John 1:41 - Why did Peter get credit from Jesus when Andrew knew Jesus was the Messiah first?

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Hi,

Why did Peter get credit from Jesus when Andrew knew Jesus was the Messiah first?

Thank you for your help!
Brian
John 1:41
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
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One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41* He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42* He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas”.

Andrew was not chosen by Jesus to be the leader of the apostles.
 
kkollwitz said:
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41* He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42* He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas”.

Andrew was not chosen by Jesus to be the leader of the apostles.
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Good answer. I’d also add that “Messiah”, in Israel c. 30 AD, had a variety of meanings: it could refer to:
  1. an ideal Davidic king who would crush his enemies and re-establish the Kingdom of Israel (2 Samuel 7, Psalm 89, Ezekiel 34, etc.)
  2. a prophet similar to Moses, who would lead his people and whose teachings would be binding (Deuteronomy 18)
The term did not necessarily imply divinity. So when St. Andrew acknowledged Christ as the Messiah, he had a partial, but not a complete insight into Christ’s true identity.

St. Nathaniel goes a step further, when he addresses Christ as both “Son of God” and “King of Israel”.

But it’s left to St. Peter to make the final step: inspired by the Holy Spirit, he identifies Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. And if we look at Christ’s words, he gives credit not to Peter, but to the Holy Spirit (“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you.”) His election of Peter as leader, like His grace, was gratuitous, and not necessarily based on any credit that Peter himself had.
 
RPRPsych said:
But it’s left to St. Peter to make the final step: inspired by the Holy Spirit, he identifies Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. And if we look at Christ’s words, he gives credit not to Peter, but to the Holy Spirit (“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you.”) His election of Peter as leader, like His grace, was gratuitous, and not necessarily based on any credit that Peter himself had.
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Hi,
So your answer is far different than how a Protestant would answer this question in saying it wasn’t Peter that became a leader that is the focus, but what God said through Peter? Your not somewhat agreeing with them, but it feels like you are in some way.

I have lots to learn. Thank you for your patience!
Brian
 
GodHeals said:
Hi,
So your answer is far different than how a Protestant would answer this question in saying it wasn’t Peter that became a leader that is the focus, but what God said through Peter? Your not somewhat agreeing with them, but it feels like you are in some way.

I have lots to learn. Thank you for your patience!
Brian
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I think you have asked an interesting question, and the response of RPRPsych was also
thought provoking. My personal point of interest is in the origin of the phrase, "the Son of the living God"

Is there a scriptural basis for this phrase? Or an understanding of this phrase from the perspective of rabbinic Judaism? Or is this an entirely ‘new’ revelation regarding the understanding of the promised Messiah? These are questions which seem to indicate that St.Peter was either given an understanding that was completely new, or was given a hidden, or unrevealed understanding within sacred scripture, or within rabbinic Judaism.

Hoshea 1:10 speaks of a people who were not a people and becoming 'sons of the living God". We also have this scripture from Proverbs 30:4: Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!

I think Judaism has struggled to understand the meaning of such terms as ‘children of God’, and ‘sons of the living God’. In part because it is associated with Christianity, and in part because it conflicts with the concept of G-d who is transcendent. Here are a few articles within the context of Judaism which attempt to understand the application of these terms.

jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13912-son-of-god

wordiq.com/definition/Son_of_God

God’s peace be with you

micah
 
Throughout the O.T. and continuing in the New Testament , God often passed over the ‘rightful’ heir and gave his blessing to the person with a loving heart. Perhaps this is just another example of God ‘knowing our heart’ and being pleased when He sees one who will obey His will.
 
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