Why did Jesus change Simon's name to Peter? (original) (raw)

Some Catholics say Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon because he was the first pope, the leader of the Church. Furthermore, they claim that Peter is the rock on which the true Church was built (Matt. 16:18). The true church is supposed to be the Catholic Church. First, nothing in scripture says that Peter’s name was changed for this reason. Therefore, it is conjecture. Second, he wasn’t the only apostle whose name was changed. Paul was first called Saul (Acts 13:9) but became known as Paul. Third, Peter is the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:7). Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13; Gal. 2:7; Acts 9:15). If anything, the name change of both Peter and Paul reflects their assignments as apostles to the Jews (Peter) and the Gentiles (Paul). It is not about being a pope. Finally, to be consistent, Peter is not the “pope” to the Gentiles – because that is not his apostolic assignment. He is the apostle to the Jews. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Peter can’t teach the Gentiles (Acts 15:7-9) or that Paul can’t teach the Jews. So, it makes sense to say that when Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon, it did not mean that it was because he was the pope. It designates Peter’s apostolic assignment to the Jews.Simon changed to Peter

Matthew 16:18

Catholics also use Matt. 16:18 to claim that Peter is the head of the Church. He isn’t. The word “Peter,” is ‘petros’ in the Greek. The word “rock” is ‘petra.’ Petros is masculine and means a small rock. Petra is feminine and means a large rock. The feminine “petra” occurs four times in the Greek New Testament: Matthew 16:18, 27:60, 1 Cor. 10:4, 1 Pet. 2:8. Aside from the text in question (Matt. 16:18), we see that in each of the other occurrences, petra refers to a large immovable mass of rock in which a tomb is carved out (Matt. 27:60). It is also used about Christ (1 Cor. 10:4, 1 Pet. 2:8). Note that in 1 Peter 2:8, Peter refers to Jesus as “a stone of stumbling and a rock [petra] of offense.” So, Peter references to Jesus as ‘petra’. Should we? So Matt. 16:18 does not support the idea that Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon’s because he is the pope.

Simon and Peter and Saul and Paul

This is what I found in the research for this article on why Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon. Simon Σίμων. Simon means “hearing.”1https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4613/kjv/tr/0-1/ Peter means “rock or stone.”2https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4074/kjv/tr/0-1/ Likewise, Saul means “desired”3https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4569/kjv/tr/0-1/ and Paul means “little” or “small.”4https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3972/kjv/tr/0-1/ Peter is still called “Simon Peter,” but Paul is not called “Saul Paul.” The phrase “Simon Peter” occurs 21 times in the New Testament. The number of occurrences where the word “Simon” and the word “Peter” occur, (but not ‘Simon Peter’) is 11. Jesus first called him Cephas, “which is translated as Peter” in John 1:42. He is called Simon Barjona in Matt. 16:17, and it is in Matt. 16:18 that it says, “…you are Peter [petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build My church.”

  1. The phrase Simon Peter occurs 21 times in the New Testament.
    1. Matthew 16:16, “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”
    2. Luke 5:8, “But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!””
    3. John 1:40, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”
    4. John 6:8, “One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,”
    5. John 6:68, “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
    6. John 13:6, “So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?””
    7. John 13:9, “Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.'”
    8. John 13:24, “So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, ‘Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.'”
    9. John 13:36, “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”“
    10. John 18:10, “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.”
    11. John 18:15, “Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,”
    12. John 18:25, “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.””
    13. John 20:2, “So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.'”
    14. John 20:6, “And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,”
    15. John 21:2, “Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.”
    16. John 21:3, “Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.”
    17. John 21:7, “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.”
    18. John 21:11, “Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.”
    19. John 21:15, “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”“
    20. 2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
  2. The words Simon and Peter in one verse – but not “Simon Peter.”
    1. Matthew 4:18, “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.”
    2. Matthew 10:2, “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”
    3. Mark 3:16, “And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),”
    4. Mark 14:37, “And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?”
    5. Luke 6:14, “Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;”
    6. John 1:42**,** “He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”
    7. John 21:17, “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
    8. Acts 10:5, “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;”
    9. Acts 10:17, “Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;”
    10. Acts 10:32, “Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’”
    11. Acts 11:13, “And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;”

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