Peter vs. Paul

[christian2112]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

 

[TK421]

When I read about Paul, it makes me feel intimidated. When I read about Peter, it makes me feel comforted. Both of their examples have helped me a great deal in different ways.

 

[pablope]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

They are both important that their feast days are celebrated on the same day. But they each had their own mission to accomplish for the building of the Church.

 

[KrazyKat]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

For me to judge anyone would be sin. We are called to a mission, some are "heads"some are “feet”,’ both are necessary . Both of these holy men fulfilled their mission.

 

[adawgj]

They are both very good, but both have different forms of teaching like in the books of Timothy Paul is very sincere about fundamental teachings of the Church.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

When I read about Paul, it makes me feel intimidated. When I read about Peter, it makes me feel comforted. Both of their examples have helped me a great deal in different ways.

This is true for me too… and to take it a bit farther, (as one who came from a mixed household) Paul’s ministry reminds me very much of the ministry of Protestants, while the Pope and the Catholic Church remind me of Peter’s. That is just my take on it… Definitely not Catholic teaching.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

I"d have to say that both were quite important and significant in their own ways. I think it says in Scripture that we can’t say “the eye is better than the hand”… etc. One needs the other. We are one body, working together with different functions, each of its own importance.

 

[TK421]

This is true for me too… and to take it a bit farther, (as one who came from a mixed household) Paul’s ministry reminds me very much of the ministry of Protestants, while the Pope and the Catholic Church remind me of Peter’s. That is just my take on it… Definitely not Catholic teaching.

Yeah that’s the impression I get. Even though Paul ofc isn’t a protestant, he has the flavor of one in many ways. Peter evangelized to Jews and Paul evangelized to Gentiles, so Paul’s writings work from the ground up and can have a “low church” feel to them if you look at them only in the context of scripture and nothing else. I’m not sure if a cradle Catholic could identify with that though.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Yeah that’s the impression I get. Even though Paul ofc isn’t a protestant, he has the flavor of one in many ways. Peter evangelized to Jews and Paul evangelized to Gentiles, so Paul’s writings work from the ground up and can have a “low church” feel to them if you look at them only in the context of scripture and nothing else.

So glad to hear I"m not the only one!

To be fair… a lot of Protestant Pastors base their teachings off of the writings of Paul, mainly I guess because most of the books were written by him, so we have a better understanding of who he was. It gives quite a bit of material to work with.

 

[KrazyKat]

Peter dealt mainly with Christian Jews, Paul was sent to the Gentiles who had many gods. Peter, as the head of the church, had to step in when the converted Jews tried to make converted Gentiles try to follow the old Jewish traditions.

Our God is an awesome God.

 

[Michael_Allen]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

For me they both represent essential parts of the Church - Peter the strong link with the past, Paul pushing into new areas and not being afraid to challenge the centre (Peter) when actions aren’t in line with beliefs.

From a purely historical perspective, I’d probably pick Paul as the more influential because of his emphasis on grace, through faith, available to all peoples, and his missionary work which transformed the Church in a few short years.

Perhaps we see some of the inevitable tensions between Peter and Paul still being lived out in the Church today. And that may be no bad thing as it shows that we are still connected with both.

God bless +

Michael

 

[TimothyH]

Peter and Paul are both member’s in Christs’ body.

But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” (1 Corinthians 12:20-21)

And there is no Paul/Gentile vs Peter/Jew distinction. Paul did not evangelize to Gentiles exclusively. There were many Jews in dispersion and Paul visited the synagogue in every town in which he stopped. Peter baptized Cornelius and his family who were the first Gentile converts to Christianity.

-Tim-

 

[CarolNoel]

I like them both. Went on the Following the Footsteps of St. Paul with Steve Ray and it helped me know Paul even better.

 

[clmowry]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

To me this is like asking which lung is more important to breathing.

That said, I gotta go with “the Rock upon which I will build my Church.”

Chuck

 

[doggieDaddy]

I find quite odd the idea that Peter preached mainly to Jews. Did not God choose him to preach to the Gentiles?

From Acts of the Apostles:

Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers confronted him, saying, “You entered* the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.”

Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying …

Acts 11.
​

and:

After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:7
​

 

[steve_b]

I know that some probably will not want to judge apostles against each other, but in your judgment, was Peter or Paul more significant to Christianity. Obviously, they are considered the two most important apostles, with Peter the rock of the church and Paul the great missionary to the Gentiles.

Jesus promised us His Church and that He would build it on Peter as the leader [Matthew 16:13-20 (Douay-Rheims Bible, Matthew Chapter 16) and the apostles. His Church, the pilar and foundation of truth.[1 Timothy 3:15 (Douay-Rheims Bible, 1 Timothy Chapter 3). We’re blessed to have the NT, written by the Church for the Church, canonized by the Church, even though Jesus never commanded anyone to write what we call the NT

All apostles are important, however it’s Peter’s succession and those who hold his office, that we’ve followed since his death in Rome.

For the previous and following reasons

It was due to revelation that Peter received, that the faith was opened up to the gentiles…(baptism of Cornelius). Prior to that the Church was 100% Jewish. After the apostles were in an argument over who was the greatest among THEM, (getting to the heart of your question) Jesus warned His apostles Satan wanted to sift them like wheat, but Jesus prayed especially for Peter, that it would be Peter who leads and strengthens his brothers. [Luke 22:23-32 (Douay-Rheims Bible, Luke Chapter 22) And after the resurrection, Jesus said Peter is to feed and shepherd and rule Our Lord’s sheep [John 21:11-19 (Douay-Rheims Bible, John Chapter 21) One of the Greek words for feed in that sequence, is “poimaino” [Jn 21:16]. The definition is

a)to rule, govern

• 1. of rulers
• 1. to furnish pasture for food
• 1. to nourish
• 1. to cherish one’s body, to serve the body
• 1. to supply the requisites for the soul’s need

That’s why we pay particular attention to Peter’s successors. Jesus prays especially for them for their leadership and to do the job He has given them to do…

 

[Michael_Allen]

doggieDaddy:

I find quite odd the idea that Peter preached mainly to Jews. Did not God choose him to preach to the Gentiles?

Hi doggieDaddy

The view that Paul was primarily responsible for preaching to the gentiles and Peter to the Jews comes from Paul himself…

Galatians 2:7-8 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles).

God bless +

Michael