Patrick Vandapool

Members of the Restorationist sect called The Church of Christ,  was Jesus attempting to confuse people when he used a word rich with paternal authority when naming Simon Bar-Jona “Rock”?  For Abraham too is called a “rock”:  Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, you who seek the LORD; look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were digged.  Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you (Isaiah 51:1,2).  Matthew’s Gospel account, most likely written first in Aramaic and undoubtedly initially written for a Jewish audience, quotes our Master as saying, I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18).

The English New Testament book of Matthew is not a translation of Jesus’ Greek words into English, but a translation of what began as Aramaic, translated into Greek, and then into English; and the walk through three languages often confuses the Protestant Church of Christ.  And even if, by a long shot, the autograph was written in Greek and not Aramaic, the walk through three languages is still a necessity because Jesus spoke Aramaic.  But when the words of God are read without linguistic gymnastics and modern lenses designed to delete Jesus’ calling of the first pope, it becomes clear that Jesus said, You are Cephas (Rock), and on this cephas (rock), I will build my church. Continue reading →