The Life and Witness of Peter
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THE LIFE AND WITNESS OF PETER

LARRY R. HELYER

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

Apollos

Nottingham, England

InterVarsity Press, USA

P.O. Box 1400

Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426, USA

World Wide Web: www.ivpress.com

Email: email@ivpress.com

©2012 by Larry R. Hellyer

Larry R. Hellyer has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press®, USA, is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA® <www.intervarsity.org> and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design: Cindy Kiple

Images: St. Peter, from the Crypt of St. Peter, Byzantine School at St. Peter’s, Vatican, Rome, Italy/The Bridgeman Art Library

ISBN 978-0-8308-6655-7 (digital)

ISBN 978-0-8308-3982-7 (print)

CONTENTS

Abbreviations

Biblical Texts and Versions

Other Ancient Texts

Secondary Sources

Preface

Constructing Petrine Theology

The Sources

Method of Presentation

Acknowledgments

1 Background of Simon Peter

His Name

Galilean Fisherman

Questions For Discussion

For Further Reading

2 Peter in the Gospels, Part One: Call to Confession

Early Convert

Leader and Spokesman in the Jesus Movement

Peter’s Confession

Questions For Discussion

For Further Reading

3 Peter in the Gospels, Part Two: Transfiguration to Resurrection

Witness to the Transfiguration

Peter and the Temple Tax

Peter and the Rich Young Ruler

Peter and Passion Week

Jesus’ Appearance and Commission to Simon

Questions For Discussion

For Further Reading

4 Peter and the Early Church: The Book of Acts

Apostle and Leader of the Jerusalem Church

The Conversion of Cornelius

Jerusalem Council

Peter the Miracle Worker

Questions For Discussion

For Further Reading

5 Peter in Paul’s Letters

Galatians: Peter the Pillar

1 Corinthians: Peter on a Pedestal

Conclusion: Peter in Paul’s Letters

Questions For Discussion

For Further Study

6 1 Peter: Encyclical to Exiles

Critical Issues

Genre and Integrity

Authorship and Date of Composition

Recipients and Place of Composition

Peter’s Purpose as an Entrée Into His Theology

Peter’s Understanding of God

Questions For Discussion

For Further Study

7 Peter’s Christology

Jesus Christ as Lamb of God

Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant

Jesus Christ the Cornerstone

Jesus Christ as Shepherd and Guardian

Jesus the Christ

Questions For Discussion

For Further Study

8 Christ and the Spirits, Christ and the Holy Spirit

Interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18–22...

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About The Life and Witness of Peter

Who was Peter and what was his true stature in the early church? For Protestants at least, Peter seems caught between two caricatures: the rustic fisherman of Galilee and the author of two lesser New Testament letters. And in both cases he is overshadowed by Paul.

In The Life and Witness of Peter, Larry Helyer seeks to reinstate this neglected and underestimated apostle to his rightful stature as an early Christian leader and faithful witness to Christ.

Reconstructing Peter’s life, theology and legacy from evidence in 1 and 2 Peter, the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, and texts from the early church, Helyer renders a great service for students of the New Testament. We are introduced to Peter the eyewitness who stands behind much of Mark’s Gospel, Peter the preacher who lends deep credibility to the account of Acts, and Peter the letter-writer whose words glow with spiritual intelligence. Along the way we are rewarded with a careful analysis of prominent theological themes in Peter’s letters. And we learn much about the traditions, legends and legacy of Peter in the post-apostolic era.

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