Peter's Confession

Biblical Text and Content

The account appears in Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, and Luke 9:18-21. Jesus first asks whom people say the Son of Man is. The disciples answer that some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus then asks, "But whom say ye that I am?" and Peter answers. His answer differs slightly from Gospel to Gospel:

• Matthew: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16)
• Mark: "Thou art the Christ" (Mark 8:29)
• Luke: "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:20)

Only Matthew records the words that follow. Jesus says that "flesh and blood" did not reveal this to Peter, but His Father in heaven. He also says, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church," and promises to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven (16:17-19). In all three Gospels Jesus warns the disciples to tell no one. Immediately afterward He gives the first prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection. When Peter tries to dissuade Him, Jesus rebukes him: "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:21-23). Six days later (about eight days in Luke), the Transfiguration follows.

Background

Caesarea Philippi was a city north of Galilee, near the sources of the Jordan River at the foot of Mount Hermon. It is said to have been enlarged by Philip the tetrarch and named in honor of the Roman emperor (Caesar). It is also reported to have long been a site of pagan worship.

"Christ" (Greek Christos) means "anointed one" and translates the Hebrew Messiah. "Barjona" is Aramaic for "son of Jonah." In the Greek text, Peter's name Petros ("stone") and petra ("rock") sound alike. John 1:42 explains that Peter is the translation of the Aramaic name Cephas.

Significance in the Whole of Scripture

In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), this confession marks a turning point in the narrative. Here the disciples clearly confess Jesus' identity for the first time, and from this point Jesus begins to teach about the suffering He will undergo in Jerusalem. Peter's immediate rejection of the passion prediction is commonly interpreted as showing the gap between the messianic expectations of the day and a suffering Christ. A similar scene appears in John 6:68-69, where Peter confesses Jesus as the Holy One of God.

Interpretation and Points of Debate

The chief point of debate is what "this rock" refers to.

• The Catholic Church understands the rock to be Peter himself. It holds that the authority of the keys given to Peter passes to his successors, the bishops of Rome (the popes), and regards this as the biblical basis for papal primacy.
• The Eastern Orthodox Church also acknowledges that Peter held a special place among the apostles, but it does not grant the bishop of Rome primacy in the Catholic sense.
• In the Protestant tradition stemming from the Reformation, many read the rock as Peter's confession of faith, or as Christ, the object of that confession. They cite passages such as 1 Corinthians 3:11 and Ephesians 2:20, which speak of Christ as the foundation of the church. Some Protestant scholars, even while taking the rock to be Peter personally, do not accept that his office passes to successors.

Views also differ on the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." Protestants often understand them as the authority of gospel proclamation and church discipline. The Westminster Confession of Faith likewise mentions the keys of the kingdom of heaven in its chapter on church censures. It is also frequently noted that the same authority is given to the disciples as a whole in Matthew 18:18.

The claim that Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the image of Peter guarding the gates of heaven do not appear in this passage. They are additions from church tradition or popular belief.

In the Korean Church

The question "But whom say ye that I am?" is often used as a sermon text calling for a personal confession of faith. The words "upon this rock I will build my church" are widely quoted in sermons on the nature of the church.