The Church’s Five Foundations on Catholic Answers Podcasts

The Church is often seen as having its foundation on Jesus Christ, as stated in the famous hymn, “The Church’s ONE foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.” Some individuals argue against the idea of St. Peter being the foundation of the Church and provide verses from the New Testament to support this viewpoint.

In a compelling video, Jimmy Akin delves into the actual teachings of the New Testament and discusses how the Church is depicted as having FIVE distinct types of foundations by its authors, shedding new light on this topic. The hymn “The Church’s One Foundation,” written by Anglican priest Samuel John Stone in 1866, emphasizes Jesus Christ as the sole foundation of the Church, excluding other possibilities like St. Peter. This hymn was part of a series of hymns written by Stone regarding the Apostles’ Creed to address a schism in the Anglican Church of South Africa.

While some Protestants emphasize Jesus Christ as the Church’s exclusive foundation, there is a significant amount of rhetoric suggesting that Peter cannot be the rock on which the Church is built. However, the Bible’s actual teachings do not necessarily reflect this sentiment. The passage from 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 commonly cited to support the idea of Jesus Christ being the Church’s foundation, speaks specifically about the local church in Corinth, where St. Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ. However, this text’s principles can be extended to the universal Church, with Jesus Christ being seen as the unique foundation.

Furthermore, exploring various passages in the New Testament reveals different metaphors used to describe the foundation of the Church. For instance, 1 Peter 2:4-6 portrays Jesus Christ as a cornerstone, essential for building a spiritual house. The cornerstone symbolizes the foundation of a building and plays a crucial role in its construction by providing a reference point for aligning other stones and determining the building’s orientation.

While some may interpret this passage as Peter himself declaring Christ as the rock, it is essential to note the distinctions in the Greek words used for “stone” and “rock” by Peter and Jesus. Despite the apparent emphasis on Jesus Christ as the foundation, the New Testament presents additional perspectives on the Church’s foundation, revealing a multifaceted understanding of this central concept.