Protestant? Catholic? Confused...

[LearningToLetGo]

Also, what is the significance of Jesus giving Simon the name Cephas upon first meeting him in John 1:42? Is there one?

[LearningToLetGo]

2 minutes ago, Waggles said:

You can obtain New Testaments written in Aramaic (which I believe is still spoken in Syria today).

Thank you. I have heard that the gospel of Matthew was originally written in Aramaic then translated into Greek by Matthew himself. If this is true then the "original" text is lost to mankind and all we have is a translation of a translation.

[Brother Duke]

Matthew 7:24-27 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 16:13-18 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 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. 

[Dennis1209]

5 hours ago, Waggles said:

Not true. Not taught in scripture.

Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek) is the underworld where all the dead (our souls) do go awaiting for the resurrection of Judgement.

Even the dead in Christ are in Hades waiting to be transformed in a twinkling of an eye and to rise up and forever be with our Lord and God.

We all have different hermeneutical views. My view is, after the resurrection of Jesus:

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

I believe when Jesus descended, He lead the holding area in the Earth [Hades, Abraham's bosom] to Heaven [captivity captive]. 

Ephesians 4:8 (KJV) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [emphasis mine].

I'm of the opinion the torment side of Hades [jail if you will], is still there keeping the unsaved until the Great White Throne judgment. According to what is said about the rich man in Hades; they're not drinking beer and playing poker with their buddies. 

[Dennis1209]

39 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Also, what is the significance of Jesus giving Simon the name Cephas upon first meeting him in John 1:42? Is there one?

when Jesus looked at him. Jesus knows hearts thoroughly (vv. 43–51) and not only sees into them (vv. 47, 48) but also transforms a person into what He wants him to become. You shall be called Cephas. Up to this time, Peter had been known as “Simon son of Jonah” (the name “Jonah” in Aram. means “John”; cf. 21:15–17; Matt. 16:17). The term “Cephas” means “rock” in Aram. which is translated “Peter” in Greek. Jesus’ assignment of the name “Cephas” or “Peter” to Simon occurred at the outset of His ministry (cf. Matt. 16:18; Mark 3:16). The statement not only is predictive of what Peter would be called but also declarative of how Jesus would transform his character and use him in relationship to the foundation of the church (cf. 21:18, 19; Matt. 16:16–18; Acts 2:14–4:32).

MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1577). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

[Waggles]

1 hour ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Also, what is the significance of Jesus giving Simon the name Cephas upon first meeting him in John 1:42? Is there one?

Because Jesus already knew before hand would would happen.  That this event and conversation would occur.

[LearningToLetGo]

11 minutes ago, Waggles said:

Because Jesus already knew before hand would would happen.  That this event and conversation would occur.

Exactly! Jesus gives Simon the name "Cephas" (meaning "Rock", translated as "Peter") and then says "on this rock I will build my church." The argument of Petros/Petra is sound, as is the idea of "rock" being Jesus as Christ, but we can't just gloss over the fact that Jesus made it a point of renaming Simon. It's not like that was his name all along, because it clearly wasn't.

[Whyme]

18 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Exactly! Jesus gives Simon the name "Cephas" (meaning "Rock", translated as "Peter") and then says "on this rock I will build my church." The argument of Petros/Petra is sound, as is the idea of "rock" being Jesus as Christ, but we can't just gloss over the fact that Jesus made it a point of renaming Simon. It's not like that was his name all along, because it clearly 

Jesus calls us all stones so why is it a wonder if Peter is called one? 

[Riverwalker]

24 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Exactly! Jesus gives Simon the name "Cephas" (meaning "Rock", translated as "Peter") and then says "on this rock I will build my church." The argument of Petros/Petra is sound, as is the idea of "rock" being Jesus as Christ, but we can't just gloss over the fact that Jesus made it a point of renaming Simon. It's not like that was his name all along, because it clearly wasn't.

Yes Jesus renamed Simon. For the revelation he had and his boldness to speak it. It is about the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah that the church is built. The revelation of Peter, not Peter himself.  This is the only possible outcome when you interpret the bible with the bible, Which calls Jesus the head of the church, in which Peter reminds us that Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone.  Since the church cannot be founded on a mere man, then it was some aspect of Simon that caused Jesus to rename him Peter.

 

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [g]prevail against it. 

Of all his closest followers ONLY Peter had the boldness to say, what most of them had to be thinking, and that Bold declaration...set the tone and pattern of the church, starting on the day of Pentecost.

Finally we have to accept the bible when it says there is ONE church and Christ is the head. 

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [e]principalities or [f]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

So no Peter the man is not the foundation of the church. But his revelation and boldness is.

And Again I have to say, God has nothing to do with the divisions that men have tried to impose on HIS Church

There are no denominations in Christianity. Those are the machinations of people.

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by Riverwalker

[Brother Duke]

1 minute ago, Whyme said:

Jesus calls us all stones so why is it a wonder if Peter is called one? 

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.