Matthew 16: 18
Darby Translation
18 And *I* also, I say unto thee that *thou* art Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and hades' gates shall not prevail against it.
* * *
The auxiliary verb "will" pertains to a future event. Thus, when the Lord said "I will build my assembly" in Matthew 16:18, it indicates that the focus of the Lord's ministry was for the Jewish. There was nothing for the assembly during His life on earth. Only later after His resurrection in Acts chapter 2 that Matthew 16:18 was accomplished.
The word "church" used today is a Greek word, but is not in the New Covenant text. The word "church" /kyriakos/ means "belonging to the Lord". But the word found in the Bible is "ekklēsía" which means "people". The word "church" has been widely used by denominations but it is not literal. It does not give justice to the text.
The auxiliary verb "will" pertains to a future event. Thus, when the Lord said "I will build my assembly" in Matthew 16:18, it indicates that the focus of the Lord's ministry was for the Jewish. There was nothing for the assembly during His life on earth. Only later after His resurrection in Acts chapter 2 that Matthew 16:18 was accomplished.
The word "church" used today is a Greek word, but is not in the New Covenant text. The word "church" /kyriakos/ means "belonging to the Lord". But the word found in the Bible is "ekklēsía" which means "people". The word "church" has been widely used by denominations but it is not literal. It does not give justice to the text.