If we assume an Aramaic ‘original’, then why didn’t Matthew record petros twice here, especially, if, as you assert in this blog post, there really is no difference between petros and petra? Cursory research suggests (see, for example, this comment) that such wording is often used in cases of Semitic sentence structure — which Matthew is almost certainly using here. Jerome, To Pope Damasus, Epistle 15:1-2 (A.D. 375), “Number the bishops from the See of Peter itself. I know the non-Chalcedonian are “Oriental” — but aren’t all Orthodox “Eastern”?) The use of a demonstrative pronoun does not necessarily exclude the use of an article as it does in English. If you are interested in replying, I’m curious how those of you who converted feel about such issues with your respective churches. Of all the instances in which the New Testament refers to a “rock” or “stone,” in about forty-eight cases λίθος is used, fifteen are πέτρα, and two are ψῆφος (a voting-pebble, as in Revelation 2:17). The use of “this” would have been enough to assume the connection to those so persuaded, would it not? Once again, Matthew did not invent the name Πέτρος for Peter — so whatever linguistic distinction there might be between Πέτρος and πέτρα is owed to whoever first coined the name Πέτρος and not to Matthew. If Matthew did wish to declare that Peter was of a lighter sort of rock than πέτρα, he would have used the word λίθος for “stone”, as he used elsewhere (cf. From my recollection (off the top of my head here), the pope really started taking on more and more power by necessity when the Roman government collapsed. That is, “You are an individual rock/Peter and upon your confession that I am the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build my ekklēsia”. I also read statements from other scholars that by the New Testament, there was not much of a distinction between πέτρος and πέτρα and that the words were used interchangeably (cf. With this in mind, could it be, “You are an individual rock [petros]/Peter, and upon this (other) fixed rock [tē petra] I will build my ekklēsia”, with the (other) fixed rock being Peter’s earlier confession? Under the entry for ΠΈΤΡΟΣ (which is on the same page in both physical books) a distinction is made at the outset, pointing the reader back to ΠΈΤΡΑ for particulars. On this Rock: An Analysis of Matthew 16:18 in the Greek, Falling fron Grace (Grace and Justification), Was Peter Really the First Pope? I feel that God has appointed our pope and bishops to lead us by the Holy Spirit, and I will trust in their guidance. Others will find arguments (convincing or otherwise) to counter any notion of papal supremacy because we’ve all had unpleasant encounters in the past. No; I’m not badgering you. As the article I retweeted yesterday says, “The unique challenge for Catholics seeking to live their Christian faith in the South leaves no room for spiritual mediocrity, doctrinal confusion, uncertain commitments or a lukewarm interior life.” I agree with this assessment entirely. Earlier I’d mentioned that sometimes in PPs a concrete noun is anarthrous when it is a definite noun, whereas other times it is arthrous. Today, the assembly/Parlaiment in Israel is known as the Knesset. Now, I’m not resting solidly on this, because I’ve seen what appears to be inconsistencies within PPs with respect to the presence/absence of the article, and I’ve not fully tested this. I can understand the preference for a supreme head – it’s certainly easier to understand, and in many other circumstances I would prefer it (I’m as monarchist as they come in my political beliefs). So it’s not quite the same case as rendering a masculine name from a feminine noun. I think that much, all Christians agree upon.
The following goes a bit beyond your post, but there is ample evidence that Jesus would have taught in Greek, so one cannot lean too heavily on an Aramaic original. . Seeing these words in stone did more to move me to this truth, and toward the Catholic Church, than almost anything else: my banner above is a photograph I took of this same declaration, in Latin, around the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, over the high altar and St. Peter’s tomb.
These days we are starting a lot of what we call “missionary churches” in “the lands of immigration.” These churches are founded to serve converts. Are you aware that Augustine, a recognized Doctor by the Catholic Church, changed his mind, as well?