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St. Peter and St. Paul: The Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul



St. Peter and St. Paul/ The Apostle Peter and The Apostle Paul:
The Two Great Apostles. Peter was the one who receive the Revelation, "You are the Christ, The Messiah, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:16). Peter's revelation from Father is important because all three titles define Jesus in all cultures, Son of God in understanding of Jews is any Jew, but to Gentiles it is deity who is son of deity like Hercules. Messiah to Jews was Warrior King like David, A Deliverer like Moshe (Moses). And Christ means the "Anointed One." St. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and reached the Gentile Nations (Greeks, Scythians, Romans, and many others) for Jesus Christ. These two mighty men of the Messiah were the like two pillars of building the Church, St. John and St. James being the other pillars and who had an especial gift to reach the Jews for Jesus.



Interestingly, two of largest churches in world proclaim heritage and connection to these two Apostles: The Roman Catholic Church which says it is the Primacy of Peter and has inherited his mantle from Peter and The Eastern Orthodox Church which claims doxology and inheritance dating back to St. Paul; this especially being the case for the Greek Orthodox. Both of these men did great wonders through the Holy Spirit. Peter wrote two letters ( 1 and 2 Peter), walked and lived with Jesus Christ for 3+ years! Paul wrote The Epistles (Romans to 2 Timothy; some believe Hebrews was written by Paul) and saw Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). Neither of these two men/saints were perfect. Peter denied Jesus three times (Mark 16:66-72, Matt 26:69-75, and Luke 22:34) and was prone to be on wrong side of the Will of God prior to the Resurrection; "Jesus: I must be crucified. Peter: May it never be Lord! Jesus: Get behind me Satan!" (Matthew 16:21-23). Paul persecuted the Church and killed many Christians before converting (Galatians 1:11-16) and said, "I keep doing things I don't want to do. I want to do the good things, but I keep on doing what is wrong," (Romans 7:25-19). Paul indicates he had struggles and even said, "Because of the surpassing greatness of revelations (I have received), for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself (becoming proud), there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from exalting myself." (2 Corinthians 12:7). But despite these faults, both Peter and Paul were hand-picked by the Prince of Peace to be prolific professors and proclaimers of the Gospel! Peter was forgiven his denials when he met Jesus on the shore of Galilee when Jesus asked him thrice, "do you love me?" (John 21:15-17). It should also be noted that Peter who denied Jesus 3 times, later in Acts 2 and 3 saved 3,000 people (later another 5,000). I think its interesting the symbolism of three, not only did Peter get reinstated by Jesus at Galilee, but later after Pentecost (Acts 1 and 2) He ushers into Kingdom of Heaven three thousand souls. So the man who denied Jesus (out of fear) later had such dynamic faith that he led many to be saved. St. Paul may have persecuted the Church initially, but he became its greatest protector! It is Paul who writes all the Epistles (Letters) that confront and counter every heresy, apostasy, and false doctrine under the sun. Because of St. Paul's prolific writing under the Holy Spirit, serious errors in the faith were avoided or resolved!


I think it is accurate to say these were the fathers (under the Father in Heaven) of the Church. They were dynamic in the Lord and did not forsake the faith even unto death. Paul was beheaded, the way Romans killed a citizen of Rome which Paul was a Roman citizen. Peter was crucified upside down. Jesus Christ is our Lord and focus, but I do not think it is wrong to look to these men and be inspired by their faith (trust in God) and faithfulness (loyalty). For Peter and Paul both were pillars of piety and power in the Holy Spirit! We can look forward to one day meeting these two mighty men of our Messiah (Jesus Christ)!


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