Saint Peter as a Historical Figure

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Peter is one of the most complex figures of the time of the period of Jesus Christ’s life. Although he is commonly seen as the first follower of Christ, there are different interpretations of his character and motivation. Yet, unlike characters that are definitely portrayed as negative as Judah or as positive as Christ, Peter is not as clear to identify. Ranging from a devout Christian upholding the teachings of Jesus to a follower with a faltering belief in God, Peter’s characterizations are diverse. Analysis of Peter’s actions and descriptions will provide the necessary insight needed to establish his character correctly.

Many details of Peter’s biography indicate apparent contradictions characteristic of his life, starting with his name. In John’s Gospel chapter 21, verse 15, Peter was initially named Simon and was considered John’s son (Kuhn, 2022). Yet, in some instances, Peter is also referred to as the Rock (Neander, 2022). Peter’s original affiliation before he met Jesus is also ambiguous. In the apostle of John 1:14, Peter’s family is originally from Bethsaida in Galilee, but it is later established that Peter made his home at Capernaum, to the northwest of the Sea of Galilee (The Holy Bible, 2020). The only clear aspect is his occupation, as in the Gospel of Luke, Peter and his brother Andrew worked as fishermen at one point in their lives (van Pelt, 2021). As a result, mysteries are an essential characteristic of Peter’s biography.

These mysteries may explain why, throughout the New Testament, Peter is characterized differently. The first interpretation of Peter is that he is a person who wavers in his beliefs and is uncertain about what he should be doing. For instance, in Paul’s letter to Galatians in 2:11-14 it is written: “he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision” (The Holy Bible, 2020, p. 256). Peter’s hesitancy is evidenced by the fact that he ate with Gentiles, even though he afterward refuted the accusations that he had done so in the church of Antioch (Shelton, 2018). Judging from these writings, it is possible to view Peter as either deceptive or uncertain.

Yet, there is also another characterization which highlights Peter’s loyalty and devotion. The book of Apostle John 21:15–17 says, “He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee” (The Holy Bible, 2020, p. 304). Judging from this quote, Peter exemplified gentleness and firmness in his professional relationship with the love that Jesus Christ had for him because he was loyal, (Ruffner & Huizing, 2018). As a result, a reader receives the impression that Peter is actually steadfast in his beliefs and loyalty.

It cannot be argued that Jesus valued Peter as a loyal and trusted follower. Peter was given the highest priority by him whenever the disciples were called to their job. Peter was the immediate disciple of Jesus, and other disciples acknowledged him as their leader; they respected and obeyed his commands (The Holy Bible, 2020). Peter, along with James and John, was regarded as one of the essential foundations of Jesus’ ministry even though, in most situations, Jesus favored Peter. For instance, Jesus instructs the audience from Peter’s boat, and it is made abundantly clear that Jesus went to Peter’s house in Capernaum to heal Peter’s mother-in-law (Flanagan, 2022). Peter’s revelations and confessions that Jesus Christ is God’s Son is documented in Matthew 16:16, which says, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Subsequently, Christ definitely saw Peter as the person he could trust.

Another aspect of Peter’s character that is not questioned is his ability to lead. Peter was the first person to emerge as the early church leader following the death of Jesus Christ. Peter served as the presiding authority for the appointment of Matthew (Shelton, 2018). It was Peter who delivered a sermon during the Pentecost celebration that marked the beginning of the church’s mission (Green & Gorman, 2019). He advocated for the apostles in front of the Jewish religious court in Jerusalem (van Pelt, 2021). In addition, the book of Acts 5:1-10 showcases that Peter was responsible for administering discipline to church members in sin (Ruffner & Huizing, 2018). Peter continued carrying on the ministry affairs until he died in Babylon. He was crucified like Jesus but with his head upside down (Ruffner & Huizing, 2018). Overall, whether consciously or not, Peter was following Jesus and replicating his leadership style.

Combining all pieces of evidence, it can be summarized that Peter started his life as an uncertain and possibly deceptive individual who developed into a strong and devout Christian leader after following Jesus. At the same time, Peter is not devoid of mistakes and doubts, which explain various contradictions and diverse interpretations. Ultimately, Peter is a flawed person who attempts to find devotion and belief in Jesus even though there are certain instances implicating Peter’s agency.

References

Flanagan, R. D. (2022). The letters of an unexpected Mystic: Encountering the mystical theology in first and second Peter. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Green, G. L., & Gorman, M. J. (2019). Vox Petri: A theology of peter. Cascade Books.

Kuhn, M. F. (2022). In quest of the Rock: Peter’s transformative journey with Jesus. Langham Publishing.

Neander, A. (2022). History of the planting and training of the Christian church by the apostles. Salzwasser-Verlag.

Ruffner, B., & Huizing, R. L. (2018). A Tinitarian leadership model: Insights from the Apostle Peter. Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, 10(2), 37-51.

Shelton, B. W. (2018). Quest for the historical apostles: Tracing their lives and legacies. Baker Academic.

The Holy Bible: American Standard Version (ASV). (2020). Life Sentence Publishing, Incorporated.

van Pelt, J. (2021). From the acts of Peter to the life of Leo of Catania: Distinguishing magic and miracle. In T. Nicklas, J. E. Spittler, & J. N. Bremmer (Eds.), The apostles Peter, Paul, John, Thomas and Philip with their companions in Late Antiquity (pp. 55–80). Peeters.

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Saint Peter as a Historical Figure

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