The precise meaning of the Aramaic word is disputed, some saying that its usual meaning is 'rock' or 'crag', others saying that it means rather 'stone' and, particularly in its application by Jesus to Simon, like a 'jewel', but most scholars agree that as a proper name it denotes a rough or tough character. In translations of the Bible from the original Greek, his name is maintained as Cephas in 9 occurrences in the New Testament, whereas in the vast majority of mentions (156 occurrences in the New Testament) he is called Πέτρος, Petros, from the Greek and Latin word for a rock or stone ( petra) to which the masculine ending was added, rendered into English as Peter. He was later given by Jesus the name Cephas ( / ˈ s iː f ə s/ ), from the Aramaic 𐡊𐡉𐡐𐡀, Kipa, 'rock/stone'. The variation possibly reflects 'the well-known custom among Jews at the time of giving the name of a famous patriarch or personage of the Hebrew Bible to a male child along with a similar sounding Greek/Roman name '. In only two passages, his name is instead spelled ' Simeon' ( Συμεών in Greek). The New Testament presents Peter's original name as Simon ( / ˈ s aɪ m ə n/ ⓘ Σίμων, Simōn in Greek). Names and etymologies St Peter, portrait by Rembrandt (1632) The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, 1603/1606, Caravaggio Protestant and secular historians generally agree that there was probably 'no single 'monarchical' bishop in Rome before the middle of the 2nd century.and likely later.' Outside of the New Testament, several apocryphal books were later attributed to him, in particular the Acts of Peter, Gospel of Peter, Preaching of Peter, Apocalypse of Peter, and Judgment of Peter, although scholars believe these works to be pseudepigrapha. Sources suggest that at first, the terms episcopos and presbyteros were used interchangeably, with the consensus among scholars being that by the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries, local congregations were led by bishops and presbyters, whose duties of office overlapped or were indistinguishable from one another. In the book, Irenaeus wrote that Peter and Paul founded and organised the Church in Rome. 202 AD) explains the Apostle Peter, his See, and his successors in book III of Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies). īased on contemporary historical data, Peter's papacy is estimated to have spanned from AD 30 to his death, which would make him the longest-reigning pope, at anywhere from 34 to 38 years however, this has never been verified. Nevertheless, Evangelicals and Catholics have always affirmed Peter's authorship, and recently, a growing number of scholars have revived the claim of Petrine authorship of these epistles. The New Testament also includes two general epistles, First Peter and Second Peter, that are traditionally attributed to him, but modern scholarship generally rejects the Petrine authorship of both. He is also mentioned, under either the name Peter or Cephas, in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and the Epistle to the Galatians. The Gospel of Mark in particular was traditionally thought to show the influence of Peter's preaching and eyewitness memories. He is the brother of Saint Andrew, and both were fishermen. In the New Testament, the name 'Simon Peter' is found 19 times. According to Catholic teaching, Jesus promised Peter a special position in the Church. The ancient Christian churches all venerate Peter as a major saint and as the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Rome, but they differ in their attitudes regarding the authority of his successors. Catholic and Orthodox tradition accredits Peter as the first bishop of Rome‍-‌or pope‍-‌and also as the first bishop of Antioch.Īccording to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero. He appears repeatedly and prominently in all four New Testament gospels as well as the Acts of the Apostles. Saint Peter ( Imperial Aramaic: 𐡔𐡌𐡏𐡅𐡍 𐡁𐡓 𐡉𐡅𐡍𐡄, romanized: Shimoun Bar Younah died AD 64–68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas ( Imperial Aramaic: 𐡊𐡉𐡐𐡀, romanized: Kipa, lit.'Rock'), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. Keys of Heaven, Red Martyr, pallium, papal vestments, man crucified upside down, vested as an Apostle, holding a book or scroll, Cross of Saint Peter 22 February: Chair of Saint Peter (Catholic Church)Īll Christian denominations that venerate saints and in Islam.18 January: Confession of Saint Peter (Anglicanism).

Main feast: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (with Paul the Apostle) 29 June ( Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism).

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