My question is in reference to St John Chrysostom. I have read quotes where it is clear that he is saying that "the rock" is St Peter's confession of faith.
What is the interpretation of the the following quote?
"Peter himself the chief of the Apostles, the first in the Church, the friend of Christ, who received a revelation not from man, but from the Father, as the Lord bears witness to him, saying, 'Blessed are thou, Simon Bar Jona, because because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in Heaven '; this very Peter, - and when I name Peter, I name that unbroken rock, that firm foundation, the great Apostle, the first of the disciples, the first called and the first who obeyed."
(Chrysostom, T. ii. Hom. iii. de Paednit)
Matthaeum XVI:18-19
Et ego dico tibi: Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam; et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversum eam.
Tibi dabo claves regni caelorum; et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum in caelis, et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum in caelis ”.
To me, the "Et ego dico tibi..." is something we must study deeper, because if the Lord Jesus was stablishing the fundation of faith on Peter's confession, he would have said "And I say to all of you..." but He didn't. He speaks to Peter despite the other 11 apostles that also were present in that moment, We can say that the Lord is calling to Peter to be firm in his faith, as firm as the Rock upon which He will build His Church. From my prospective, St John Chrisostomo, had understood this, St. Peter was being called to be the Rock in faith, to confirm the others as we can read in Luke.
Lucam XXII:31-32
31 Simon, Simon, ecce Satanas expetivit vos, ut cribraret sicut triticum;
32
ego autem rogavi pro te, ut non deficiat fides tua. Et tu, aliquando conversus, confirma fratres tuos ”.
The Lord is calling to Peter to confirm the others as the Rock he was called to be. Once more we can read that the Lord has used a singular call, "te" (you) in stead of "Vos" or "vobis" (you all).
This is part of the fundation of the "Primus of Peter" stablished in the church.
From my humble point of view.