"But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. " 1 Cor 11:3 NKJV

"but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- " Eph 4:15 NKJV

"For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. " -- Eph 5:23 NKJV

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, (Greek Petros: A rock, a stone) and on this rock ( Greek Petros: A cliff, a ledge, a large rock or boulder) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. " Mt 16:18 NKJV (Emphasis added is mine)

My interpretation of that is that Christ called Peter a stone, and then said that upon a much larger stone, a boulder, a cliff ledge type stone, would the Church be built. What stone was Jesus referring too.. I would say that it was Himself. He is seen in scripture as a stone in numerous places, a rock that cannot be shaken, a foundation stone that is laid, a stone which causes men to stumble, and a rock which makes them fall. While I do believe Peter was given authority to lead the disciples, and manage this motley group of disciples, I don't believe that the Church's foundations have been built upon him and his Apostolic authority. There is one Rock upon which the Church is built, and that is the same rock which followed our forefathers in the desert.. that rock is Christ

"and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock (petra) that followed them, and that Rock (petra) was Christ. " -- 1 Cor 10:4 NKJV

( and some will note that the greek word used here is petra-- not petros. I think the reason in Matthew that we see Petros is that Jesus is making sure that there is no room for confusion. Peter is a rock, a living stone, ( as are all of us, being built.... "as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood"-- 1 pe 2:5), but of all the stones in this work of art, Christ is the Cornerstone, the foundational stone, the Head stone.. he is the One upon whom the Church is being built.

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" Eph 2:19-21 NKJV

You asked for Scripture as to who was the head of the Church ( Invisible and Visible) on earth. I say that my answer is ( supported by scripture) : Jesus Christ.

The Churchs One foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord
She is His new Creation by water and the word.
With his own hands He sought her to be His holy bride
with His own blood he bought her, and for her life He died.

Elect from every nation, yet one over all the earth
Her charter of Salvation: One Lord, One Faith, One birth
One Holy Name she blesses, partakes One holy food
and to one hope she presses with every grace endued..

Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up: How long?
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song

Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war
She waits the consumation of peace forever more
Til with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest

Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in One
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won
O happy ones and holy- Lord give us grace that we
like them the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

Last edited by Aslans Singer; Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:24 AM.