Matthew 16:18 - Scofield Reference Notes

Bible Comments

Peter

There is the Greek a play upon the words, "thou art Peter [Greek, "petros" -- literally 'a little rock]', and upon this rock [Greek, "Petra"] I will build my church." He does not promise to build His church upon Peter, but upon Himself, as Peter is careful to tell us. (1 Peter 2:4-9).

church

(Greek, "ecclesia" ("ek", means "out of", "kaleo" means "to call"), an assembly of called out ones). The word is used of any assembly; the word itself implies no more, as, for example, the town-meeting at Ephesus (Acts 19:39) and Israel, called out of Egypt and assembled in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). Israel was a true "church," but not in any sense the New Testament church -- the only point of similarity being that both were "called out" and by the same God. All else is contrast.

( See Scofield) - (Acts 7:38).

( See Scofield) - (Hebrews 12:23).

hell

See ( See Scofield) - (Luke 16:23).

Matthew 16:18

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,a and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.