“Mat 16:18 “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Where in that verse does it say the church was given to anyone?
“The church is the “Bride of Christ” given to Him by the Father
Ummm, where does it say that?”
Eph. 1:17-23, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
“The Great Commission was given to the eleven Apostles, not to the laity! So, I don’t know who is “we” in this case.”
Well, Luke 24:33-50 and Acts 1 say that there many more than the eleven, including women who were given the command “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” and “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Taken as a whole the “Great Commission” was given to the Apostles, disciples and to the women and Acts 2 says they all were preaching and making disciples after the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.
In the keys promised to +Peter (Mat 16:19) and the Apostles (18:18) as the elders of the Church, the body of believers, with apostoles and appointed elders at the helm.
The church is the “Bride of Christ” given to Him by the Father
The Church is also His Body, of which He is the Head. So He is the bride of His own Body? After He left on the Pentecost the Church, the body of believers was entrusted to the Apostles.
Well, Luke 24:33-50 and Acts 1 say that there many more than the eleven, including women
But +Matthew (a witness) and +Mark (a follower of +Peter, a witness) say otherwise. +Luke was a follower of +Paul; neither were witnesses. Even if there were women included , this is contradicted by +Paul himself when he preaches that women shold remain silent in the church.
The point is that those who were entrusted to teach and baptize were not the laity, but the elders of the Church.