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Jesus' closest disciple was Simon, whom he nicknamed "Peter" -- that is "The Rock." But in the Gospels and the writings of Paul, Peter is fickle, clumsy, and unreliable, less like a rock than shifting sand. After the New Testament we have numerous writings both about and allegedly by him. In looking over all these records, what can we say about the one on whom Jesus allegedly "built his church"? Is it possible to separate out the history from the legend? The fact from the fiction? And why didn't the Gospel writers do a bit more to improve his reputation?
-Why is Peter an important figure in the New Testament and early Christianity?
-What are the main sources of information for Peter?
-There are various accounts of Peter that are clearly legendary - he raises people (and fish!) from the dead, for example. Is a legendary act enough to automatically discredit everything else in a source?
-Obviously, the absence of resurrection and miraculous healing doesn’t necessarily make a source trustworthy. How do historians distinguish between non-legendary but implausible reports, and something that is more likely to be historical fact?
-Regular listeners won’t be surprised to hear that there are discrepancies between the different books of the New Testament when it comes to the life of Peter. Could you tell us about the different stories about how he became a disciple, and when he first realized Jesus was the messiah?
-What things do our sources agree on, and can historians say anything about this man with any degree of confidence?
-Are there any reasons for thinking that he and Paul did not get along?
-Are there any reports of Jewish sects breaking off and following either Peter or Paul, or were the two views unified by later christians?
-Given how important Peter came to be in the foundation of Christianity, is it surprising that he continued to be depicted as a rash, impetuous peasant?
-Is it possible to see Peter as the one who started Christianity?
