expression for “death.” Thus v. 18c* promises Peter that he will not die before the parousia. This interpretation of Harnack (“Spruch”) can claim not a few of the church’s oldest interpretations.79 It is difficult, however, because αὐτῆς most naturally refers to the closest word ἐκκλησία (“church”) and not to the more remote πέτρα (“rock”).80 b. The figurative interpretation understands “gates of Hades” to refer to sin or heresies. It is an interpretation that was widespread in the ancient