The Apostle Peter’s Place in the Ecclesiology of the Gospel of Matthew: An Inquiry into the Theological Meaning of “the Rock” and “the Keys of the Kingdom” in Matthew 16:18-19

Rostislav TKACHENKO

Abstract


In this article the author exegetically and theologically analyzes one of the tradition ally controversial passages from the New TestamentMatthew 16:18-19, which speaks about the socalled primacy of the Apostle Peter and the “keys of the king dom” given to him. More specifically, the article attempts to clarify and define the lexical and theological meaning of the concepts used in the passage studied and explicate them in the context of Matthean ecclesiology. It is argued that initially Jesus is the one to whom real and supreme au thority belongs, but it is to Peter that he entrusts the keys of the Kingdom, thus officially making him the spiritual leader of the primitive church. Yet, he does so only after Peter has professed him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. As a re sult, Peterviz. a person of Simon the Apos tle, firmly believing and courageously con fessingbecomes the rock, the foundation of the Church of Christ, due to his faith and confession. Thus, close links between Jesus himself, Peter, and the community of believers have been established which should be maintained when interpreting Matt. 16:18-19.

Keywords


Apostle Peter; Gospel of Matthew; Keys of the Kingdom; Matthew 16:18-19

References


BOOKS

Barrett, C.K. Church, Ministry, and Sacraments in the New Testament. The 1983 Didsbury Lectures. Carlisle, UK: The Paternoster Press, 1985.

Brooks, James A. and Winbery, Carlton L. Syntax of New Testament Greek. Washington, D.C.: University Press of America, 1979.

Doriani, D. M. Matthew 14-28. Vol. 2 of Matthew. Reformed Expository Commentary, edited by Richard D. Phillips and Philip G. Ryken. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2008.

Erickson, R. J. A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Exegesis. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2005.

Giles, Kevin. What on Earth Is the Church? An Exploration in New Testament Theology. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1995.

Green, Joel B., McKnight, Scot, and Marshall, I. Howard, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1992.

Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14-28. The World Biblical Commentary 33b, edited by David A. Habbard and Glenn W. Barker. Dallas, Texas: Word Books, 1995.

Hauerwas, Stanley. Matthew. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible, edited by R.R. Reno, R.W. Jenson et al. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2006.

Ladd, G. E. A Theology of the New Testament. Revised Edition, edited by Donald A. Hagner. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 1993.

Luz, Ulrich. Studies in Matthew. Trans. Rosemary Selle. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2005.

Marshall, I. H. New Testament Theology. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Matera, C. J. New Testament Theology: Exploring Diversity and Unity. Louisville and London: Westminster John Knox, 2007.

Nestle, Eberhard, Nestle, Erwin, Aland, Kurt, et alii, eds. (Nestle-Aland). Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine. 27th edition. Stuttgart: Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, 1997.

Nestle, Eberhard, Nestle, Erwin, Aland, Kurt, et alii, eds. (Nestle-Aland). Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.

New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV). Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, 1989.

Schnakenburg, Rudolf. The Gospel of Matthew. Translated by Robert R. Barr. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2002.

Schnelle, Udo. Theology of the New Testament. Translated by M. E. Boring. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.

Schreiner, Thomas R. New Testament Theology: Glorifying God in Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.

Wilkins, M. J. Matthew. The NIV Application Commentary, edited by Terry Muck. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2004.

ARTICLES

Basser, Herbert W. “Derrett’s ‘Binding’ Reopened.” Journal of Biblical Literature 104, no. 2 (1985): 297-300.

Hiers, Richard H. “‘Binding’ and ‘Losing’: The Matthean Authorizations.” Journal of Biblical Literature 104, no. 2 (1985): 233-250.

Maier, Gerhard. The Church in the Gospel of Matthew: Hermeneutical Analysis of the Current Debate. In Biblical Interpretation and the Church: Text and Context, edited by D.A. Carson, 30-63. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993.

Mantey, Julius R. “Distorted Translations in John 20:23; Matthew 16:18-19 and 18:1.” Review & Expositor 78, no. 3 (Summer 1981): 409-416.

Marcus, Joel. “The Gates of Hades and the Keys of the Kingdom (Matt 16:18-19).” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 50, no. 3 (July 1988): 443-455.

Mathew, Parackel K. “Authority and Discipline: Matt. 16.17-19 and 18.15-18 and the Exercise of Authority and Discipline in the Matthean Community.” Communio viatorum 28, no. 3-4 (Wint 1985): 119-125.

Powell, Mark Allan. “Binding and Loosing: A Paradigm for Ethical Discernment from the Gospel of Matthew.” Currents in Theology and Mission 30, no. 6 (December 2003): 438-445.

Robinson, Bernard P. “Peter and His Successors: Tradition and Redaction in Matthew 16.17-19.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 21, (June 1984): 85-104.

Stylianopoulos, Theodore. “Concerning the Biblical Foundation of Primacy.” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 49:1-2 (March 2004): 1-31.

Suggs, M. Jack. “Matthew 16:13-20.” Interpretation 39, no. 3 (July 1985): 291-295.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.29357/issn.2521-179X.2014.15.44

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.

Comments on this article

View all comments


Copyright (c) 2014 TKACHENKO Rostislav

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS: EURO-ASIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY

ISSN 2521-179X (Online), ISSN 2415-783X (Print)