What really is the Christian Church? The definition differs within the
members of the Church itself while the non-Christians view the Church as
the followers of Jesus Christ. For the Catholics, the second Vatican council
defines the Church as the body of people who have the Pope as their head
who is the successor of Peter. The Protestants obviously do not hold this
view. So presented for your consideration, in my humble opinion, is what I
believe to be the Church.

Whatever that "Rock" was or is, Christ built his Church on it. The way I see it, there are three possibilities for being that rock. Peter, God, or the answer to the question asked by Jesus "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?1. The RCC has chosen "Peter" as their "Rock"

Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that
time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a
God ('elowahh:H433) beside me? yea, there is no God/rock

For me, it is this third choice. The proof to this assertion is evident in that
"True Christians" can be found in the Eastern Orthodox & Protestant
denominations as well as the Catholic group. Furthermore, the Baptismal
prerequisite in the beginning of the Church was precisely this as indicated
by the following verses:

Acts 8:36-38 And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all
thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to
stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and
the eunuch; and he baptized him.

On the other hand, The Catholic Church defines the Church as that body of believers that follow the successor of Peter and not necessarily those who have Christ as their head. But Scripture reads:

Eph 5:23-24 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as thechurch is subject unto Christ , so let the wives be
to their own husbands in every thing.

1 Cor 11:3 (KJV) But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the womanis the man; and the head of Christis God.

There is surely room for argument about this subject, but I see things this way. The foundation of the Church is made of stones. All of the Prophets and apostles are these stones with Jesus as the chief Corner Stone. This foundation is built on a Rock for stability.

doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock.

Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [It is not likely that

If Peter's name were "Pietra" it would make better sense since the word
"Rock" in this passage is feminine in gender. Whereas the "Church" has
always been seen as a motherly figure. Only later with the evolution of
Christianity, did the name Peter get Petri-fied. The dictionary also says for
petrified: to replace the normal cells of (organic matter) with silica or other
mineral deposits; re-form as a stony substance.

The word for rock is "petra(f.)" in the Greek language, "Petros/Patrus for
Peter\u201d. Pietro(m.), in Latin, from Pieros (m.)Greek). The word for Peter is a
play on words maybe, where \u201cKephas\u201d, is a surname for Peter, which is
also a term for the word \u201cstone\u201d. see John 1:42 above.

Peter is a key man and one of those that make up the foundation. The
foundation of a building is that part of the structure that gives support to
the wall etc. but it can itself be anchored to a rock for stability.

and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he [JC verse 24] hath purchased
with his own blood.