Let's continue our look at Matthew 16:

After Simon Peter confessed that Jesus is "the Christ the son of the living God," Jesus said in Matthew 16:18:

"And I also say to you that you are Peter (Petros)⁽¹⁾, and upon this rock (Petra)⁽²⁾ I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."  Matthew 16:18 (NAS)

The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. 

• The Greek word or "petros⁽¹⁾" is defined as a "piece of a rock" and

• the Greek word or "petra⁽²⁾" is defined as a "mass of rock."

Peter's name is the Greek word Petros⁽¹⁾:

⁽¹⁾ = Petros - A Piece of Rock. 

From the Greek word #4074 "Petros" meaning "a piece of rock" (Strong's Greek/ Hebrew Dictionary)

When Jesus first began His public ministry, Andrew and his brother Simon became followers of Jesus.  According to John 1:42, Jesus said to Simon that he would be called Cephas, which is translated Peter (the Greek word "Petros").

When Jesus says that He will build His church on this "rock," the Greek word being used here is Petra₍₂₎:

⁽²⁾ = Petra - A Mass of Rock. 

From the Greek word #4073 = "Petra" meaning "a mass of rock" (Strong's Greek/ Hebrew Dictionary).

According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) "petra" denotes "a mass of rock," as distinct from "petros," "a detached stone or boulder," or a stone that might be thrown or easily moved.

Question:

After Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God...Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that He would build his church upon what?

1. He would build it upon the "piece of the rock"...or Peter.

2. He would build it upon this "mass of rock."

3. He would build His church on something else.