By whose authority do you interpret Christ’s Words this way? Remember that Jesus gave Simon a new name in the part of the sentence you excluded. Care to share with the class what that name means?
Certainly! Peter was a “rock” in that he accepted the “words of eternal life”. The other apostles were also “rocks” since on them the Church would continue.
Not my words but:
“The ‘Rock’ on which Christ will build His Church means Peter’s confession of FAITH in Christ”
St John Chrysostom 53rd Homily on St Matthew
“The Church, the house of the Lord, is built upon the foundations of the faith of the apostles and prophets.”
St Basil of Caesarea “Second Chapter of Isaiah”
“If you believe that God has raised the whole building of His Church on Peter alone, what would you say of John, the ‘Son of Thunder’, What would you say of each of the apostles? Would you venture to say that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Peter alone, but shall prevail against the others?- is not the title addressed to them all?”
Origen “Commentary on St Matthew”
” Jesus Christ is the Rock.He did not deny the grace of His name to Peter because he borrowed from the Rock the constancy and solidity of his faith. The Rock is thy faith and this faith is the foundation of the Church. If thou art a rock, thou shall be in the Church, for the Church is built upon the Rock - and this Rock is the profession of faith in Jesus Christ.”
St. Ambrose
“Thou art Peter ... but the Rock was Jesus Christ. Peter having confessed Him, as all the Church confesses Him, He then called Peter a rock for his faith.
St Augustine “Retractations” “Contra Julianum”
“Christ said to Peter... I will build thee upon myself I will not be built upon thee. Those who wish to be built among men say, “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephus. However those who did not wish to be built upon Peter, but upon the Rock (Jesus Christ) say, I am of of Jesus Christ.”
St Augustine Retractrations 13th Sermon
“Behold how Peter does all things by common consent and decides nothing by his own power or authority.”
St John Chrysostom
I have dozens more. Class dismissed.