Petros versus Petra - Interpreting the Use of Words in Matthew 16:18

DAY 282 CHALLENGE “Peter can’t be the rock that Jesus refers to in Matthew 16:18. He uses the word petros (small stone) for ‘Peter’ but petra (large rock) for ‘rock.’ Why would he change the word if he was referring to Peter both times?” DEFENSE This challenge has several problems and does not prove its case. Protestant scholar D.A. Carson notes: Although it is true that petros and petra can mean “[small] stone” and “[large] rock” respectively in earlier Greek, the distinction is largely confined to poetry. Moreover the underlying Aramaic is in this case unquestionable; and most prob...