Nuanced
Peter's confession is the rock; church has apostolic succession through bishops
The Assyrian Church of the East reads Matthew 16:18 as affirming that the Church is built on apostolic faith (the confession of Peter) and on the apostolic succession of bishops. The Church maintains the historic episcopate and claims apostolic succession from the apostles through its patriarchate. The 'rock' refers to Christ and to Peter's apostolic confession.
The Assyrian Church rejects Roman papal primacy and claims that its Catholicos-Patriarch stands in apostolic succession as the chief pastor, not as a universal pope. This reflects the ancient Eastern understanding of apostolic authority distributed among the ancient sees.
Key Distinctions
- Rock referent:
- Peter role:
- apostolic succession through Catholicos-Patriarch
- Papal primacy:
- Peter's confession affirmed; papal primacy rejected
Scripture References
Sources
- Assyrian Church doctrinal standards and synodal statements