Gates of Hades

[Wilson L. Deaton]

Matthew 16:18b "... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

This passage is often interpreted to be speaking in terms of the church being able to overcome Satan's dominion and "set the captives free," etc.

I've heard this passage used as a rallying cry that if we fight hard enough we can stop abortions, drugs, etc.

However, I don't think that is what this passage is saying at all. I prefer the interpretation based on Hades simply being the "abode of the dead," or a way of talking about death.

If this is the understanding Jesus had in mind here, in essence he was saying, "... I will build my church and not even death will be able to stop it. They can kill me (and other martyrs) but it will be to no avail."

Most movements can be stopped by killing off the adherents. Not so with the church.

On an individual level this passage promises life after death. On a more corporate level, this passage says to the world, "You can kill Christians, but you can't kill Christianity."

This is nearly parrallel to Paul's poetic taunt, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Cor. 15:15)"

Wilson

[Randy Wise]

Matthew 16:18b "... on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

This passage is often interpreted to be speaking in terms of the church being able to overcome Satan's dominion and "set the captives free," etc.

I've heard this passage used as a rallying cry that if we fight hard enough we can stop abortions, drugs, etc.

However, I don't think that is what this passage is saying at all. I prefer the interpretation based on Hades simply being the "abode of the dead," or a way of talking about death.

If this is the understanding Jesus had in mind here, in essence he was saying, "... I will build my church and not even death will be able to stop it. They can kill me (and other martyrs) but it will be to no avail."

Most movements can be stopped by killing off the adherents. Not so with the church.

On an individual level this passage promises life after death. On a more corporate level, this passage says to the world, "You can kill Christians, but you can't kill Christianity."

This is nearly parrallel to Paul's poetic taunt, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Cor. 15:15)"

Wilson

The reply was to "you are the Christ, the son of the living God". Do you also see His resurrection as what Jesus meant "the gates of hades shall not overcome it" ? I think you touched on this thought with different words in your post "you can't kill Christianity and where, O death is you victory"
Randy