NT Characters: Peter

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/petermp3/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><ul><li>In these NT character podcasts, we have already heard a lesson on the apostles Paul and Andrew. We continue our study with the balance of the better known apostles; the lesser known ones we will cover all together in the final podcast on the apostles.</li><li>For Catholics he is the majestic prince of the apostles, as a visit to the Vatican will quickly remind one. The Orthodox view is nearer that of the Protestants: although he is a major apostle, he is no pope. Yet Protestants further downgrade Peter, perhaps in overreaction to papal claims. What is the truth about this man?</li><li>Peter is mentioned nearly 180x in the NT (compared to nearly 300 mentions of Paul/Saul). Yet, though there isn't as much biblical material on him as there is in Paul's case, still Peter is a monumental character, and it would be impossible to sum up his life in a single podcast.</li><li>He is often mentioned in the Gospels and in Acts 1-12. Then he appears in Acts 15. Paul refers to him in Galatians 2. Peter identifies himself in the salutations of 1 and 2 Peter. Further (speculative) information about Peter, lacking in the Bible, was more than made up for in later tradition!</li><li>His letters reflect many of Jesus' teachings in the gospels. In addition, one historic event is alluded to -- the Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16-18).</li></ul><p><strong>Personal</strong><br /> </p><ul><li>The name <i>Petros </i>(English Peter) comes from the Greek word for rock. In Aramaic he was <i>Cephas, </i>pronounced kay-pah (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:22, 9:5, 15:5; Galatians 1:18, 2:9,11,14). We might call him "Rocky." Since he's the son of Jonah (bar Jonah), a modernized equivalent for his full name would be "Rocky Johnson."</li><li>Peter hailed from Bethsaida, which was also the home of Philip (John 1:44). This town has been excavated from 1987 on, and was soon afterwards id