The Ragged Edge Radio ....with Russ Dizdar

AT THE GATES OF HELL…HADESPART 3318κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and [the] gates ofHades will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18The phrase the “gates of hell” is translated in some versions as the “gates of Hades.” “Gates of hell” or “gates ofHades” is found only once in the entire Scriptures, in Matthew 16:18. In this passage, Jesus is referring to thebuilding of His church: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).At that time Jesus had not yet established His church. In fact, this is the first instance of the word church in the NewTestament. The word church, as used by Jesus, is derived from the Greek ekklasia, which means the “called out” or“assembly.” In other words, the church that Jesus is referencing as His church is the assembly of