In all three synoptic Gospels — Matthew, Mark, & Luke — we read that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, or “Rock.” Many wonder why Christ did this and then seemingly said He would build His church upon Peter. I’ve heard several different explanations. Some say it was because Jesus was closest with Peter. Others say it was because Jesus knew Peter would go on to be a pillar of the faith. Yet, Jesus was close with the other disciples, too, and the other disciples faithfully testified of Christ just like Peter. To truly understand why Jesus said this to Peter, context is key.
So, why did Jesus name Peter “The Rock”? Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:16, and Luke 6:14 all record that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. The literal meaning of the name Peter (Petros) is stone, boulder, or rock. In Matthew 16, we get the explanation of why. Jesus asked His disciples (not just Peter) a question about who people think that Jesus is (Matthew 16:13). The disciples listed different opinions that have been circulating. Some think Jesus is a prophet. Some think Jesus is Elijah reincarnated. Jesus responds by saying, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter then says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Careful analysis of the context demonstrates what Jesus is really teaching. While Peter’s name means rock, it is actually Peter’s confession about who Jesus is (Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) that Jesus will build His church upon. Jesus Himself is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Christ declares that He will build His church upon the same confession that Peter made in Matthew 16:16 of properly identifying Jesus.
Jesus was not establishing Peter as the first pope. Despite the differing opinions you may hear on this passage, how can we know for sure that Jesus is referring to Peter’s confession and not Peter himself? And even so, isn’t Peter still considered one of the most influential persons in Christianity? Let’s examine these additional questions in greater detail.
If we’re attempting to prove a doctrinal position, we can simply collect our proof-texts and quote them without analysis. However, if we want to truly understand what the text teaches, we must pay careful attention to the details. This is certainly true for understanding the context of Matthew 16. The fruit of proof-texting is division, not unity. Such practice should, therefore, be rejected. By humbling ourselves before God’s word we can take steps toward a unified understanding, since we’ll all have to give up at least some of our preconceived ideas.
This narrative section begins with Jesus asking a question about His identity (Matthew 16:13): Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
Jesus hears the differing responses. Then He asks a follow-up question (Matthew 16:15): But who do you say that I am?
When Peter rightly identifies Jesus, Jesus then rightly identifies Peter.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(Video) God's Story: PeterAnd Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:16–18)
The entire context is about proper identification. It is the person and identity of Christ that is being lifted up here. Although many have positive views about Jesus, Peter expresses the correct view. This correct view was loftier than the other views being expressed. To think that Jesus is here exalting Peter is to insert something that is foreign and contrary to the text. The only person being lifted up here is Christ.
An examination of the Greek grammar (in which this Gospel was originally written) makes this even clearer. For some this might be boring. But it is absolutely critical to a proper understanding.
Jesus uses a word play between Peter’s name and the rock upon which He will build His church.
“I also say to you that you are Peter [Petros, masculine], and upon this rock [petra, feminine] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)
These different forms in the Greek are not conclusive on their own. The difference is not without significance, however.
The masculine form is more appropriate for the name of Peter, a man. However, the masculine form of the noun is often used with the nuance of being a smaller, moveable, or isolated stone, while the feminine form is often used as a foundational rock structure (like where Christ’s tomb was cut out from in Matthew 27:60). Some deny this differing nuance, yet there is no escaping the intentional use of different forms of the same noun in this passage.
I realize the grammar is not that exciting for everyone. But stick with me here. It’s important.
The pronoun used (“this”) is feminine in form so it must relate to the foundation (petra) and not directly to Peter (Petros). Additionally, the type of pronoun used is a near demonstrative. If the person, Peter, were what this pronoun referred to, we would expect a personal or relative pronoun instead. That is, we’d expect the translation to read something like this: “I also say to you that you are Peter, upon whom (or, upon you) I will build My church.” But this is not what we read.
The near demonstrative is not pointing to a person but to something else in the immediate context. The petra foundation is not Petros. Instead, the petra foundation is the confession that Peter made of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God.
As an Apostle, Peter had a very distinct role in the church. But what is the church? (Click here to read our related article: Why Did Jesus Establish the Church?)
If you ask people what the church is, many will respond by saying it’s the building where people gather on Sunday mornings. However, that is not how the church is defined in the Bible. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides a deep look into the church. As the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1, the church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23). It is not the physical building. It is the people of God who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation through belief in Christ.
Merely sitting in the church building does not make one a Christian. You must be redeemed through repentance and faith. You must be in Christ, part of His body. Otherwise, you are just an outsider who gathers with the church but is not part of the church.
Paul goes on regarding the church in Ephesians:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19–22)
When a person is redeemed by the blood of Jesus, through repentance and faith in Christ, he/she is no longer an outsider (alien and stranger) but now is a part of God’s household, His church. His church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Those are both plurals. That is, it wasn’t just Peter.
The prophets were messengers of God speaking His Word and proclaiming that God was going to put forth His Messiah, Jesus, so that all who believe in Him would receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to the Father through Christ. Christ came, fulfilling God’s word spoken by the prophets concerning Him as proof that He is the Messiah.
The Apostles, also part of the foundation, proclaimed the excellencies of Jesus Christ as they bore witness to the ends of the earth that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. Their faithful testimony resulted in many repenting and putting their faith in Jesus. But, the very corner stone, the rock on which the church is being built is Jesus Christ. All who believe this testimony in truth — not just believing something about Jesus, but truly believing in Him as He has revealed Himself — become part of His church.
The prophets spoke of the coming Messiah. The Apostles spoke of the Messiah who has come. Both were pointing people to repent and follow the same One: Jesus Christ, the corner stone on which the church is being built, the Son of the living God.
In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul writes:
And He [Christ] gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13)
Jesus has provided all that is necessary for His church to be built. He, as the corner stone, gave the apostles and prophets as the foundation. And, He has also given some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers for building upon the foundation. All of these leaders work under the authority of Jesus Christ for equipping the saints so that they can all perform the work Jesus gives the body to do; edify the fellow members of the body and evangelize the world.
(For more on the purpose of the church and the leadership Christ gave, check out our books!)
Pay careful attention, though. This is ongoing work that has a purpose: maturity. The members of Christ’s church are expected to grow in their knowledge of who Jesus Christ is. They are expected to grow in their ability to edify one another and faithfully live as His witnesses with the purpose of actively participating in the evangelization of the world. Christians are not merely spectators, they are participants. The gathering of the church isn’t for entertainment; it is for worship, for edification, and for preparation.
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- (Video) It Is Written - Great Characters of the Bible: Peter
It is true that the Apostle Peter was one of the most influential persons in Christianity. We must never forget that or try to diminish his importance. He had a distinct role in the church. He faithfully carried out that role. He wasn’t perfect. Nonetheless, he was part of the foundation.
However, Peter wasn’t the rock. Jesus Christ Himself is the corner stone. Christ is building His church through all who rightly confess that Jesus is the Christ. He has provided everything necessary for His church to carry out His purposes for it. And, it is because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
What is your role in the church? Are you equipped to edify the fellow members of the body and proclaim the Gospel to the lost?
Get equipped. Obey your King. Glorify your God.
Was Peter at the crucifixion? We read of Peter denying Christ during His trial. Afterward, Peter leaves weeping, deeply grieved. We do not read of Peter again until after Christ is risen. While Scripture is not explicit on whether or not Peter was present at the crucifixion, the implication is that he was not.
Why does Jesus change Paul’s name? The Bible never actually teaches that Jesus changed Paul’s name. In Acts 13:9, we read that Saul was also known as Paul. Many are given a new name in the Bible. In this case, Paul had both a Jewish (Saul) and a Roman (Paul) name. After his conversion, he primarily went by Paul as he was the Apostle to the Gentiles.
FAQs
Why did Jesus change the name of Simon to Peter? ›
Jesus knew, too, Simon had the ability to be a leader. For at least these 3 reasons and Simon's belief in Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter meaning his rock solid faith in Jesus as Christ is the foundation of the church -- the body of Christ when he was no longer physically with us. Amazing!
What is the spiritual meaning of the name Peter? ›Meaning:Rock; Stone. Peter is a masculine name originating in the Greek language meaning "rock" or "stone." This name is derived from the Greek version, Petros, which translates to "stone." This biblical name was most notably given to one of Jesus's apostles, Simon.
What is the spiritual meaning of the name Simon? ›Origin:Hebrew. Meaning:To hear, be heard; Reputation. Offering contemporary charm with ancient roots, Simon is a boy's name of Hebrew and Greek origins, meaning “to hear, be heard” and “reputation.” This Biblical name belonged to one of the 12 Apostles in Christianity known as Simon Peter.
Why did Jesus make Peter the head of the Church? ›“His statement then admits of but one explanation, namely, that he wishes to make Peter the head of the whole community of those who believed in him as the true Messiah … that the spiritual guidance of the faithful was placed in the hands of Peter, as the special representative of Christ.”
What does upon this rock mean? ›In other words, Jesus reinterprets Peter's declaration: "You are Peter (a piece of the rock), and on this rock (the fact that I am the Messiah, the Son of the living God), I will build my church."
What is Simon called Peter about? ›A largely autobiographical work, Simon Called Peter is the tale of a priest, Peter Graham, who has an affair in wartime France with a nurse named Julie.
Does Peter mean rock? ›The name “Peter” was a nickname given to Simon by Jesus, all the way back in John 1:42 when Peter first met Jesus. Coming from the Greek word petros (or the Aramaic word “Cephas”), the name Peter means “Rock” or “Stone.” To use an English equivalent, Peter means “Rocky.”
What was Peter's name before Jesus called him Peter? ›Peter the Apostle, original name Simeon or Simon, (died 64 ce, Rome [Italy]), disciple of Jesus Christ, recognized in the early Christian church as the leader of the 12 disciples and by the Roman Catholic Church as the first of its unbroken succession of popes.
What is the main message of Peter? ›1 Peter is a powerful letter written to persecuted Gentile Christians, reminding them that they are chosen by God and have a future hope in Jesus. 1 Peter is a powerful letter written to persecuted Gentile Christians, reminding them that they are chosen by God and have a future hope in Jesus.
Why is Simon important in the Bible? ›He supposedly preached the Gospel in Egypt and then joined the apostle St. Judas (Thaddaeus) in Persia, where, according to the apocryphal Acts of Simon and Judas, he was martyred by being cut in half with a saw, one of his chief iconographic symbols (another being a book).
Were there two Simons in the Bible? ›
The following Simons and Simeons can be found in the New Testament: Simon Peter, better known as Saint Peter, also known as Peter the Apostle, Cephas, and Simon bar Jonah (Simon son of Jonah), foremost disciple of Jesus (Matthew 4:18ff).
Does Simon symbolize Jesus? ›William Golding portrays Simon as a Christ figure archetype in Lord of the Flies because he is selfless, encounters the devil in the wilderness, and comes to redeem an unworthy world, but is killed by those he wishes to save. Simon portrays a Christ figure because he is selfless.
Did Jesus make Peter the head of the church? ›Jesus thus does not declare the primacy of Peter, but rather declares that his church will be built upon the foundation of the revelation of and confession of faith of Jesus as the Christ. Many Protestant scholars, however, reject this position, such as Craig L.
What Scriptures say about Jesus being the rock? ›Jesus said in the gospel of John, chapter 7, verse 37, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Jesus Christ is the Rock!
Why did Peter deny Jesus? ›Jesus' capture and trials were the culmination of this antipathy. Peter was one of the twelve disciples most closely associated with Jesus. His denials are made in the face of accusation that he was "with Jesus", the term indicating the bond of discipleship.
What does the word rock refer to? ›: a concreted mass of stony material. also : broken pieces of such masses. 3. : consolidated or unconsolidated solid mineral matter. also : a particular mass of it.
What does it mean to be the rock? ›Being the “rock” means always doing what you say you will do. Being calm when the situation seems to be chaotic and panic the order of the day. My dad is the rock because he is reason when emotion prevails, compassion when hearts are hardened, and humorous when you least expect it.”
What does the Bible say about God being our rock? ›Bible Gateway Psalm 18 :: NIV. I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
When did Simon become Peter in the Bible? ›Although there is some debate over when Simon Peter first encountered Jesus, at some point early in their relationship, Jesus gave Simon the name “Cephas,” meaning “stone” (John 1:42) which is translated as “Petros” in Greek, and “Peter” in English.
How was Peter called by Jesus? ›As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Who was Peter before he met Jesus? ›
Peter's original name is Simeon or Simon and before he became one of Jesus' disciples he was a Jewish Fishermen.
Who is Peter the Rock? ›Saint Peter (died between AD 64 and 68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Peter the Rock, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church.
What type of rock is Peter? ›Peter's Rock, like much of the Metacomet Ridge, is composed of basalt, also called traprock, a volcanic rock.
What does rock eternal mean? ›God Is the Eternal Rock
Figuratively and literally, God is our rock. Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” We must trust in God because he is our shoulder whenever we need it or even if we don't.
Why did Jesus change Peter's name? He changed Peter's name to show that he had a new mission in the Church. Do all Christians recognize Peter as the first Pope or head of the Church?
What did Jesus say about Peter? ›Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus said that Peter was blessed as this was revealed to him by God. He added, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church". Jesus promised Peter that he would be given authority, then warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
What is the promise of Peter? ›Peter promised that he would not leave Jesus. Peter even said that he was ready to die with Jesus. But Peter did not know how afraid he would be. He would tell people that he did not know Jesus.
Why is the Gospel of Peter important? ›It was the first of the non-canonical gospels to be rediscovered, preserved in the dry sands of Egypt. A major focus of the surviving fragment of the Gospel of Peter is the passion narrative, which ascribes responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus to Herod Antipas rather than to Pontius Pilate.
What did Jesus promise Simon? ›However, Jesus promised this Simon Peter, that he would fish for people.
What happened to Simon and why is he important? ›He was put to death by people in his community for spreading the word of God. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the character of Simon is also put to death while trying to spread knowledge to the other boys on the island.
Who was Simon to God? ›
...
| Simon Magus | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Founder of Gnosticism |
| Founder of | Simonianism |
The Bible mentions the Lilith only once, as a dweller in waste places (Isaiah 34:14), but the characterization of the Lilith or the lili (in the singular or plural) as a seducer or slayer of children has a long pre-history in ancient Babylonian religion.
What is Simons relationship to Jesus? ›Simon (Greek: Σίμων) is described in the New Testament as one of the brothers of Jesus (Greek: ἀδελφοί, romanized: adelphoi, lit. 'brothers').
Who was Jesus sisters and brothers? ›The brothers of Jesus or the adelphoi (Greek: ἀδελφοί, translit. adelphoí, lit. "of the same womb") are named in the New Testament as James, Joses (a form of Joseph), Simon, and Jude, and unnamed sisters are mentioned in Mark and Matthew.
What does Simon represent and why? ›Simon represents saintliness and a kind of innate, spiritual human goodness that is deeply connected with nature and, in its own way, as primal as Jack's evil instinct.
Did Jesus have a disciple named Simon? ›Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13, Luke 6:15) or Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Canaanean (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18; Greek: Σίμων ὁ Κανανίτης; Coptic: ⲥⲓⲙⲱⲛ ⲡⲓ-ⲕⲁⲛⲁⲛⲉⲟⲥ; Classical Syriac: ܫܡܥܘܢ ܩܢܢܝܐ) was one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus.
How is Simon different from the others? ›Simon is small and skinny with a pointed chin. He has black hair, bright eyes and tans easily. He is considered strange or odd by the others as he is rather shy and secretive. He has a habit of going off on his own which sets him apart and he is also not physically strong.
Who appointed Peter the head of the church? ›Jesus appoints Peter as head of his church, symbolised by a flock of lambs.
Who was Pope when Jesus was alive? ›Pope Julius I - Wikipedia.
Did Peter start the church? ›It is widely held that Saint Peter was the first Pope of Rome. He is believed to have founded the first Church in Rome and laid the foundation for all future Popes to come. All Popes are generally considered as the successors of the Saint.
Why did Jesus move the rock? ›
Rather they, and many modern scholars, believes that the stone was rolled away so that the women and other witnesses could see that the tomb was now empty, to provide concrete evidence for the resurrection.
What is the rock of revelation? ›"Revelation that Jesus is the Christ: the plain, wondrous word that comes from God in heaven to man on earth, the word that affirms the divine Sonship of our Lord - this is the rock!
Is the LORD the rock of Israel? ›Definition. In Psalm 19:15 of the Hebrew Bible, God is referred to as the "Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer". In religious terms, the "Rock" means God, who protects the Jewish people and is the center of their faith, which defines their identity and consciousness.
What lesson do we learn from Peter's denial of Jesus? ›According to Hebrews 12:15 there is only one failure you need to fear ... “Be careful that no one fails to receive the grace of God.” When you and I fail, we need to repent and confess our failure ... then receive the amazing grace of God and be restored ... then go and let God's grace flow through us to others.
What is significant about Peter's denial? ›Peter's response (John 21:15) indicates that he knew Jesus understood his denial was impulsive—a reflection of his poor understanding of Christ's upcoming resurrection. Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, and He loved him anyway.
Why was the Gospel of Peter rejected? ›Because the work reflects the view that Christ's body had only the appearance of reality, Serapion, bishop of Antioch c. ad 190, believed it was written by a member of the heretical Docetist sect.
Are there two Simons in the Bible? ›The following Simons and Simeons can be found in the New Testament: Simon Peter, better known as Saint Peter, also known as Peter the Apostle, Cephas, and Simon bar Jonah (Simon son of Jonah), foremost disciple of Jesus (Matthew 4:18ff).
Is Simon the zealot the same as Simon Peter? ›To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called Kananaios or Kananites, depending on the manuscript (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18), and in the list of apostles in Luke 6:15, repeated in Acts 1:13, Zelotes, the "Zealot".
What was Peter the disciples original name? ›Peter the Apostle, original name Simeon or Simon, (died 64 ce, Rome [Italy]), disciple of Jesus Christ, recognized in the early Christian church as the leader of the 12 disciples and by the Roman Catholic Church as the first of its unbroken succession of popes.
Why did Jesus call Peter the Rock? ›Peter's nickname might have been Rocky, but Peter himself understood that the Rock was Jesus Christ. The Rock on which Peter's life was built was none other than the Rock of Salvation; the Rock of Deliverance; the Chief Cornerstone; and the Rock of Ages. Peter bore witness to that truth in Matthew 16:16.
Did Jesus appear to Simon Peter after the resurrection? ›
The Restoration of Peter (also known as the Re-commissioning of Peter) is an incident described in John 21 of the New Testament in which Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and spoke to Peter in particular.
Who was Simon's wife in the Bible? ›Although some classical rabbinical sources argue that the mother of his children, and his wife, was Bonah, one of the women from Shechem, other classical rabbinical sources argue that Simeon's wife (and the mother of his children) was Dinah, his sister, who had insisted on the marriage before she would be willing to ...
Which disciple was sawed in half? ›Judas (Thaddaeus) in Persia, where, according to the apocryphal Acts of Simon and Judas, he was martyred by being cut in half with a saw, one of his chief iconographic symbols (another being a book). According to St. Basil the Great, the 4th-century Cappadocian Father, Simon died peacefully at Edessa.
Why was the apostle Simon called the Zealot? ›Many scholars believe that Luke, the author of the Book of Luke, added the word “zealot” to Simon's name to help distinguish him from Simon Peter. This mysterious apostle could have belonged to the radical Zealot sect. Some people believe he was an active member when he became one of Jesus's apostles.
Which disciple was boiled in oil? ›The theologian Tertullian reported that John was plunged into boiling oil but miraculously escaped unscathed. In the original apocryphal Acts of John, the apostle dies; however, later traditions assume that he ascended to heaven. Officially, the apostle's grave is at Ephesus.
What does zealot mean in the Bible? ›: a zealous person. especially : a fanatical partisan. a religious zealot. capitalized : a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century a.d. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine.
What does the word Peter mean in Hebrew? ›Peter is a common masculine given name. It is derived directly from Greek Πέτρος, Petros (an invented, masculine form of Greek petra, the word for "rock" or "stone"), which itself was a translation of Aramaic Kefa ("stone, rock"), the new name Jesus gave to apostle Simon Bar-Jona.
How did Jesus call Peter a disciple? ›As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
What did Peter do before Jesus called him? ›A fisherman
According to the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus first met him, Peter was fishing with his brother Andrew. Jesus famously said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” and Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.