Is the Church the Pillar and Ground of Truth?

• Is Peter the Corner Stone and the Foundation of the Church? - Religious leaders have badly misunderstood or misinterpreted the meaning of Mat 16:18 down through the centuries by stating that Peter, whose Greek name was Petros, was the “rock” upon which Jesus is building His church. They may have gotten that erroneous idea from the fact that Jesus called Simon Peter “Cephas” [pronounced “kay-fas”] in John 1:40-42. Obviously, when we compare Scripture with Scripture Christ’s words “This Rock”(Petra) in Matt 16:18 can only refer to Christ Himself, Who is the “Chief Cornerstone”, as is shown clearly in 1 Pet 2:3-9. In 1 Pet 2:6 “Sion” (or “Zion” in the OT) refers to the spiritual Kingdom of God, and in verse 8 the Greek word for “rock” in “rock of offence” is petra (G4073). In Mat 16:18 we saw that Christ is the Spiritual Bedrock (petra:G4073) upon which He is building the eternal temple of God in Sion. This concept is further emphasized in 1 Cor 10:1-6. Since “rocks” and “stones” are inorganic and, as such, are inanimate (non-living) objects, God is obviously using parabolic, or figurative, language when speaking of both Christ and His people as “living stones” in that passage. Indeed, it is abundantly clear from the following verses, that the Apostle Peter is NOT the foundation “rock” upon which Christ’s “church” is built, but the “church” is built on the foundation “rock” Christ. Apostle Peter is just one of many “living stones” in God’s spiritual house. Also the Church here in view is not the local congregations and denominations but the eternal, invisible Church, the Bride of Christ consisting of all born again believers starting from Abel.

John 1:40-42 “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s [petros:G4074] brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas [kephas:G2786], which is by interpretation, A stone [petros:G4074].”

Matt 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [petros:G4074], and upon this rock [petra:G4073] [Christ] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the eternal Church].”

1 Cor 10:1-6 “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock [petra:G4073] that followed them: and that Rock [petra:G4073] was Christ. 5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

1 Pet 2:3-8 “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone [lithos:G3037], disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones [lithos:G3037], are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone [lithos:G3037], elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone [lithos:G3037] which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone [lithos:G3037] of stumbling, and a rock [petra:G4073] of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”

Psa 118:22-24 “The stone [Lord Jesus Christ] which the builders [Nation of Israel] refused is become the head stone of the corner [corner stone of the New Testament Church]. 23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Matt 21:42-44 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures [quoting Psa 118:22-24], The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [Nation of Israel], and given to a nation [New Testament Church] bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken [saved]: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder [judged].”

Acts 4:10-12 “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. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Eph 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

1 Cor 3:9-13 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye [every born-again believer] are God's building. 10According 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. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

• Is the Church the Pillar and Ground of Truth? - In order to establish the authority of the “church”, sadly, another verse, 1 Tim 3:14-16,  has been incorrectly interpreted by many throughout church history. This promoted the false notion that the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth”, thereby conferring upon the earthly, institutional churches and congregations (along with their creeds, doctrines, and rituals) authority that is equal or greater than that of the Word of God – the Bible. Because God has purposely written the Bible in ways that test mankind’s pride, the phrase “the pillar and ground of the truth” can correctly modify either “the church” or “the living God” in the original Greek language in 1 Tim 3:15. However, we know from many other portions of Scripture that the earthly, external church can never be the pillar and ground of the Truth. Also, if the church is the pillar and ground of truth, how can it be that the churches differ in doctrines and have so many denominations? The only foundation upon which Truth is built is Jesus Christ – the Word of God – as we read in 1 Cor 3:11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”. Deu 32:4 proclaims, “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”. The Living God is the very essence of Truth, as God the Son so boldly asserted in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. In other words, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth is “the Living God”, the Lord Jesus Christ – not any kind of earthly assembly of human beings. In Gal 2:9, referring to Peter, James, and John as “pillars”, God is highlighting the unique relationship that the Lord Jesus had with them that undoubtedly served to prepare them for the responsibilities of leadership they had inherited. But the “pillar” in this verse Gal 2:9, refers to anyone who is sanctified by Truth of God's Word, or in other words, saved (John 17:17 and Rev 3:12). Each “pillar” in God’s eternal church must stand on the firm foundation of the Word of God – Jesus Christ and the Bible.

1 Tim 3:14-16 “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Gal 2:9 “And when James, Cephas [Peter], and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Rev 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

• Does Peter alone has Keys and Access to Heaven? - The “key” in view in “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” in the verse Matt 16:19, is the the key of knowledge. The “knowledge” with which the Bible is concerned is, of course, the knowledge of salvation (or the Gospel), as Luke 1:77 asserts, “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins…” and is referring to the “true knowledge of the Scriptures” by which the door is opened to salvation.  Col 2:3 pinpoints the source of all knowledge: “In whom [that is, Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. One of the indictments that Jesus leveled against those individuals who specialized in Old Testament law in Luke 11:52 is “... ye have taken away the key of knowledge…”. In the Bible, David (whose name means “beloved”) is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. The “key of David” or the “key of the house of David” in Rev 3:7: “... he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”, is identifying the Lord Jesus as the only One Who can either allow or deny access to salvation. While Matt 16:19: “... whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” is directed towards Peter, very similar statement was made to all the apostles in Matt 18:18. God uses the keys, which is the Bible, to open the gates of hell to free men from the wrath of God. God uses the keys of the Bible to open the door (Christ) into the kingdom of God.  The Gospel has the power to bind Satan and deliver the God's Elect from the hands of Satan. In this sense, every believer is used by God to proclaim Gospel to His Elect and bind Satan and deliver them from the snare of the devil as seen in 2 Cor 2:15-16. 

Rev 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David [Lord Jesus], he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

Matt 16:18-19 “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. 19And 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.”

Luke 11:52-53 “Woe unto you [to the scribes and the Pharisees], lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”

Matt 18:1,18 “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 18Verily 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.”

2 Cor 2:15-16 “For we [believers] are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me [Lord Jesus Christ]; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings [Gospel] unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

Isa 58:5-6 “Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? [by proclaiming Gospel, which is the fast God delights in]”