Petros and Petra synonyms

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aball1035

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As in relation to Matthew 16:18, Catholics say that these were synonyms for each other and meant the same thing. Only in earlier Greek poetry did Petros mean “small stone” and Petra mean “rock”.

How do we know this? Where are the sources?
 
aball1035 said:
Thank you, but I’m wondering how people know that in earlier Greek poetry they were different, but not in Jesus’ time. Like what writings have they found back in the day to determine it.
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Petra is feminine
Petros is masculine
They both mean rock
Petra was more common

As Peter is male the less common masculine was used for him
To show he really is the rock the feminine petra proceeded
Jesus renames Peter Rock (Cephas Aramaic for Rock John 1:42)
Jesus spoke Aramaic so would have said “You are Rock and upon this rock…”

In the Bible stone is rendered as lithos/lithoi (c.f. Matt 4:3)
The Aramaic word for stone is evna

Hope this helps
 
aball1035 said:
Thank you, but I’m wondering how people know that in earlier Greek poetry they were different, but not in Jesus’ time. Like what writings have they found back in the day to determine it.
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That depends. What are people’s motives in studying the use of Petra and Petros. That often depends on how deep we are willing to go to learn the Truth (although there are exceptions, of course).

Most people learn what they wish to learn and ignore the rest.

I’ll give you an example to illustrate. Say I’m a Baptist who has a preacher that can really rock my world. This guy inspires me every Sunday with a Sermon that draws closer and closer to God. Now, if this preacher mentions that Petra is “large rock” and Petros is “small pebble”, and leaves it at that, who am I going to believe? My preacher who was gifted with the Holy Spirit? Or some Catholic that is holding on to a dead religion that was taken over by control freaks?

Of course, its a good thing we Catholics don’t suffer from this same dilemma in the opposite way, eh? 😉
 
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