Since Peter does not get mentioned (as Kephas) until after James in Galatians 2:9, does that mean that Peter could not have had more authority than Ja

[Guest1]

Is the response to this question found on: Answers to Objections about Peter and the Papacy

accurate?

ANSWER:

Actually Peter is already mentioned twice in that sentence before being listed for the third time in the phrase “James and Kephas and John.” And on the contrary, this final listing actually promotes the headship of Peter, or Kephas, over James and John. Most of the New Testament was written in Greek. It is custom to list the most important idea between the two mentionings of another idea. It is a also custom to place the most important person between two other persons of similar status.

For example, consider how the medals are awarded in the Olympics which also come from the Greeks. The gold medalist stands between the silver and bronze medalists. A book by Peter Ellis titled The Genius of John, shows over twenty different sequences where the most important idea is in the middle of another idea that is repeated both before and after this central and most important idea. [ I am not endorsing every conclusion listed in this book. I am just using it because it points out an obvious method in which the Book of John was composed.] So, this is why Peter, a.k.a. Kephas, is placed in the center with the Sons of Thunder on either side. (Cf. Mark 3:17)

Also feel free to answer this question yourself. Please. I had someone recently use this verse with me.
I do believe in the primacy of Peter.

 

[po18guy]

This is parsing sentences which were never meant to be linguistically dissected.
As to Peter being primary, here is a partial list of his qualifications and activities from an old, long ago closed thread.

In the Gospels, Peter is mentioned 195 times. The closest is John (the beloved disciple) at just 29 times. The rest even less.

Jesus gave Peter the keys to the gates of Heaven.
Jesus declared Peter to the the rock.
Jesus made Peter shepherd.
Jesus told Peter to strengthen his brothers
Jesus paid the Temple tax only for Himself and Peter .
Jesus preached from Peter 's boat.
Jesus told Peter to “Follow me”
Jesus called only Peter to Him across the water.
Jesus predicted Peter 's three-fold denial.
Jesus predicted Peter 's repentance and three-fold affirmation.
Jesus prophesied only Peter 's death.
Jesus taught Peter forgiveness 70 times 7 times.
Jesus spoke only to Peter at Gethsemane.
Peter is always listed first.
Peter was first to confess Jesus as Messiah.
Peter alone spoke at the Transfiguration.
Peter pointed out the withered fig tree.
Peter entered the tomb first - John deferring to him.
Peter decided the manner of replacing Judas.
Peter spoke for the eleven at the Pentecost.
Peter was released from prison by the Angel.
Peter spoke for the eleven before the Council.
Peter held sin bound to Ananias and Saphira.
Peter 's shadow healed.
Peter declared the sin of Simony.
Peter explained the salvation of the Gentiles to the Church at Jerusalem.
The Angel told Cornelius to call for Peter .
The Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles as Peter preached to them.
At the empty tomb, the Angel said, “Go tell His disciples, and Peter .”
Mary Magdalene ran to tell Peter and the beloved disciple.
The vision of all foods being clean was given only to Peter .
Peter 's words silence the first council in Jerusalem.
Paul went to Peter to affirm that his Gospel was not in vain.
And on and on and on.

So, one can deny that Peter was primary, but it takes an amazing disregard of scripture and history to do so."

 

[AlNg]

It is a also custom to place the most important person between two other persons of similar status.

That seems a stretch. Suppose a priest, the Pope and a bishop were to be guests at a conference. Would you say: I would like to mention that we are honored today to have with us three distinguished clergymen: Father James O’Sullivan, Pope Francis, and Bishop William Lori?

 

[Aulef]

He probably wouldn’t because he isn’t in the greek mindset culture he mentioned

 

[AlNg]

He probably wouldn’t because he isn’t in the greek mindset culture he mentioned

Where is the support for the Greek mindset of placing the most important person second (in a set of 3 people).

 

[Aulef]

I don’t see any either. I just responded based on his explanation

 

[AlNg]

I don’t see any either.

I’d like to see the supporting evidence for this.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

I’d like to see the supporting evidence for this.

Peter had left Jerusalem. James was now the head of the diocese.

And some manuscripts have Peter, James, and John.

 

[Cathoholic]

Simon is mentioned as Cephas almost immediately in Jesus’ ministry.

In John 1:42 Jesus prophicies the name change that will occur later (“you WILL BE called Cephas”).

JOHN 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter

Hope that helps.

God bless.

Cathoholic

 

[CelticWarlord]

This is parsing sentences which were never meant to be linguistically dissected.

I’m tucking that sentence away for use against my fellow Protestant’s arguments.

 

[po18guy]

I’m a stopped clock…

 

[Gorgias]

I’m a stopped clock…

so… “right twice each day”?

 

[po18guy]

If the wife is at work - but she’s retiring soon, so even less than that.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Some early Christians thought that the Cephas mentioned by Paul in Galatians 2, was not the apostle Peter but a different disciple, one of the Seventy, with the same name.

This is the account of Clement in the fifth book of his Hypotyposes, in which he also says that Cephas was one of the seventy disciples, a man who bore the same name as the apostle Peter, and the one concerning whom Paul says, “When Cephas came to Antioch I withstood him to his face.” (Eusebius, Church History, Book 1, Chapter 12)

If this is the case, then the fact that Cephas is mentioned after James has no bearing on the question of the primacy of the apostle Peter.