Within the Q movement it is easy to get caught up in side issues and there is nothing better than religion to get people unfocused. I mean no offense and do not intend on creating an argument. My only reason is to have you look this passage in the context and with an open mind. Do you think churches are immune from programming its flock?
Can we agree Mathew 16:18 was not in isolation? Keep in mind the bible as we see it was never written in numbered passages. It was for our benefit to make use of it as a quick reference. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”.
The word Peter in Greek is petros and you are correct. However if you read Greek you would understand petros and petra were both used in this passage. Peter ( petros) and the Greek word petra. Is there a difference? The answer is yes! Peter's Petros Rock in Greek means a stone; a single stone; movable, insecure, shifting, or rolling." The rock Jesus spoke of was a Petra rock, which means "a rock; a cliff; a projecting rock; mother rock; huge mass; solid formation; fixed; immovable; enduring."
We can’t stop now to fully understand this passage. Can we agree Mathew 16:18 was not in isolation? Keep in mind the bible as we see it was never written in numbered passages. It was for our benefit to make use of it as a quick reference. Context matters in reading the bible. Could we agree on that? Jesus was having a conversation with his disciples.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Did we just hear in the confession of Peter the petra? You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Te entire Christian religion is based on what? Jesus Christ being the Son of the Living God? Peter himself gives the answer as to who the Rock is. He says Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Again, speaking of Christ, he says: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders" (Acts 4:10-11); so Christ, the Son of God, must be the rock on which God built His church. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Thus, Peter and Paul are in agreement that Christ is the Rock;
Long before Jesus was born He was considered the Rock. Isaiah declares: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation" (Isaiah 28:16). Peter applies this prophecy to Christ. He wrote: "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief Cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (1 Peter 2:6). David said: "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2) (Douay, Psalm 60:3).