Bible Question: Matt 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." I've always been taught that this is refering to the idea of our overcoming and defeating the devil and his hordes as they try to do all they can to hinder our growth and relationship with Christ. However Hades is not the abode of the devil and his minions it is the place of the dead, the intermediate place where the souls of those who died go while they wait for judgement from God. This refers to death itself which Jesus defeated when He was resurrected. Therefore Hades would not prevail in that sense as for the church to be absent from the body is to be present before the Lord. Am I missing something here? I would appriciate all opinions. |
Bible Answer: KJV Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We see that Jesus is planning on building his church (singular denoting one). It is quite possible that the "it" is not the church at all but the promise of it being built. Example: Upon this stove I will bake this cake and the people outside will not prevail against it. Meaning the cake is going to get baked and no one will stop it from happening. With this text the church would be built and the gates of hell would not be able to stop it from happening. Just something to think about. |