We Are Building on a Rock

DESCRIPTION: "We are building on a Rock," a "mighty true Rock," a "mighty solid rock," "on high, on high." "Christ Jesus is the Rock" that will prevail against "the very gates of hell." "Help me build on the rock"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1901 (Dett/Fenner/Rathbun/Cleveland-ReligiousFolkSongsOfTheNegro-HamptonInstitute)
KEYWORDS: nonballad religious Jesus
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Dett/Fenner/Rathbun/Cleveland-ReligiousFolkSongsOfTheNegro-HamptonInstitute, p. 115, "We Are Building on a Rock" (1 text, 1 tune; p. 123 in the 1901 edition)
Roud #15256
NOTES [75 words]: In Dett/Fenner/Rathbun/Cleveland-ReligiousFolkSongsOfTheNegro-HamptonInstitute's verses, every alternate line is "On high, on high." - BS
This would appear to be based on Jesus's description of Peter, "You are Peter [Greek Πετρος, "Petros" means "Rock," so Peter -- in Greek, again "Petros" -- is "the Rock" or, by analogy, "Rocky"], and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: Dett115

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