Was the Church (Ecclesia) of Jesus Christ to be built upon the Apostle Peter as Catholic doctrine teaches?  And is Peter "the Rock" mentioned by Christ in Matthew 16:18 making him "the first Pope"?  Not according to God's Word.  The Bible declares that no sinful man could possibly be the Rock upon which the body of believers of Christ shall stand, but only Yahshua (Jesus) Himself is that Rock, perfect and sinless in every way.  The main verses in question are as follows:

Mat.16:13  "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

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.

19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

   Catholic doctrine says that Christ made Peter the "Rock of the Church" in verse 18, giving Peter the authority of being "the First Pope" with absolute and infallible leadership over the flock of Jesus Christ, but this is not what the account tells us.  Christ CLEARLY DOES  NOT say to Peter, "upon YOU,  I will build my church", but instead He declares "upon THIS ROCK ---"  That ROCK is seen in verse 16 where Peter speaks the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  "The Rock" is Christ and the truth of His Messiahship. The literal Greek is more precise than the English Bibles as it reads in verse 18 " ---  That thou art Peter, (Petros "rock") and upon this THE rock (Petra with article = "the rock") I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." [Reference: Concordant Greek Text, Concordant Publishing Concern, 1926, 1975, pg . 77 sublinear Mat.16:18] Christ was using a play on words between Peter's name which means "rock or stone", and the revealed truth of Christ being the anointed Messiah, that is "THE rock".

   If we were to stay only within the confines of one verse (verse 18) we could perceivably enter into a debate over Catholic theology about WHO or WHAT "the Rock" is, and no closure may be found on this matter.  However, the Bible explains itself if we but merely go beyond isolating one verse and foolishly attempt to make a doctrine out of it.

The Catholic perception that the Rock must be Peter is based upon verse 19 where Peter is given the keys of the Kingdom to "bind in heaven and earth", therefore, according to Romish belief this "power" was exclusive to Peter alone, and Peter then would ultimately pass this down to the following Pope, and then to the succession of Popes in history.

However, Peter's ability to "bind in heaven and earth" was directly related to the truth which he had stated about Christ being God's Son, which truth opens the Scriptures unto salvation for those to whom it is revealed.  This ability to "bind in heaven and earth" is the power to witness for the Kingdom of Christ and WAS NOT and IS NOT limited to Peter or any so called solitary "Papal authority" owned by one single man.  ALL of the disciples were ALSO given this same ability as had Peter, since they as well were witness to bear this truth, "this rock".  This is spelled out in Matthew chapter 18:

Mat.18:1  "At the same time came THE DISCIPLES unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

  This is the same authority given to Peter in Matthew 16.  No Pope or any single individual alone has this "divine gift" to testify of Christ's Messiahship (Bind and loose The Word), but rather this truth is shared within, by ALL believers, all disciples in Christ Jesus.  Peter held no monopoly on the recognition of the divine nature of Yahshua/Jesus of  Nazareth.  So it is today.  Revelation 1:6  "And (Jesus) hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

   If Peter was made the "first Pope" "The Vicar of Christ in the earth" by Jesus in Matthew 16:18, and given authority over all other believers, as Catholic doctrine insists, it is hard put to explain Christ's sudden change of attitude concerning Peter ONLY A FEW VERSES LATER.  After supposedly being hand picked by Jesus as His infallible representative over the entire flock of Christendom, Jesus apparently contradicts Himself and calls the so called "first Pope" "Satan, and an Offense" to Him, and a person who can't understand God's will.

Mat.16:21  "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Master: this shall not be unto thee.

23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men".

   Is this who Christ picked to be "the Rock" of His assembly?  A "Pope" whose first day on the job earns him the title of "Satan" due to his inept carnality that can't discern the things of God?  Is this the "infallible ability" which Peter would pass down to all other so called "Popes"?   The Scriptures simply point out Peter's quite fallible qualities which we all have.  Peter was no different than any other sinner that needs to rest upon The Rock Jesus Christ.

  Not only did Christ Himself chastise Peter for his quite "fallible" mortal traits, the other Apostles and disciples did not recognize Peter's supposed ultimate authority over the "Church" which Catholics insist Peter had.  In Acts 15  the advice of James is followed, NOT Peter's, concerning the writing of letters as a solution about doctrine within the assemblies.  Strange that the gathering of elders would ultimately listen to James if Peter was "The Decider"  of Pontifical decree standing right in the midst of them.  In Galatians 2:11  Paul also withstood Peter over doctrine.  Would a Bishop or Cardinal in the Catholic Church be allowed or even dare to do this to the Pope?   No!  But as the Bible and history tell us, Peter was not a Pope in the Roman Catholic hierarchy.  He was an Apostle of Christ, with a testimony of faith to preach, as were the other Apostles and disciples. As a matter of fact, Peter himself taught with great discernment that Christ (not himself) was the chief stone.  Peter emphasizes this point to the body of believers in his epistle in the Book of First Peter:

I Pet.2:4  "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

   Yes Peter, whom the Catholics erroneously elevate as the believer's stone and rock, himself declares that it is Jesus who is "this Rock", and Peter in verse 6 quotes Isaiah 28:16 to prove the point! 

The Apostle Paul say the same:

I Cor.3:9 " For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man TAKE HEED how he buildeth thereupon.

11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, WHICH IS CHRIST JESUS."

(no mention here of Peter being the foundation upon which the congregation is built)

   But why did Peter go to the Old Testament Scriptures of Isaiah 28 to show that Christ is the Rock of His sheep?  Because Christ Himself commands and directs us to search the prophets for the glory and merits given Him by The Father.  In other words --- if we want to finally determine beyond doubt who "this Rock is", Christ of the New Testament Scriptures tells us to seek the words of the prophets for time tested proof!

Lk. 24:25  "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

  What is contained in "all the Scriptures" concerning just who the Rock of the Bible is, beginning with the words of Moses?  Is it God Incarnate or Peter?  Christ bids us "go there" to find the answer:

Deuteronomy 32: 3,4  "Because I will publish the name of Yahweh: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  HE IS THE ROCK, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

31  "For their rock is not as OUR ROCK, even our enemies themselves being judges.

32  For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:" (i.e. religions of queers, Sodomites, have a different rock than God Himself)

44  And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun."  (Thus we read where Christ tells us to read, starting at Moses)

1 Samuel 2:2  "There is none holy as Yahweh: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any ROCK LIKE OUR GOD."

2 Samuel 22:32  "For who is God, save YAHWEH? and who is A ROCK, save our God?"

Psalms 31:3  "For THOU ART MY ROCK and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."

Psalms 62:2  "HE ONLY IS MY ROCK and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."

Psalms 92:15  "To shew that Yahweh is upright: HE IS MY ROCK, and there is NO unrighteousness in him." (no sinner, including Peter can ever be the Rock  Rom.3:23)

Isaiah 28:16  "Therefore thus saith the Yahweh God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

  Thus, according to Moses, David and the Psalmists, the prophet Isaiah and the apostles Peter and Paul, each and all writing as directed and influenced by the Holy Spirit, the foundation of the church (Ecclesia), and of the eternal hopes of all true believers, is not Peter, or Paul, Moses, or any sinful man , but "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Those that teach otherwise are as Christ Himself describes them: 

Lk. 24:25  "Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"

Peter was not the Rock of Matthew 16 and that Apostle never sat as a "Pope of Rome".  The full testimony of God's Word declares that Yahshua/Jesus in the commission of Yahweh is our ROCK forever.