"Peter himself says it is Jesus Christ"
Letter to the Editor:
GOD’S MESSAGE, October -December 1994, p. 2
A friend of mine gave me a copy PASUGO of (God’s Message) and I came across the article, written by Johnny J. Martin, entitled “Apostle Peter Is Not the Foundation Stone” (January-February, 1990).
1. In John 1:35-42, Jesus changed the name of Apostle Peter to Cephas, which is translated, a stone. Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean the same.
2. Peter’s name was changed to Cephas, because he was later to be given a special role. This was done in the same way when God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, and Saul to Paul. The name change indicated that the person was chosen for a divine mission.
3. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said to Peter (rock) that, “Thou art Peter (rock) and upon this rock I will build My Church…” Who is the rock being referred to? Don’t distort the truth, otherwise you will be branded as a false preacher.
4. In his conclusion, Mr. Martin stated, thus: “Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Peter, and Apostle Paul are completely united in their teaching that Jesus Christ is the foundation stone of the true Church, not Apostle Peter.” But in Ephesians 2:20, it is stated that God’s household is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” If Mr. Martin is still ignorant about these two simple yet different terms — cornerstone and foundation — how can he ever hope to understand the mystery of salvation?
Ramon Reyes
Baguio City, Philippines
Baguio City, Philippines
Author Johnny J. Martin replies:
Your contention that Christ cannot be the rock upon which the Church was built is anchored on two main points: (1) Peter is the rock because his name means “rock” and this was in preparation for his later role, i.e., to be the foundation of the Church; (2) Christ cannot be the rock because he is a CORNER STONE, which according to your letter is different from a FOUNDATION.
In Ephesians 2:20 of the KJV, the CHIEF CORNER STONE or CHIEF FOUNDATION of the Church is Christ Himself. The TEV renders the same verse, thus: “You too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself.”
Obviously, the terms in question mean the same.
The terms CORNER STONE and FOUNDATION are synonymous, according to standard lexicons (see among others Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary. 2nd ed., New York: Simon & Schuster, 1983). Therefore, the Church, including the apostles and prophets are built upon the foundation, Jesus Christ. This is perfectly consistent with the biblical teaching that the one and only foundation is our Lord Jesus Christ and no other foundation can be laid (I Cor. 3:11).
To conclude that Peter is the foundation of the Church because his name means “rock” is resorting to a personal interpretation of the Scriptures (cf. II Pt.3:16). Nowhere in the Bible, more specifically in Matthew 16:18, did Christ categorically state that Peter is the rock upon which the Church is built. Remember, Peter himself wrote that Christ is the head of the corner, the chief corner stone (cf. I Pt. 2:3-7; Acts 4:10-11) and this was what the apostle Paul reiterated to the Corinthians (I Cor. 3:11).
Besides, Peter who is one of the pillars of the Church was called to be an apostle to the Jews (cf. Gal. 2:8-9) and not to be the foundation of the Church. Thus, the Iglesia Ni Cristo has remained firm in its belief in the doctrine that Christ is the rock upon which the Church was built.
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