Church simply means a group of people rather than any organised institution like the local church. Many have even claimed that their church is the true church mentioned by Jesus Christ. In this post, we will explore what is the church of Jesus Christ from His own words.
Church means Assembly
And if he refuses to hear them, tell [it] to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Matt 18:17
In the above passage, the term church simply means assembly or group of people since the term “church” as a religious institution or organization like we refer today didn’t even exist at that time. Further, “ekklesia”, the Greek word used for church simply means assembly, i.e., a group of persons gathered together.
Church built on Peter
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matt 16:18
Jesus gave a blessing to Peter that He will build His church on Peter. This caused some institutionalized religious organizations to claim themselves as the true church.
Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:4-25
Peter mentions in his first letter regarding how the house of God will be built, that is by coming to Him as living stones. This has nothing to do with any organised religious institutions.
Christ’s instruction to Peter
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, [son] of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
John 21:15-17
Peter was given the task to feed His sheep, that is His church. Who is His sheep?
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27
His church are those who hear His words and obey them by following Him.
Christ’s definition of His church
| Matt 16:18-19 | Matt 18:18-20 |
|---|---|
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you [Peter] bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. | Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you [His church] bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. |
Comparing the above two verses, Jesus gives the exact promise of binding on earth to Peter and His church. Then, Jesus very clearly explains – that is, two or three gathered in His name is called His church.
Conclusion
Finally, we must not forget that the first title received by Peter from Jesus immediately after when he went against His words is ‘Satan’ (Matt 16:23). If Jesus called Peter as Satan, how much will He call others who go against His words? Hence, His church is always His people who truly follow Him and obey His words from all churches/denominations etc.
Sorry but I don’t see the explanation that 2 or more gathered is the Church. Peter was the rock and he had a successor on down the line to today.Later on Constantine convoked the Council of Nicea because similar to today the teaching was subject to individual will without discipline. That’s how the Bible that you use today was formed.
Jesus was referring to church and its definition in Matt 18:17-20 – i.e., mentioning church and explaining that He will be there where 2 or 3 gathered in His name (Church itself means gathering or assembly). Jesus never taught to follow Peter or any successors. He always taught to follow Him and obey His teachings.
Acts 1:1
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
Acts 1:1-3 NKJV
Matt 18:18
Jesus is not referring to “2 or 3 “ as a church . In the previous passage that you reference He is saying that whatever issues you have, take it to the church. The church. Here read it again:
““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Matthew 18:15-20 NKJV
Jesus is not referring to 2 or 3 as the church but if they gathered in ‘His name’ (i.e., His people). Jesus never asked His disciples to start any church or follow any church anytime but make disciples of all nations. The early church were just people gathered and broke bread in their homes. i.e, gathered in ‘His name’.
A matter is established by 2 or 3 witnesses as Jesus said. Comparing other synoptic (i.e, eye-witness) gospels, Matt 16:18 is the only verse for Christ building His church on Peter. Hence, creating a new doctine based on an unestablished verse is like Christ came out of Egypt to sacrifice to Baal (Hos 11:1-2) based on Matthew 2 chapter. Refer: Matthew 2 is wrong about birth of Jesus Christ. Even Mark, who is traditionally accepted as a companion of Peter, never mentions anything of such prophecy about Peter (Mark 3:16). Hence, Matt 16:18 must only be understood as the fulfilment of Acts 2:47, Acts 4:4, Acts 5:14 – how God built His early church using Peter.
Creating strange doctrines/doctines of men like successions from unestablished single verse is not from God.
Also John in the Book of Revalation 1:4 refers to the seven churches which are in Asia
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:26 refers to body and blood of Christ
Which is still only perfromed in the Catholic Church
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
I Corinthians 11:26 NKJV
We are not to follow Paul or his false doctrines but Christ and obey His teaching. (Refer: Quick Reference for Paul’s Contrary Teachings). It is wrong to say only a particular church follows what Christ taught on communion (Luke 22:19). Every disciple of Christ who follow Him will do everything (including breaking bread/wine) in rememberance of Him and what He did for us.
Hi felix,
You say “Jesus gave a blessing to Peter that He will build His church on Peter..”
In my opinion, Jesus is saying he will build his church on Jesus. On himself – the rock & foundation of Matthew 7:24-27.
Those who hear & obey Jesus are the stones that are built ontop of the rock cornerstone. Jesus is the cornerstone (Mark 12:10). In the bible days, buildings were always build out from a chief cornerstone.
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily”. Isa 28:16
We know that Jesus is the “tried stone” – and NOT Peter.
Peter fails his trial (Luke 22:54-62) and therefore cannot be the “tried stone”. Jesus passes his trial, and therefore Jesus is the foundation in Zion.
It would not make sense for Jesus to have man as the foundation of his church. Jesus tells us we can only get to God thru Jesus (John 14:6).
Jesus is the foundation of his church – in the form of his spirit.
In Matt 16:18, Jesus is giving a new name ‘Peter’ (Petros) and this rock (petra) He will build His church. The name change is recorded in John 1:42 as well, giving atleast 2 witnesses for the matter to be established (Deut 19:15, Matt 18:16). Apart from this, Jesus specifically gave instructions only to Peter to feed/tend His sleep (John 21:15-17) after His resurrection.
It is true that Rock in general in the old testament refers to God Himself symbolically (2 Sam 22:47) and there are no other Rock (Isa 44:8). Jesus is the chief cornerstone (1 Pet 2:6) and we have no issues with OT references of God since Jesus is God Himself in Flesh.
Jesus had used rock at multiple places to refer different things in His parables symbolically. E.g, seeds falling on rocks, wise man building on the rock. Hence, Jesus referring to Peter symbolically as rock in context of building His church shouldn’t be a problem if we view that as a symbolic one for what He is going to do with Peter and his role in early church. But we certainly should not use ‘Rock’ like ‘Rock of Salvation’ which is only for God. This is like the term ‘God’ and we know there is one God but God Himself refers to Moses as a god to Pharaoh (Exod 7:1) – This does not mean Moses is in par with the One True God but rather how God is exalting Moses before Pharaoh.