An Invitation to the New Church # 35
35. The keys of the kingdom of the heavens were given to Peter, because he represented the Lord as to Divine Truth; and this is what is meant by "rock," throughout the whole of the Sacred Scripture. On this account [it is said],
Upon this rock, that is, on this Divine Truth, "will I build My Church," namely, the truth that the Lord is "the Son of the living God. "
It shall be shown from the Word, that "rock" has this signification.
("Rock" in the Word: Exodus 17:6; 33:21-22; Numbers 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 8:15; 32:4-37; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2-3, 32, 47; 23:3; Psalms 18:2, 31, 46; 28:1; 31:2-3; 40:2; 42:9; 62:2, 7; 78:16, 20, 35; 89:26; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1; 105:41; Isaiah 2:10; 22:16; 42:11; 1 Corinthians 10:4). ("Fissures of the rock" denote falsified truths, Revelation 6:15-16; Isaiah 2:19; Jeremiah 16:16; Song of Solomon 2:14; Isaiah 48:21; Jeremiah 23:29; 49:16; Obadiah 1:3; besides in the Gospels.)
In this wise also some of the Fathers explained it (see Formula Concordiae, p. 345).
Deuteronomy 32:13
13
He made him ride on the high places of the earth. He ate the increase of the field. He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, oil out of the flinty rock;
