Mungo
Member
Jesus Christ left no written legacy, no theology book, no catechism. Instead he founded a Church and he entrusted his teaching to twelve men who he had selected, were his constant companions during his years of ministry, and whom he specially trained to carry on his mission. One of these, Peter, was appointed leader, and was recognised as such by others.
Jesus and Peter
1. Jesus had an inner circle of three special disciples, Peter, James and John. These were the only ones whom he took up mount Tabor for the Transfiguration and to his place of prayer into the Garden of Gethsemane.
2. Right at the beginning of Jesus ministry he singled out Peter and gave him special status by changing his name. This was a significant act and did not happen to any other apostle.
He [Andrew] brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Kephas” (which is translated Peter). (Jn 1:42)
3. Jesus gave Peter a special commission:
In Matthew 16:19 he uniquely gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,…
4. And he then continued, giving him (singly) the power of binding and loosing
…..and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
He later gives all the apostles the power of binding and loosing
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Mt 18:18)
This is in the same gospel so it is clearly two separate incidents.
In one he uniquely gives Peter authority to act in his stead, represented by the keys and singly gives him the power to bind and loose.
He then gives he apostles collectively the power to bind and loose.
So the apostles can act collectively to bind and loose, or Peter can act alone to bind and loose. It is quite clear.
5. To support his brothers
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:31-32)
6. To be universal shepherd
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17)
The Father and Peter
7. When Jesus asked the apostles who they said he was, it was Peter who responded:
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” (Mt 16:16-17)
The Father could have chosen any of the twelve apostles to give this revelation, but he chose Peter.
8. It was Peter that God addressed in a vision to tell him to go to the gentiles (Acts 10). By his giving the vision and instruction to Peter to go to the gentiles, he was indicating that Peter had the right to act alone.
Peter’s Leadership
9. On many occasions it was Peter who acted as spokesman for the apostles.
But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” (Mt 15:15)
Then Peter came and said to him (Mt 18:21)
Then Peter said in reply (Mt 19:27)
Then Peter remembered and said to him (Mk 11:21)
Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said … (Lk 8:45)
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” (Lk 12:41)
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go?” (Jn 6:68)
10. And at the beginning of the Church it was Peter who led.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (Acts 1;15)
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them (Acts 2:14)
“Ananias,” Peter asked (Acts 5:3)
But Peter and the apostles answered (Acts 5:29)
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them. (Acts 15:7)
Note that in all these examples all the other apostles are with Peter. I have not included occasions where Peter is with just another one or two apostles, such as with the cripple (Acts 3) or before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4)
Others and Peter
11. It was to Peter that the collectors of the temple tax came.
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said (Mt 17:24)
12. John defers to Peter at the empty tomb
The two [Peter and John] were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.
13. In the New Testament when two or more people are mentioned they are listed in order of precedence or importance. I have not checked all instances, but this seems to be the norm.
For example James and John are listed in that order, presumable because James is the elder, or possibly because when it was written down James had been bishop of Jerusalem and a martyr. See also “James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James” (Mk 3;17) which shows that James took precedence. Out of 17 examples I have only found 2 where John is mentioned before James.
An interesting example of this is Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas was an early disciple who first appears in Acts 4 giving money to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37). He must have a valued disciple as he was given the name Barnabas which means son of encouragement. It was Barnabas who brought Paul to the apostles Jerusalem after his conversion when other disciples were afraid of him (Acts 9:26-27). And it was Barnabas who was sent to lead the Church at Antioch. Barnabas went and brought Paul from Damascus where he had been living quietly for (some say) about 10 years. From this point Luke always uses the order Barnabas and Paul, until their mission in Cyprus. It was there that Paul begins to show his anointing rebuking Elymas the magician and addressing the synagogue at Antioch in Psidia . Then the sequence varies between Barnabas and Paul, and Paul and Barnabas. By their return to Antioch it had settled to Paul and Barnabas.
When Peter is involved his name almost always comes first. For example Peter, James and John (10 instances), Peter and John (12 instances). There is only 1 instance where Peter is not given first and that is right at the beginning of Jesus ministry (Jn 1:44).
14. In the lists of apostles (Mt 10:2-4, Mk 3:16-19, Lk 6:14-16) it is Peter who is named first.
Jesus and Peter
1. Jesus had an inner circle of three special disciples, Peter, James and John. These were the only ones whom he took up mount Tabor for the Transfiguration and to his place of prayer into the Garden of Gethsemane.
2. Right at the beginning of Jesus ministry he singled out Peter and gave him special status by changing his name. This was a significant act and did not happen to any other apostle.
He [Andrew] brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Kephas” (which is translated Peter). (Jn 1:42)
3. Jesus gave Peter a special commission:
In Matthew 16:19 he uniquely gives Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,…
4. And he then continued, giving him (singly) the power of binding and loosing
…..and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
He later gives all the apostles the power of binding and loosing
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Mt 18:18)
This is in the same gospel so it is clearly two separate incidents.
In one he uniquely gives Peter authority to act in his stead, represented by the keys and singly gives him the power to bind and loose.
He then gives he apostles collectively the power to bind and loose.
So the apostles can act collectively to bind and loose, or Peter can act alone to bind and loose. It is quite clear.
5. To support his brothers
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:31-32)
6. To be universal shepherd
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17)
The Father and Peter
7. When Jesus asked the apostles who they said he was, it was Peter who responded:
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” (Mt 16:16-17)
The Father could have chosen any of the twelve apostles to give this revelation, but he chose Peter.
8. It was Peter that God addressed in a vision to tell him to go to the gentiles (Acts 10). By his giving the vision and instruction to Peter to go to the gentiles, he was indicating that Peter had the right to act alone.
Peter’s Leadership
9. On many occasions it was Peter who acted as spokesman for the apostles.
But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” (Mt 15:15)
Then Peter came and said to him (Mt 18:21)
Then Peter said in reply (Mt 19:27)
Then Peter remembered and said to him (Mk 11:21)
Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said … (Lk 8:45)
Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” (Lk 12:41)
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go?” (Jn 6:68)
10. And at the beginning of the Church it was Peter who led.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (Acts 1;15)
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them (Acts 2:14)
“Ananias,” Peter asked (Acts 5:3)
But Peter and the apostles answered (Acts 5:29)
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them. (Acts 15:7)
Note that in all these examples all the other apostles are with Peter. I have not included occasions where Peter is with just another one or two apostles, such as with the cripple (Acts 3) or before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4)
Others and Peter
11. It was to Peter that the collectors of the temple tax came.
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said (Mt 17:24)
12. John defers to Peter at the empty tomb
The two [Peter and John] were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.
13. In the New Testament when two or more people are mentioned they are listed in order of precedence or importance. I have not checked all instances, but this seems to be the norm.
For example James and John are listed in that order, presumable because James is the elder, or possibly because when it was written down James had been bishop of Jerusalem and a martyr. See also “James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James” (Mk 3;17) which shows that James took precedence. Out of 17 examples I have only found 2 where John is mentioned before James.
An interesting example of this is Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas was an early disciple who first appears in Acts 4 giving money to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37). He must have a valued disciple as he was given the name Barnabas which means son of encouragement. It was Barnabas who brought Paul to the apostles Jerusalem after his conversion when other disciples were afraid of him (Acts 9:26-27). And it was Barnabas who was sent to lead the Church at Antioch. Barnabas went and brought Paul from Damascus where he had been living quietly for (some say) about 10 years. From this point Luke always uses the order Barnabas and Paul, until their mission in Cyprus. It was there that Paul begins to show his anointing rebuking Elymas the magician and addressing the synagogue at Antioch in Psidia . Then the sequence varies between Barnabas and Paul, and Paul and Barnabas. By their return to Antioch it had settled to Paul and Barnabas.
When Peter is involved his name almost always comes first. For example Peter, James and John (10 instances), Peter and John (12 instances). There is only 1 instance where Peter is not given first and that is right at the beginning of Jesus ministry (Jn 1:44).
14. In the lists of apostles (Mt 10:2-4, Mk 3:16-19, Lk 6:14-16) it is Peter who is named first.
