Peter Research Paper
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Peter the Apostle
Peter the Apostle (By
Carine Mackenzie) Source: http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/peter-the-apostle-pb-120786.html
Completed May 2, 2011
Word Count: 1,012 Words
Class: N.T. Survey
Professor: Mr. Ingersoll
This paper is about the life of the Apostle Peter. This paper shows how his character demonstrates the fact that he was a bold leader but sometimes seemed to not have much faith. Peter also sometimes had much faith and seemed to be the apostle who was the closest with Jesus. The life of Peter shows how Christians seem to act in life.
Peter was the apostle who was a good example of a bold leader. One day, Peter was just fishing with his brother Andrew at the Sea of Galilee. Jesus saw then and told them to follow Him so that they would become fishers of men. Matthew 4:20 says that at once they completely dropped what they were doing and became disciples of Jesus. Peter was one of the first people to
become a disciple. As peter followed Jesus he set a good example of being bold. By being one of
the first to follow Jesus he showed traits of being a good leader. Jesus viewed Peter as a leader also. “The collectors of the temple tax came to Peter as leader of the group… Jesus asks Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal… and in Mark 14:37 he directs his rebuke to Peter as representing the others.”
1
Peter was also viewed as the leader of all of the apostles when Jesus was washing their feet. Peter said he would not let Jesus wash his feet. The other apostles were probably thinking the same humble thought, but Peter is the one who became the spokesman. The fact that Peter chose to become one of the first disciples of Jesus and a disciple who usually spoke for the rest of the disciples proves he was a good example of a bold leader.
Peter was also bold, in the fact that, he was the apostle who usually answered Jesus’ questions before others could. “No other disciple ever so boldly confessed and outspokenly acknowledged and encouraged our Lord as Peter repeatedly did, and no one ever intruded, and interfered, and temped Him as repeatedly as Peter did.” 2
An example of boldness would be the time when Jesus asked all of the disciples who they thought Jesus was and Peter answered by saying that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Not only did Peter answer questions, but also asked questions such as “How many times does one forgive someone who has wronged 1
(Many Authors) “Peter the Apostle” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Volume 2
(Grand Rapids, Baker Book House Company, 1988) p. 1661
2
Lockyer, “Peter The Apostle Who Was Hot-Hearted”, All The Apostles of The Bible
(Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1972) p. 127
them?” One can see the characteristics of a young Christian as Peter was bold enough to ask the Lord these types of questions. As one may notice, Peter was quite a bold character.
Peter had faith that was very strong but sometimes faltered. His faith was strong when he walked on water with Jesus but then he looked away and did not keep his focus on Jesus (possibly thinking he could walk on water by his own strength?). His faith was strong when he was fishing and Jesus told him to put the nets on the other side of the boat. He listened to Jesus and caught many fish. Another time that Peter’s faith was very strong is when he used his faith to
heal. “…he came to her bedside, rebuked the paroxysm, commanded the fever to be gone and… in a moment restored her to perfect health…”
3
Peter’s faith was weak when he told Jesus he would never deny Him. Jesus knew that the denial was going to happen and it did happen when Jesus was on the cross. “He was naturally impulsive; tenderhearted and affectionate; gifted with spiritual insight, yet sometimes slow to apprehend deeper truths; courageous in his confession of faith in Christ, yet guilty of a most cowardly denial; self sacrificing yet inclined towards self-
seeking, and presumption; immovable in his convictions.”
4
In the end, Peter was martyred for his
faith. “Peter died on 13 October A.D. 64 during the festivities on the occasion of the ‘dies imperii’ of Emperor Nero.”
5
Peter had very strong faith but, as many Christians today, lost faith only for a short time. Peter was an apostle who was very close to Jesus. Jesus only allowed three of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) to come up to a high mountain to see Him during His Transfiguration. What an experience it would have been to be only one of three people who could see Jesus in all of His glory. Another time where Peter is singled out among the disciples is
3
Lockyer p.129 4
Lockyer “The Man Who Fell But Rose Again” All The Men Of The Bible
(Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1958) p. 273
5
(No Author) Saint Peter
May 2, 2011, Accessed: 2 May 2011 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
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in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told Peter and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) to stay and keep watch for Him. The last example of Peter being looked at more than the other disciples is when Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times and also became the one who told Jesus he loved Him thrice. The third example of how Peter was quite close with Jesus is when Peter had a vision of a sheet being brought down with all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds on the sheet. This was Jesus telling Peter that nothing is unclean in itself. Basically, Jesus was telling Peter to go and speak to Gentiles. Jesus had chosen Peter to be the one who would preach to Gentiles. Peter’s closeness with Jesus is clearly seen throughout the Gospels and Acts in these and many other instances.
As one can see, Peter was a bold leader who had faith that sometimes faltered and was close with Jesus. He was bold by being one who asked many questions and by trusting Jesus and following Him. He was full of faith in the fact that he walked on water with Jesus and had weak faith by denying Jesus. Finally, he was close with Jesus by being one who Jesus chose to let go through events that the other disciples did not have an opportunity to experience. These explanations are the solution to what this paper is about. One can learn to be a better Christian by
learning from mistakes Peter made and corrected.
Bibliography
Internet:
* (No Author) Clean and Unclean Animals
May 28, 2006, Accessed: May 2, 2011, www.gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/clean-and-unclean-animals/
* (No Author) Saint Peter
May 2, 2011, Accessed: May 2, 2011 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
Encyclopedia:
*(Walter A. Eldwell) “Peter the Apostle” from Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Volume 2
page 1661, published: 1988
Books:
*(Lockyer) All the Apostles of the Bible
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House 1972
*(Lockyer) All the Men of the Bible
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House 1958
Artwork:
”Peter being crucified upside down” Michelangelo (source:
http://devotionalonjesus.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.html
)
Reading Log
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“All the Apostles of the Bible” Lockyer pg 126-152
“All the Men of the Bible” Lockyer pg 272-273
“Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Volume 2” Walter A. Eldwell pg. 1659-1667
En.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter pg 1-16
“Clean and Unclean Animals” pg. 1