Church and nothing less! 

Works cited

(1) The New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek. Koine Greek was the Greek spoken by regular people in the marketplace. By contrast Classical Greek was more prestigious and was used by Philosophers, in higher forms of literature, etc.

(2) The Moody Handbook of Bible Theology, Paul Enns, 347-354.

(3) Lexicon: Strong's G4074 - petros; Lexicon: Strong's G4073 - petra

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