This interpretation, however, is not Biblical. There has been much scholarly debate regarding to whom Jesus refers to as the rock in Matthew 16:18. While Peter’s name in Greek is Petros which means "rock"--or actually, a small, movable stone--Jesus switches to petra when he says, “and upon this rock I will build my church” (emphasis added). Petros is a masculine noun, whereas petra is feminine and refers to bedrock or an immovable foundation.ⁱⁱ Jesus thus makes a play-on-words between Peter’s name and the rock that establishes His Church. Theologian Loraine Boettner writes that Jesus’ words translate as, “You are Petros, and upon this petra I will build my church.”ⁱⁱⁱ A change of gender indicates a change of subject.

So if the rock isn't Peter, who is it?

Scriptures make it clear that the rock is Christ. There are approximately 34 instances of Christ being referred to as a rock in the New Testament, including the following:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:19-20, emphasis added).

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4, emphasis added).

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

The rock on which Jesus would build His Church was Peter’s earlier confession in verse 16 that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” No other foundation can withstand the gates of hell, which signify death, forHades (hell) literally means “grave.”^iv Mere people cannot overcome death and the devil who reigns in hell. Only God can, which He already did through His Son’s death on the cross and resurrection. Jesus says in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Because of His victory, Jesus encourages His disciples in John 16:33, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In fact, we see Peter’s fallibility immediately following the rock passage. In the next few verses, Jesus explains that He will suffer, be killed, and be raised to life on the third day. Peter rebukes Him saying these things will not happen. Jesus responds to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me” (verse 23). In one moment, Peter professes a spiritual insight about Jesus and the next moment, Jesus rebukes him for his spiritual blindness. Peter’s humanness shows he is not a solid foundation on which to build God’s Church and, moreover, does not make him a great candidate for Catholics to claim as their leader. A little later on, we see that the gates of hell did most certainly prevail against Peter for a time when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing.

Even more ironic is that Peter never refers to himself as a pope. In his epistolary letter in 1 Peter, he introduces himself as an “apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1). Hence, the authority of God’s Church does not rest on any human system, but on Christ alone. As Peter preaches in Acts 4:10-12,

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (emphasis added). Even Peter himself calls Christ the living stone.

If indeed Jesus had made Peter the primary disciple, the other disciples would not have been found contending as to who would be the greatest among them. (Matthew 18:1.) They would have submitted to the wish of their Master, and honored the one whom He had chosen. Instead of appointing one to be their head, Christ said "Be not ye called Rabbi; . . . neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." Matthew 23: 8, 10