16:18a

And I tell you that: Peter had said something important about Jesus (16:16). Here Jesus said something important to him. The pronoun I is emphasized in the Greek. If there is a way to emphasize the pronoun in your language here, you may want to do so. Here is an example in English:

And I, I tell you

you are Peter: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Peter means “rock.” Jesus named Simon “Rock” (Peter) when he first met him (in John 1:42). Here Jesus used the meaning of the name as a basis for his metaphor in 16:18b.

This word probably refers to a large rock or a rock that no one can move. In the following metaphor, Jesus talked about building his church upon this rock. A stone that a person can throw or move is probably not meant.

In the next clause (16:18b), Jesus used the meaning of the word. So you should make the connection between the name Peter (16:18a) and its meaning rock (16:18b) clear. Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Use both the name Peter and the word “rock” to explain the meaning of the name in your translation. For example:

you are Peter, the Rock (Revised English Bible)

• Use the name Peter and explain in a footnote that the name means “rock.” For example:

you are named Peter
-or-
your name is Peter

A sample footnote on Peter is:

The meaning of the word translated Peter is “rock/boulder.”

16:18b

and on this rock I will build: Here the word rock refers to a large rock on which a person can build a house. Building a house on a rock foundation makes the house strong and prevents it from falling down.

Christians have different opinions about who or what the phrase this rock refers to. Here are the three main interpretations:

(1) It refers to Peter.

(2) It refers to Peter’s confession in 16:16a–b that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God.

(3) It refers to Jesus.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation that most modern commentators follow. God used Peter to lead the early church and help it to grow and become established.

I will build My church: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared the establishing of his group of Christian believers to the building of a building. He was talking about “building up” or “increasing” the number of believers and making them strong in their faith.

Jesus was not referring to building a literal church building. Remember that in the New Testament, the word “church” refers to a group of believers. It does not refer to a building.

Here are some other ways to translate this entire clause:

and on this rock foundation I will build my church (Good News Translation)
-or-
the ⌊flat⌋ rock on whom I will build my group of believers

In some languages, it will not be possible to say that Jesus “will build his group of believers.” In such languages, the challenge will be to find expressions for build and church that will go together.

One way to do this is to change the metaphor to a simile and make some parts of it more explicit. For example:

Like a man builds his house on a rock ⌊foundation⌋, I will make ⌊you⌋ the foundation/support for my group of followers
-or-
Just like people build on a rock foundation ⌊to make a building strong⌋, I will use ⌊you, Peter⌋ the rock, to help my group of believers be strong.

16:18c

gates of Hades: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gates of Hades is a figure of speech. It refers to “the power of death” or “death” itself. For example:

the power of death (New Century Version)
-or-
death (Good News Translation)

This phrase can also refer to the person who rules over death. For example:

Satan
-or-
power of Satan
-or-
evil powers

will not prevail against it: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prevail against refers to winning a victory over something, or defeating it.

The pronoun it refers to the church of Jesus. The church which Jesus will build will never be defeated or destroyed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will not overcome it (New International Version)
-or-
will not be able to defeat it (New Century Version)
-or-
will not conquer it (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

will not win a victory over the church

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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