I’m curious to know what protestants think.
Why did Jesus change Simon’s name to Cephas?
Why did Jesus give Cephas alone the keys to the Kingdom?
Why did Jesus tell Peter alone to “Feed my Sheep” and “Strengthen the Brethren”?
I hope this is some sort of help to your inquiry…
We’re talking about Peter, the brother of Andrew and son of Jonah, hence Simon, bar-jona, bar meaning ’ son of '.
His name was Simon or also Simeon.
In Aramaic his name was Cephas, of which Peter is the Greek equivalent. Cephas means ‘stone’.
His name wasn’t ‘rock’ literally, but is play on words. In Greek petros = small rock and petra = bedrock or big rock.
The foundation or “rock” upon which the Church is built is upon Christ. See Ephesians 2:20.
There is a connection to Peter being the chief apostle after the death and resurrection of Christ. Peter was then charged with leadership of the Church hear on the earth. With that charge he was given keys and authority to be the prophet and seer. It is the word seer that has relation the the word Cephas, being a stone – like in a seer stone.
See 1 Samuel 9:9.
Prophets and apostles guided and guide the Church via Revelation. It’s this revelation which is the foundation of the Church. It is through revelation that the Godhead, a more direct foundation, leads and conducts the Church on the earth.
Hence when Simon professed that Jesus was the Christ while others said different, Christ commended him and said that it was Heavenly Father who revealed it.
How was that knowledge revealed? Through revelation.
Source(s):
Matt 16:18
1 Corinthians 10:4
Ephesians 2:20
1 Samuel 9:9
