Saint Peter

Saint Peter (Latin: Petrus, Greek: Πέτρος Petros; died AD 64 or 67), also known as Simon Peter, was a prominent early Christian leader, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is venerated as a saint and is considered to be the first bishop and Pope by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy.

Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

Quotes

Quotes of Peter from traditional sources

• Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
  • As quoted in Gospel of Matthew 26:33 - 35. Jesus responds: "Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." After this Peter protests: "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." These are some of the anecdotes of the Denial of Peter.

First Epistle of Peter

• ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν.
  • Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
    • 1 Peter 2:2 NIV

• Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.
  • 1 Peter 3:3-4 (World English Bible)

Second Epistle of Peter

• But Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be exposed.
  • 2 Peter 3:10, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

Quotes about Peter

I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ~ Jesus

• Q. According to one of Madame Blavatsky’s books, the Apostle Peter lived in Babylon after the crucifixion. Does that mean he was not martyred under Nero, was not the first Pope, nor buried at the present site of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome as claimed by the Church; that he did return to Rome after a time...?
  A. This is the kind of question that only the Masters could answer and one is going to now: Madame Blavatsky is correct in her statement that the Apostle Peter did indeed live in Babylon after the Crucifixion. He was instructed to do this after the death of Jesus and continued the work of teaching and healing among the groups who had responded to the teachings of Jesus. He was not martyred (upside down or right way up) under Nero, was not the first Pope, nor buried in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome as claimed by the Church. There are many other inaccuracies of this kind in the Church’s teaching which have still to come to light. However, I do not think these inaccuracies are all that important; the basic teachings of the Christ through Jesus are the important things.
  • Benjamin Creme in Share International magazine (November 2005)

• Saint Peter was up and striding toward the door with his hand out as I was ushered in. I was taught in church history that he was believed to have been about ninety when he died. Or when he was executed (crucified?) by the, Romans, if he was. (Preaching has always been a chancy vocation, but in the days of Peter's ministry it was as chancy as that of a Marine platoon sergeant.)
  This man looked to be a strong and hearty sixty, or possibly seventy — an outdoor man, with a permanent' suntan and the scars that come from sun damage. His hair and beard were full and seemed never to have been cut, streaked with grey but not white, and (to my surprise) he appeared to have been at one time a redhead. He was well muscled and broad shouldered, and his hands were calloused, as I learned when he gripped my hand. He was dressed in sandals, a brown robe of coarse wool, a halo like mine, and a dinky little skullcap resting in the middle of that fine head of hair.
  I liked him on sight.
  • Robert A. Heinlein, in Job: A Comedy of Justice (1984), Ch. 23; Saint Alexander Hergensheimer meeting St. Peter in Heaven

• Pete is a good old Joe, the most perfect Christian in Heaven or on earth. Denied his Boss thrice, been making up for it ever since. Utterly delighted to be on nickname terms with his Master in all three of His conventional Aspects. I like Pete. If he ever has a falling out with My Brother, he's got a job here.
  • Robert A. Heinlein, in Job: A Comedy of Justice (1984), Ch. 27, Lucifer, to Saint Alexander Hergensheimer in Hell.

• When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
   He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
  • Jesus, to Peter in Gospel of Matthew 16:13 - 20 (KJV)

•  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
  • Account of the remarks of Jesus to Peter in Gospel of John 18:10 - 11 (KJV)
  • Variants:
  • Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
    • Jesus, in Gospel of Matthew 26:52–54 (KJV)

• Jesus said to His disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell Me whom I am like." 'Simon Peter said to Him, "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew said to Him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to Him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom You are like."
  • Gospel of Thomas, Saying 13

• He questioned them about the Saviour: Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?
  Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Saviour?
  Levi answered and said to Peter, Peter you have always been hot tempered.
  Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries.
  But if the Saviour made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Saviour knows her very well.
  That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Saviour said.
  And when they heard this they began to go forth to proclaim and to preach.
  • Anecdote about Peter and someone named Mary, in Gospel of Mary 9:4–10.