Peter

Highlights

Main contribution

Peter is the apostle whose failure and authority sit side by side.

Event connection

Council of Jerusalem (50)

Primary source

Gospel of Matthew 16:13-19

Sources for biography

• Gospel of Matthew 16:13-19 primary
• Acts of the Apostles 1-15 primary
• 1 Peter 1:1 primary
• Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 2.25 primary
• Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3.3.2 primary

documented connections(3)

• taught by Jesus of Nazareth
  Peter is called by Jesus and named chief of the Twelve in all four Gospels.
  Gospel of Mark 1:16-18 · Gospel of Matthew 16:13-19
• met (incoming) Paul of Tarsus
  Paul visited Cephas in Jerusalem for fifteen days c. AD 36 (Gal 1:18). They later met at the Apostolic Council (Gal 2 / Acts 15).
  Galatians 1:18; 2:1-10 · Acts of the Apostles 15
• opposed (incoming) Paul of Tarsus
  The Antioch incident: Paul publicly rebuked Peter for withdrawing from Gentile table fellowship under pressure from 'men from James' (Gal 2:11-14).
  Galatians 2:11-14

tradition connections(5)

• taught by (incoming) Mark the Evangelist
  Papias (c. 110-130) reports Mark was Peter's interpreter and recorded Peter's preaching as the Gospel of Mark — but Papias' testimony itself survives only via Eusebius. 1 Peter 5:13 mentions 'Mark my son' but does not establish discipleship.
  Papias in Eusebius HE 3.39.15 · 1 Peter 5:13 · Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3.1.1
• succeeded in see (incoming) Linus of Rome
  Irenaeus' succession list names Linus as the man to whom 'the apostles' (Peter and Paul) committed the Roman episcopate. Episcopal succession lists for 1st-c Rome were reconstructed by Irenaeus c. 180 (Adv. Haer. 3.3); not contemporaneously attested.
  Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 3.3.3 · Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 3.2
• succeeded in see (incoming) Evodius of Antioch
  Eusebius lists Evodius as first bishop of Antioch after Peter. Peter's actual episcopal tenure at Antioch is traditional rather than narrated in scripture.
  Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 3.22
• taught by (incoming) Clement of Rome
  Tertullian (De Praesc. 32) says Clement was ordained by Peter. Origen and others identify him with the Clement of Phil 4:3. No first-person testimony survives — marked tradition per the brief.
  Tertullian, De Praescriptione 32 · Jerome, De Viris Illustribus 15
• succeeded in see Jesus of Nazareth
  Roman Catholic tradition treats Peter as Christ's vicar / successor in pastoral leadership of the Church (Matt 16:18-19); not framed as episcopal succession in the New Testament itself.
  Gospel of Matthew 16:18-19 · Gospel of John 21:15-17

External resources