Apostle Peter Is Not The Foundation Stone Of The Church

Published in Pasugo, Jan-Feb 1990


THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH officially declares Apostle Peter as its foundation stone. This must be one of Catholicism’s most crucial doctrinal positions, because its authorities claim that any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone is not the true Church of Christ. This is the statement of James Cardinal Gibbons of the Catholic Church:

“Jesus, our Lord, founded but one Church, which He was pleased to build on Peter. Therefore, any church that does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone is not the Church of Christ,…” (The Faith of Our Fathers, pp. 81-82)

The Church of Christ, or Iglesia ni Cristo, strongly disagrees with the Catholic Church on this issue. The true Church of Christ does not recognize Peter as its foundation stone, but rather Jesus. And any church that does claim Peter to be its foundation stone is a false church.


Jesus The Rock

The Catholic Church and the Iglesia ni Cristo do agree on the truth that Jesus founded the Church of Christ. He being the founder is in the best position to enlighten anyone on this matter. And the rock of the foundation stone is Jesus, based on His own testimony. This is written:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;…” (Mt. 16:18, King James Version)

Jesus used the phrase “this rock.” In order to determine whom He was referring to by this phrase, we need to take a look at this verse in its context. And by carefully examining its context it is clear that the phrase “this rock” is in reference to the subject of discussion during this conversation between Jesus and His Apostles. And that subject was the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the rock referred to is Christ. This is written:

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Ceasarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some Elias and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjon: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;…” (Mt. 16:13-18, Ibid.)

Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this to him. And then He said that upon this rock He would build His church. The person referred to by the demonstrative pronoun this in verse 17 is the same person referred to by the demonstrative pronoun this in verse 18. Which is mentioned in verse 13? It is the Son of Man or the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the foundation stone of the true Church of Christ is Jesus and not Apostle Peter. Jesus is the rock upon which He built His church. Not Apostle Peter!



Jesus The Stone

Let us now solicit the statements of one who knows better than any Roman Pontiff, Catholic Cardinal, or Bishop regarding this issue. This individual was the direct audience of the Lord Jesus Christ when He declared who the rock of foundation stone of the Church was. This individual is none other than Apostle Peter himself.

After the ascension of Jesus into heaven, Peter revealed in his preaching and in his letter, the foundation stone of Christ’s Church. During his sermon on the day of Pentecost, whom did Peter proclaim as the stone which became the head of the corner, the foundation stone? Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This is recorded:

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” (Acts 4:10-11, Ibid.)

Even in his letter to the Christians, Peter plainly states that Jesus is the living stone, which is also the chief corner stone of the true Church. This is written:

“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 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. 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.” (I Pt. 2:3-7, Ibid.)

So as far as Apostle Peter is concerned he is not the foundation stone of the Christian Church. Based on the Scriptures, Peter believed and taught that the foundation stone, the living stone, the chief corner stone laid in Zion, which refers to the Christian Church (Heb. 12:22-23), is the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, therefore, has absolutely nothing to do with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church placing him as the foundation stone of the Church!



Jesus The Chief Corner Stone

Peter was not the only Apostle to writh about the Lord Jesus Christ, but also his fellow Apostle Paul. One of the truths that Paul explicitly mentioned in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus was that Jesus is the chief corner stone:

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In home ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22, KJV)

Paul says that the habitation or house of God, which is the Church (I Tim. 3:15), is built upon Jesus Christ, the chief corner stone. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Peter, and Apostle Paul are completely united in their teaching that Jesus Christ is the foundation stone of the true Church, not Apostle Peter. Can any other foundation of the Church be made after Christ whom the Father decreed to be His Church’s foundation? Apostle Paul says no:

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:11, KJV)

So the doctrine of the Catholic Church that Peter is the foundation stone is a false doctrine! It is indeed an unscriptural teaching. It is a doctrine that leaves the Roman Catholic Church with absolutely no foundation of credibility to its claim of being the true Church of Christ.