Rock refers to faith/confession; papal doctrine rejected
WELS interprets Matthew 16:18 'on this rock' as referring to the faith and confession of Peter ('You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God'), not to Peter himself. The rock is the confessional content — the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God — upon which the church is built. WELS strictly confessional theology grounds the church in apostolic doctrine, not in apostolic succession through Peter or papal authority.
WELS affirms apostolic authority distributed among the apostles as guardians of doctrine. The rejection of papal primacy is fundamental to WELS theology and practice. Christ alone is the head of the church, and authority is exercised through the Word of God and the universal priesthood of believers, not through hierarchical succession.
Key Distinctions
- Rock referent:
- rock is the confession of faith, not Peter's office
- Peter role:
- apostolic authority distributed; no papal succession
- Papal primacy:
Scripture References
Sources
- WELS doctrinal statements on church government
- Book of Concord, Augsburg Confession VIII (1530)
- WELS position papers on papal claims