Subject: should a catholic marraige be sanctified |
Bible Note: Greetings Emmaus! I have always had a question concerning the Catholic view of Mt. 16:18. Perhaps, you can answer it for me. If Mt. 16:18 is to be viewed as establishing the 'chair of Peter', why did Jesus change Greek words for 'rock' in this verse? In other words, if Jesus meant us to understand Mt. 16:18 as establishing Peter as the 'rock' upon which the Church would be established, why doesn't the Greek simply say: "You are Peter (Petros), and upon Peter (Petros) I will build my Church" Instead, it says: "You are Peter (Petros) and upon this the rock (petra) I will build my Church." The Greek changes from the masculine to a feminine form. Clearly, this would indicate a change in the reference. On the site of the aricle you referenced, the only response I saw to this question was that Aramaic had no different words for 'rock'. However, we have no evidence that Jesus spoke this in Aramaic. We do have the inspired texts of Scripture, and they use a totally different word. Just curious my friend! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |