# Peter ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Peter* ([[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18]]) – *Petros* (Gk.): A masculine noun meaning \"rock\" or \"stone\". Although a common word in Greek, there is no evidence that *Peter* was ever a proper name before Jesus renamed Simon. This accentuates the symbolism of the name: Simon is himself the rock upon which Jesus builds the Church. Further NT evidence suggests that Jesus\' words to Peter were originally spoken in Aramaic. In this language, the word *kepha* is the equivalent of *Peter* and denotes a \"sizeable rock\"---one suitable as a building foundation. This Aramaic name is preserved as \"Cephas\" 9 times in the NT ([[john-01#^john-01-42|Jn 1:42]]; [[1-corinthians-01#^1-corinthians-01-12|1 Cor 1:12]]; [[1-corinthians-15#^1-corinthians-15-5|15:5]]; ; [[galatians-01#^galatians-01-18|Gal 1:18]]; [[galatians-02#^galatians-02-9|2:9]], etc.). At another level, Si, etc.). At another level, Si, etc.). At another level, Simon\'s name change recalls the OT episodes where God renamed Abram as Abraham ([[genesis-17#^genesis-17-5|Gen 17:5]]) and Jacob as Israel ([[genesis-32#^genesis-32-28|Gen 32:28]]). Peter now stands in this biblical tradition where new names signify new God-given roles in salvation history. In Peter\'s case, Jesus designates him the foundation stone of the New Covenant Church. Just as the Temples of the OT were built upon a great stone ([[1-kings-05#^1-kings-05-17|1 Kings 5:17]]; [[ezra-03#^ezra-03-10|Ezra 3:10]]), so Jesus builds his NT Church upon the foundational rock of Peter (cf. [[ephesians-02#^ephesians-02-20|Eph 2:20]]; [[revelation-21#^revelation-21-14|Rev 21:14]]). Authority to bind and loose: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18-19]] Brother of Andrew: [[matthew-04#^matthew-04-18|Mt 4:18]]; [[luke-06#^luke-06-14|Lk 6:14]]; [[john-01#^john-01-40|Jn 1:40]]; [[john-06#^john-06-8|6:8]] "Cephas" was another form of Peter's name: [[john-01#^john-01-42|Jn 1:42]]; [[1-corinthians-15#^1-corinthians-15-5|1 Cor 15:5]] Commendation of Paul's letters: [[2-peter-03#^2-peter-03-15|2 Pet 3:15-16]] Denied Jesus three times: [[matthew-26#^matthew-26-69|Mt 26:69-75]]; [[john-18#^john-18-15|Jn 18:15-18, 25-27]] First to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles: [[acts-of-the-apostles-10#^acts-of-the-apostles-10-25|Acts 10:25-48]] Fisherman by trade: [[matthew-04#^matthew-04-18|Mt 4:18-22]]; [[mark-01#^mark-01-16|Mk 1:16-20]]; [[luke-05#^luke-05-1|Lk 5:1-11]]; [[john-01#^john-01-40|Jn 1:40-42]] Healing of Peter's mother-in-law by Jesus: [[matthew-08#^matthew-08-14|Mt 8:14-15]] Identifies Jesus as the Christ: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-16|Mt 16:16]]; [[mark-08#^mark-08-29|Mk 8:29]]; [[luke-09#^luke-09-20|Lk 9:20]] Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter (Cephas): [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18]]; [[mark-03#^mark-03-16|Mk 3:16]]; [[luke-06#^luke-06-14|Lk 6:14]]; [[john-01#^john-01-42|Jn 1:42]] Jesus prays for him that his faith would not fail: [[luke-22#^luke-22-31|Lk 22:31-32]] Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven were given to Peter by Jesus: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18-19]] Martyrdom prophesied by Jesus: [[john-21#^john-21-18|Jn 21:18-19]] Primacy among the Twelve: [[matthew-10#^matthew-10-2|Mt 10:2]]; [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|16:18-19]]; ; [[luke-22#^luke-22-31|Lk 22:31]]; [[john-21#^john-21-15|Jn 21:15-19]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-01#^acts-of-the-apostles-01-15|Acts 1:15-22]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-02#^acts-of-the-apostles-02-14|2:14-36]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-15#^acts-of-the-apostles-15-7|15:7-11]] Rebuked Jesus: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-22|Mt 16:22-23]] Rock on whom the Church of Christ is built: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-18|Mt 16:18]] Simon Bar-Jona/Simon Son of John was his original name: [[matthew-16#^matthew-16-17|Mt 16:17]]; [[john-01#^john-01-42|Jn 1:42]] Shepherd of Christ's flock: [[john-21#^john-21-15|Jn 21:15-19]]; cf. [[john-10#^john-10-11|Jn 10:11, 14]] Special resurrection appearance of Jesus to Peter: [[luke-24#^luke-24-34|Lk 24:34]]; [[1-corinthians-15#^1-corinthians-15-5|1 Cor 15:5]] Spokesman for and leader of the disciples: [[mark-16#^mark-16-7|Mk 16:7]]; [[1-corinthians-15#^1-corinthians-15-5|1 Cor 15:5]] Wrote 1 Pet from Rome, cryptically referred to as "Babylon": [[1-peter-05#^1-peter-05-13|1 Pet 5:13]] *See also* [[paul]] ### Sources [Peter — word study] [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]]