Peter: Character Study

In the essay "Who Would Peter be Today?", Ismael Estrada, the writer of the essay, talks about a student named Peter who committed suicide because he was bullied. He killed himself by shooting himself in the head. Estrada never actually bullied Peter but he never stopped it. Estrada also laughed at the taunts and the harsh words made. He reacted as most children do by going along with it. I was bullied as a child and I have friends that were also bullied. From what I've seen, heard and experienced other children are of accepting it, participating and intervening. I think all three of these reactions are common in children.

actions. For example, Peter throws a rock at Sir Phillip, so others will have more time to get

The Apostle Paul’s strategic mission of expanding the church and spreading the Gospel was significant considering the challenges he had to conquer. His life and example was and is applicable to modern cross-cultural leaders and organizations. Philippians 2 is a letter written by Paul to the church of Philippi. It was prepared during his imprisonment in Rome for spreading the Gospel of Christ in an area where people predominately and traditionally believed in Judaism. His writing in this passage highlights Christ as the ultimate example of humility and Paul’s encouragement to his followers to keep the unity, as they are the light of the world.

The stories of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in the gospels Mark and Peter differ greatly. Each author has his own plot, descriptive language, audience and characterization of Jesus. What we know about Jesus and how he is portrayed changes between the gospels. For example, the Gospel of Mark uses many Jewish references and makes parallels to the Old Testament which was most likely for the benefit of a Jewish audience. Also, the Jesus in Mark’s gospel is characterized to be more divine, befitting the expectations of the Jewish community. However, The Gospel of Peter seems to entertain both a pagan and Jewish audience, using language that either group could relate to. The Jesus of Peter is oddly portrayed and is more akin to what we

Yet only in Matthew does Peter have a role in the story. Upon seeing Jesus on the water, he calls out, "'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water'"(Mt. 14.28). He almost succeeds, yet he suddenly gives in to fear and begins sinking. Jesus scolds him by saying, " 'You of little faith, why do you doubt?'"(14.31). This draws a strange picture of Peter. He no longer simply listens to Jesus, but tries to become actively involved in his teacher's lessons. This idea is again shown in Matthew 15.15. After the parable of the blind leading the blind, Peter asks, " "Explain this parable to us." Jesus replies with a rather impatient remark, but dives a little further into the meaning. He often comes to Jesus with questions throughout Matthew and these questions always ask for clear definitions of stories or truths about some spiritual detail. Many times Jesus snaps a little at him, but Peter obviously is not swayed by any impatience his teacher bestows. This seems to paint a closer relationship between the two men, where Peter is not afraid of Jesus and Jesus is not simply polite to Peter, as teachers tend to be. Jesus' obvious favoritism of Peter, shown in the transfiguration and throughout the gospel, leads one to believe that the two are indeed close friends with trust and mutual respect, which allows them to be freer with their words to one another. Friends tend to be less polite and more open with

However, Peter with good intentions tries to stay close Jesus and follows as far as he could. Mark says he followed at a distance. He arrives in the courtyard of the high priest sit down with the officers and warms himself but he did not stay there. According to John’s account another disciple also follow Jesus. This is believed to be John himself. This disciple knows the high priest and speaks to the doorkeeper to allow Peter to enter the court (John

Sergei Prokofiev wrote Peter and the wolf in 1936 to teach young children the instruments of the orchestra. Prokofiev wrote both the story and composed the music, creating a symphonic fairy tale that has been enjoyed by children for decades. The work is in three sections which makes the story and music easy for children to follow. The beginning section introduces characters in the story, each represented by a musical instrument. The middle section develops the exciting story. The third and final section summarizes the story and serves as a review of each musical theme as characters join in a parade at the end.

The literary genre of 2 Peter is an epistle written to the main personalities, an implied group of believers in Asia Minor and other places around that region. The author is the Apostle Peter a dedicated servant and disciple of Jesus. The date that the letter was written has some controversy, however, in his correspondence Peter mentions that his life is coming to an end, and Peter was martyred for his faith in Rome about A.D. 64-67. Therefore, establishing the date of Peter 's second letter within that time frame. Peter wrote out of love to defend and protect the immutable word of God. The letters main purpose was to warn fellow devotees about false teachers that would try to enter their churches and mislead them in their faith. Peter goes on to explain the false teachers can be recognized by their prideful behavior, their love of money, and disrespect to God. (Life Application Study Bible 1507,1918) Peter uses instances from the past, such as Sodom and Gomorrah and the great flood to stress the judgment and punishment that will come to unbelievers who reject God. The apostle also warns that there will be those that will mock God and dismiss the second coming of Christ. He advises the believers to have confidence in the promises, prophecies, and principles given through God’s inspired word. (Hindson, Towns) Peter cautions God will return without warning and find individuals unwary. However, Peter reasons that God is patient and delays His return for unbelievers, “not

St. Peter not only set his foot within the heart of Rome, but he was granted the right to step his foot anywhere he pleased when spreading the word, it is our land because we devote ourselves—and like He has appointed St. Peter, he has appointed us to continue the work of the disciple: “…so also they have regarded the others who after him have been elected to the pontificate, and so has it been continued even till now, and will continue till the end of the world” (par. 3)

It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.

The New Testament is characterized by the existence of imperative Biblical figures, with the likes of Jesus Christ, the Apostles, among many others. Peter was among Jesus’ first disciples. From his turning point, as manifested in the book of John 21, to his progress as a dedicated leader as manifested in Acts, to his final emergence as a co-elder as manifested in the Epistles of 1st and 2nd Peter, Peter exhibited traits of a transformational and charismatic biblical figure (Neil & William 409).

It has been said that the true test of character is what a person does when no one is watching. Does the same principle apply to what is done when a particular someone is not watching? The apostle Peter, on the night Jesus was betrayed, faced such a test of character. Throughout church history, the Apostle Peter has become synonymous with adjectives such as zealous, called of God, bold and passionate; unfortunately, his quick-temper and denials of Jesus threatened to undermine his credibility in the Church. After thorough review of the four Gospel accounts of Peter’s denial and John’s account of his restoration by Jesus, it becomes clear that the events, which threatened to undo Peter’s

When Jesus first called him to be his disciple, he dropped all his fishing gear and followed Jesus, without a doubt. What makes Saint Peter stand out is the fact that he crucified himself of shame and regret because he denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted. Peter is considered by the Roman Catholic church to be the first of the unbroken chain of popes. He is also known as the leader of the twelve disciples.

Matthew 16: 13- 23 is the confession of Peter of Jesus true identity and the Prophecy of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Saint Peter the Apostle, original name Simeon, or Simon (died AD 64, Rome), disciple of Jesus Christ, recognized in the early church as the leader of the disciples and the Roman Catholic Church as the first of its unbroken succession of popes. Peter a fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. He received from Jesus an Aramaic appellation Cephas which means “Rock.” This was translated into Greek as Petros (from the Greek Petra, “rock”) and became a Latin Petrus and the English Peter. Jesus told Peter he was the Rock upon whom the Christian Church would be built. Throughout the public life of Jesus, Peter is represented in the Gospel as the Spokesman and principal member of Jesus’ followers. He is the first named in the entire list given of these followers and was present with a privilege at few special occasions, example, the daughter of Jairus brought back to life by Jesus. He was also the first to see Jesus after his resurrection from the dead.