Lesson 03 - Life of Peter-Class-01 - Lesson 03-Clas… · Life of Peter – Bellevue Church of Christ Auditorium Class – Spring 2016 Lesson III – The Confessions* Jn 6:66–69;

LifeofPeter–BellevueChurchofChristAuditoriumClass–Spring2016

LessonIII–TheConfessions*Jn6:66–69;Mt16:13–19

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers Used by permission. A ll rights reserved.

*Outline for Life of Peter: Butler, John G – Peter: The Illustrious Disciple (Bible Biography Series, Number Eight), L B C Publications, 1993

This handout can be downloaded in PDF format from: (www.teamagee.com/class)

John 6:66–69 (ESV) 66After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

67So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

69and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Matthew 16:13–19 (ESV) 13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I. The Confession in Capernaum

II. The Confession in Caesarea Philippi

Turned back…

- “disciples” refers to the gathered crowd and NOT the 12- Many in the crowd wanted Christ to provide bread for their stomachs (6:26)

- He had earlier done this very thing (6:1–14)

- On this occasion He is teaching the crowd about Himself as the bread of life (6:27–65; 4:7-15)

A. The Devotion

“Many” left, but Peter asks “to whom shall we go?”

B. The Doctrine

“You have the words of eternal life”

“You are the Holy One of God.”

C. The Dogmatism

“We have believed, and have come to know” (Heb 11:1-3) <- Jn 1:35, 41; Ps 16:10; Acts 2:27; 3:14

KJV – “Christ, the Son of the living God”

<- Acts 4:12

As was often the case, Peter speaks for the 12

Indicates a definitive conclusion

Mk 8:27-29 Lk 9:18-20

A. The Inquiry

1) “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

2) “Who do you say that I am?”

B. The Instruction

1) The Revelation About Christ

2) The Revelation About the Church

a. Foundation

-Acts 4:10-12

-1Co 3:11

-1Pe 2:5-8

b. Endurance c. Authority

Extended to all of the Apostles of Jesus Christ

Mt 18:18

<- Jn 1:35, 41

Four Theories

1. John the Baptist -Mt 14:2 Herod’s view

2. Elijah – Believed to have been prophesied by Malachi to return in advance of the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6)

3. Jeremiah - Legend (mentioned in the Apocrypha) said Jeremiah was coming back to prepare a way for the Messiah.

4. Some other prophet come back to life

Jesus’ favorite self-designation...allusion to Dan 7:13. Occurs 30 times in Matthew.

Note the definite articles

Father

-Bar-Jonah = Son of Jonah (Jn 1:42)

-Jesus says that this truth confessed by Peter was not revealed by his earthly father (Jonah), but instead by his heavenly Father.

Cephas = Aramaic / Peter = Greek Both mean “Rock”

Rock

-Peter = Πέτρος Petros

-Rock = πέτρα petra

Play on words in the Greek...likely that Jesus is pointing to Peter’s confession as the foundation of the church.



Lesson03-LifeofPeter-Class-01.docx Page2of13

TurnedBack…John6:1–14(ESV)1AfterthisJesuswentawaytotheothersideoftheSeaofGalilee,whichistheSeaofTiberias.2Andalargecrowdwasfollowinghim,becausetheysawthesignsthathewasdoingonthesick.3Jesuswentuponthemountain,andtherehesatdownwithhisdisciples.4NowthePassover,thefeastoftheJews,wasathand.5Liftinguphiseyes,then,andseeingthatalargecrowdwascomingtowardhim,JesussaidtoPhilip,“Wherearewetobuybread,sothatthesepeoplemayeat?”6Hesaidthistotesthim,forhehimselfknewwhathewoulddo.7Philipansweredhim,“Twohundreddenariiworthofbreadwouldnotbeenoughforeachofthemtogetalittle.”8Oneofhisdisciples,Andrew,SimonPeter’sbrother,saidtohim,9“Thereisaboyherewhohasfivebarleyloavesandtwofish,butwhataretheyforsomany?”10Jesussaid,“Havethepeoplesitdown.”Nowtherewasmuchgrassintheplace.Sothemensatdown,aboutfivethousandinnumber.11Jesusthentooktheloaves,andwhenhehadgiventhanks,hedistributedthemtothosewhowereseated.Soalsothefish,asmuchastheywanted.12Andwhentheyhadeatentheirfill,hetoldhisdisciples,“Gatheruptheleftoverfragments,thatnothingmaybelost.”13Sotheygatheredthemupandfilledtwelvebasketswithfragmentsfromthefivebarleyloavesleftbythosewhohadeaten.14Whenthepeoplesawthesignthathehaddone,theysaid,“ThisisindeedtheProphetwhoistocomeintotheworld!”John6:22–65(ESV)

22Onthenextdaythecrowdthatremainedontheothersideoftheseasawthattherehadbeenonlyoneboatthere,andthatJesushadnotenteredtheboatwithhisdisciples,butthathisdiscipleshadgoneawayalone.23OtherboatsfromTiberiascameneartheplacewheretheyhadeatenthebreadaftertheLordhadgiventhanks.24SowhenthecrowdsawthatJesuswasnotthere,norhisdisciples,theythemselvesgotintotheboatsandwenttoCapernaum,seekingJesus.

25Whentheyfoundhimontheothersideofthesea,theysaidtohim,“Rabbi,whendidyoucomehere?”26Jesusansweredthem,“Truly,truly,Isaytoyou,youareseekingme,notbecauseyousawsigns,butbecauseyouateyourfilloftheloaves.27Donotworkforthefoodthatperishes,butforthefoodthatendurestoeternallife,whichtheSonofManwillgivetoyou.ForonhimGodtheFatherhassethisseal.”28Thentheysaidtohim,“Whatmustwedo,tobedoingtheworksofGod?”29Jesusansweredthem,“ThisistheworkofGod,thatyoubelieveinhimwhomhehassent.”30Sotheysaidtohim,“Thenwhatsigndoyoudo,thatwemayseeandbelieveyou?Whatworkdoyouperform?31Ourfathersatethemannainthewilderness;asitiswritten,‘Hegavethembreadfromheaventoeat.’”32Jesusthensaidtothem,“Truly,truly,Isaytoyou,itwasnotMoseswhogaveyouthebreadfromheaven,butmyFathergivesyouthetruebreadfromheaven.33ForthebreadofGodishewhocomesdownfromheavenandgiveslifetotheworld.”34Theysaidtohim,“Sir,giveusthisbreadalways.”




35Jesussaidtothem,“Iamthebreadoflife;whoevercomestomeshallnothunger,andwhoeverbelievesinmeshallneverthirst.36ButIsaidtoyouthatyouhaveseenmeandyetdonotbelieve.37AllthattheFathergivesmewillcometome,andwhoevercomestomeIwillnevercastout.38ForIhavecomedownfromheaven,nottodomyownwillbutthewillofhimwhosentme.39Andthisisthewillofhimwhosentme,thatIshouldlosenothingofallthathehasgivenme,butraiseituponthelastday.40ForthisisthewillofmyFather,thateveryonewholooksontheSonandbelievesinhimshouldhaveeternallife,andIwillraisehimuponthelastday.”

41SotheJewsgrumbledabouthim,becausehesaid,“Iamthebreadthatcamedownfromheaven.”42Theysaid,“IsnotthisJesus,thesonofJoseph,whosefatherandmotherweknow?Howdoeshenowsay,‘Ihavecomedownfromheaven’?”43Jesusansweredthem,“Donotgrumbleamongyourselves.44NoonecancometomeunlesstheFatherwhosentmedrawshim.AndIwillraisehimuponthelastday.45ItiswrittenintheProphets,‘AndtheywillallbetaughtbyGod.’EveryonewhohasheardandlearnedfromtheFathercomestome—46notthatanyonehasseentheFatherexcepthewhoisfromGod;hehasseentheFather.47Truly,truly,Isaytoyou,whoeverbelieveshaseternallife.48Iamthebreadoflife.49Yourfathersatethemannainthewilderness,andtheydied.50Thisisthebreadthatcomesdownfromheaven,sothatonemayeatofitandnotdie.51Iamthelivingbreadthatcamedownfromheaven.Ifanyoneeatsofthisbread,hewillliveforever.AndthebreadthatIwillgiveforthelifeoftheworldismyflesh.”

52TheJewsthendisputedamongthemselves,saying,“Howcanthismangiveushisfleshtoeat?”53SoJesussaidtothem,“Truly,truly,Isaytoyou,unlessyoueatthefleshoftheSonofMananddrinkhisblood,youhavenolifeinyou.54Whoeverfeedsonmyfleshanddrinksmybloodhaseternallife,andIwillraisehimuponthelastday.55Formyfleshistruefood,andmybloodistruedrink.56Whoeverfeedsonmyfleshanddrinksmybloodabidesinme,andIinhim.57AsthelivingFathersentme,andIlivebecauseoftheFather,sowhoeverfeedsonme,healsowilllivebecauseofme.58Thisisthebreadthatcamedownfromheaven,notlikethebreadthefathersate,anddied.Whoeverfeedsonthisbreadwillliveforever.”59Jesussaidthesethingsinthesynagogue,ashetaughtatCapernaum.

60Whenmanyofhisdisciplesheardit,theysaid,“Thisisahardsaying;whocanlistentoit?”61ButJesus,knowinginhimselfthathisdisciplesweregrumblingaboutthis,saidtothem,“Doyoutakeoffenseatthis?62ThenwhatifyouweretoseetheSonofManascendingtowherehewasbefore?63ItistheSpiritwhogiveslife;thefleshisnohelpatall.ThewordsthatIhavespokentoyouarespiritandlife.64Buttherearesomeofyouwhodonotbelieve.”(ForJesusknewfromthebeginningwhothosewerewhodidnotbelieve,andwhoitwaswhowouldbetrayhim.)65Andhesaid,“ThisiswhyItoldyouthatnoonecancometomeunlessitisgrantedhimbytheFather.”John4:7–15(ESV)

7AwomanfromSamariacametodrawwater.Jesussaidtoher,“Givemeadrink.”8(Forhisdiscipleshadgoneawayintothecitytobuyfood.)9TheSamaritanwomansaid




tohim,“Howisitthatyou,aJew,askforadrinkfromme,awomanofSamaria?”(ForJewshavenodealingswithSamaritans.)10Jesusansweredher,“IfyouknewthegiftofGod,andwhoitisthatissayingtoyou,‘Givemeadrink,’youwouldhaveaskedhim,andhewouldhavegivenyoulivingwater.”11Thewomansaidtohim,“Sir,youhavenothingtodrawwaterwith,andthewellisdeep.Wheredoyougetthatlivingwater?12AreyougreaterthanourfatherJacob?Hegaveusthewellanddrankfromithimself,asdidhissonsandhislivestock.”13Jesussaidtoher,“Everyonewhodrinksofthiswaterwillbethirstyagain,14butwhoeverdrinksofthewaterthatIwillgivehimwillneverbethirstyagain.ThewaterthatIwillgivehimwillbecomeinhimaspringofwaterwellinguptoeternallife.”15Thewomansaidtohim,“Sir,givemethiswater,sothatIwillnotbethirstyorhavetocomeheretodrawwater.”WordsofEternalLifeActs4:5–12(ESV)5OnthenextdaytheirrulersandeldersandscribesgatheredtogetherinJerusalem,6withAnnasthehighpriestandCaiaphasandJohnandAlexander,andallwhowereofthehigh-priestlyfamily.7Andwhentheyhadsettheminthemidst,theyinquired,“Bywhatpowerorbywhatnamedidyoudothis?”8ThenPeter,filledwiththeHolySpirit,saidtothem,“Rulersofthepeopleandelders,9ifwearebeingexaminedtodayconcerningagooddeeddonetoacrippledman,bywhatmeansthismanhasbeenhealed,10letitbeknowntoallofyouandtoallthepeopleofIsraelthatbythenameofJesusChristofNazareth,whomyoucrucified,whomGodraisedfromthedead—byhimthismanisstandingbeforeyouwell.11ThisJesusisthestonethatwasrejectedbyyou,thebuilders,whichhasbecomethecornerstone.12Andthereissalvationinnooneelse,forthereisnoothernameunderheavengivenamongmenbywhichwemustbesaved.”DogmatismHebrews11:1–3(ESV)1Nowfaithistheassuranceofthingshopedfor,theconvictionofthingsnotseen.2Forbyitthepeopleofoldreceivedtheircommendation.3ByfaithweunderstandthattheuniversewascreatedbythewordofGod,sothatwhatisseenwasnotmadeoutofthingsthatarevisible.HolyOneofGodJohn1:35–36(ESV)

35ThenextdayagainJohnwasstandingwithtwoofhisdisciples,36andhelookedatJesusashewalkedbyandsaid,“Behold,theLambofGod!”




John1:41(ESV)41HefirstfoundhisownbrotherSimonandsaidtohim,“WehavefoundtheMessiah”(whichmeansChrist).Psalm16:10(ESV)10ForyouwillnotabandonmysoultoSheol,

orletyourholyoneseecorruption.Acts2:27(ESV)27ForyouwillnotabandonmysoultoHades,

orletyourHolyOneseecorruption.Acts3:14(ESV)14ButyoudeniedtheHolyandRighteousOne,andaskedforamurderertobegrantedtoyou,ConfessioninCaesareaPhilippiMark8:27–29(ESV)

27AndJesuswentonwithhisdisciplestothevillagesofCaesareaPhilippi.Andonthewayheaskedhisdisciples,“WhodopeoplesaythatIam?”28Andtheytoldhim,“JohntheBaptist;andotherssay,Elijah;andothers,oneoftheprophets.”29Andheaskedthem,“ButwhodoyousaythatIam?”Peteransweredhim,“YouaretheChrist.”Luke9:18–20(ESV)

18Nowithappenedthatashewasprayingalone,thediscipleswerewithhim.Andheaskedthem,“WhodothecrowdssaythatIam?”19Andtheyanswered,“JohntheBaptist.Butotherssay,Elijah,andothers,thatoneoftheprophetsofoldhasrisen.”20Thenhesaidtothem,“ButwhodoyousaythatIam?”AndPeteranswered,“TheChristofGod.”Jesus’DeclarationatCaesareaPhilippiThegospelaccountspresentCaesareaPhilippiasthesiteofadefiningconfessioninthestoryofJesus’ life.There,afterJesusaskedthediscipleswhotheybelievedHimtobe,Peter confessed Him to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16). InMatthew’sGospel, the account continueswith a powerful declaration by Jesus abouttheChurchand itsmission(Matt16:13–20;seealsoMark8:27–29)—astatementthatcontinuestoinspireinterpretationaboutthenatureoftheChurchanditsroleinGod’sredemptionofcreation(seenoteonMatt16:18,seealsonoteonMatt16:19).

TheBibleonlyrecordsJesustravelingtoCaesareaPhilippionthisoneoccasion.WhywouldHeintentionallytakea14-hourwalk(a30-milejourney)awayfromtheregionoftheSeaofGalileewheremostofHisministrytookplace?

Caesarea Philippi is located in the northern part of Israel in a plain in the upper




JordanValley along the southwestern slopesofMountHermon. This ancient citywasbuiltonandagainstamajesticrockformationwithlushvegetation.Inbiblicaltimes,itservedasthewatersourcefortheHuelaMarshesthatgavebirthtotheJordanRiver.

AugustusgaveCaesareaPhilippitoHerodtheGreatin20BC.FormerlycalledPanion(andlaterPaneas),thecitywasrenamedCaesareaPhilippibyHerod’sson,PhilippII,in3BC in honor of Caesar Augustus. The naming of this city as Caesarea Philippidifferentiated it from Caesarea Maritima, which was located on the coast of theMediterraneanSea.Herodalsomadethecitytheadministrativecapitaloftheregion.

ThecitywasformerlycalledPaneasbecauseithousedacaveandspringdedicatedtotheGreekgodPan.AtempletoPanwasbuiltinthemidstofthecityatthemouthofthiscave,wherepeoplewouldmakesacrificestohim.Accordingtoahistoricnarrativeathis temple,Panwasoneofthefewgodswhocouldcross intoHadesandreturntoearth. As result, this site was recognized as the gate of Hades in the disciples’ day.Christ’s declaration about the Churchwas given powerful significance because it wasutteredhere.

Giventhis,PeterconfessedJesustobe“theChrist,theSonofthelivingGod”atthetempleofa falsegod (Matt16:16). Jesus followedbydeclaring that“onthis rock”HewouldbuildHisChurch(Matt16:18).HecontinuedbyprofessingthatthegatesofHades(onwhichHemayhaveliterallystood)willnotprevailagainsttheChurch(Matt16:18).Fromthatpointon,HebegantotellthemofHisimpendingsacrificialdeaththatwouldmakeallofthispossible(e.g.,Matt16:21).

Jesus fulfilled this declaration by dying on the cross and rising on the third day.Today,HisChurchispowerfulandgloriouswhilethetemplesoftheGreekandRomangodslieinruins…CHUCKBOOHER1SonofManDaniel7:13(ESV)

13“Isawinthenightvisions,andbehold,withthecloudsofheaventherecameonelikeasonofman,andhecametotheAncientofDaysandwaspresentedbeforehim.Excursus:“TheSonofMan”asachristologicaltitle

Duringthelasttwenty-fiveyears,morethanadozenbooksandscoresofimportantarticlesontheSonofManhaveappeared.ThisexcursusontheSonofManasachristologicaltitlewillprovidesomeoftheevidenceanditsinterpretationintherecentdebateandwillsketchintheapproachadoptedforthecommentary.GoodsummariesofearliertreatmentsarefoundintheworkofA.J.B.Higgins(JesusandtheSonofMan[London:Lutterworth,1964]),J.NevilleBirdsall(“WhoIsThisSonofMan?”EQ42[1970]7–17),andI.HowardMarshall(“TheSonofManinContemporaryDebate,”EQ42[1970]:67–87).MorerecenttreatmentsofthetermanditsmajortheologicalimplicationsmaybefoundintheworksandbibliographiesofC.Colpe(TDNT,8:400– 1 Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.




477),C.F.D.Moule(Christology,pp.11–22),I.HowardMarshall(TheOriginsofChristology[DownersGrove,Ill.:IVP,1976],pp.63–82),theessayseditedbyR.PeschandR.Schnackenburg(JesusundderMenschensohn[Freiburg:Herder,1975]),Goppelt(NTTheologie,pp.226–53),Ladd(NTTheology,pp.145–58),Dunn(Christology,pp.65–97),Guthric(NTTheology,pp.270–82),MatthewBlack(“JesusandtheSonofMan,”JournalfortheStudyoftheNewTestament1[1978]:4–18),andStanton(JesusofNazarethpp.156ff).TothiscanbeaddedtherecentworkbyMauriceCaseyandthatofA.J.B.Higgins(TheSonofManintheTeachingofJesus[Cambridge:UniversityPress,1980]).

TheexpressionSonofManoccurseighty-onetimesintheGospels,sixty-nineintheSynoptics.IneveryinstanceitisfoundeitheronJesus’lipsor,intwoinstances,onthelipsofthosequotingJesus(viz.,Luke24:7;John12:34).OutsidetheGospelsitisfoundintheNTasachristologicaltitleonlyinActs7:56;Revelation1:13,14:14(Heb2:6–8isnotrelevant).TheGospeloccurrencesareusuallyclassifiedaccordingtothethemesassociatedwiththetitle:(1)theapocalypticSonofManwhocomesattheendoftheage;(2)thesufferinganddyingSonofMan;and(3)theearthlySonofMan,engagedinanumberofpresentministries(inthiscontextthetitlemanyserveasacircumlocutionfor“I”).Ladd(NTTheology,pp.149–51)offersatypicalbreakdownofallthepassages.Thereissomeoverlapofthesecategoriesandroomfordifferencesofinterpretation.Butofthethirtyoccurrencesof“SonofMan”inMatthew,approximatelythirteenbelongtothefirstcategory(Mt13:41;16:27;19:28;24:27,30[bis],37,44;25:31;26:64;probably24:39;andpossibly10:23;16:28),tentothesecond(12:40;17:9,12,22;20:18,28;26:2,24[bis],45),andseventothethird(8:20,9:6,11:19–12:8,32;13:37;probably16:13;cf.alsothevariantat18:11).

Themeaningofanytermortitledependsatleastinpartonthewayithasbeenusedbefore.Muchofthedebatesurroundingtheprecisesignificanceof“SonofMan”intheGospelsturnsontheinfluenceascribedtooneortheotherofthefollowingbackgrounds.

1.Daniel7:13–14pictures“onelikeasonofman”whoapproachestheAncientofDaysandisgiven“authority,gloryandsovereignpower”and“aneverlastingdominionthatwillnotpassaway”inwhich“allpeoples,nationsandmenofeverylanguage”worshiphim.

2.InPsalm8:4itisusedgenericallyforman.3.InEzekielitappearsrepeatedlyinthevocativeasGod’sfavoritewayofaddressing

theprophet.4.Psalm80:17places“sonofman”inthecontextofvineimageryinsuchawaythat

itclearlyreferstothenationIsrael.5.In1QapGen21:13itappearsasaSemitismformangenerically(“Iwillmakeyour

descendantsasthedustoftheearth,whichnosonofmancannumber”).AccordingtoVermes,“sonofman”or“thesonofman”inAramaicwasusedinJesus’daytorefergenericallytomanorasacircumlocutionbywhichaspeakermightrefertohimself(cf.G.VermesinBlack,AramaicApproach,AppendixE;id.,“The‘SonofMan’Debate”JournalfortheStudyoftheNewTestament[1978]:19–32).Butsomeofhisclaimsmust




betemperedbythemoresoberdatingandphilologyofJosephA.Fitzmyer(“AnotherViewofthe‘SonofMan’Debate,”JournalfortheStudyoftheNewTestament4[1979]:58–68).

6.ManydetectabackgroundintheSimilitudesofEnoch(1Enoch37–71)orotherapocalypticliterature.Somehaveraisedgravedoubtsthatsuchliteratureispre-Christian,basedlargelyonthefactthattheSimilitudesarenotfoundintheDSScopyof1Enoch;andiftheyareright,clearlytheuseof“SonofMan”in1Enoch37–71cannothaveinfluencedJesus’useoftheterm(cf.Longenecker,Christology,pp.82–88;Dunn,Christology,pp.67–82).Theconsensusamongspecialistsof1Enoch,however,isthattheSimilitudeswereinfactwrittenbeforeChrist’sministry,butthatthe“SonofMan”inthesewritingsunambiguouslyreferstoEnoch.ThefamousbutunsupportedemendationbyR.H.Charles(“ThisistheSonofManwhowasbornuntoRighteousness,”1Enoch71:14)iswithoutwarrant:thetextreads“Thou,OEnoch,arttheSonofMan”(cf.furtherJamesH.Charlesworth,ThePseudepigraphaandtheNewTestament[Cambridge:UniversityPress,forthcoming]).Wethusreachanironicconclusion:thesimilitudesarepre-ChristianandthereforemustbeconsideredapossibleinfluenceonJesus’usageof“theSonofMan”;buttheynarrowlyidentifythefigurewithEnoch,andsowhateverinfluencetheyexercisedcannotbemorethanthatofmodelorpattern,ifthat.

Againstsuchdiversebackgrounds,then,howarewetounderstand“theSonofMan”intheNT?Numerousproposalshavebeenmade,manyofwhichfailtoexplaintheevidence.Thefollowingarethemostimportant.

1.Bultmann(NTTheology,1:29–31,49)madepopulartheview,laterespousedbyP.Vielhauer,H.Conzelmann,andH.M.Teeple,thatJesusneverusedthetitle“SonofMan”ofhimselfbutonlyofanotherfigurecominginthefuture;andthisfuturefigurewasbasedinJesus’mindontheapocalypticredeemerfigurein1Enoch.ThisideahasbeendevelopedbyotherscholarswhosaythatJesusoriginallyjustifiedhisauthoritybyreferringtoafutureapocalypticfigurewhowouldcomeandvindicatehimbutthatthechurchconnectedthatfigurewithJesushimself.Thiswillnotdo,foreveniftheSimilitudesarenotalateadditionto1Enoch,the“SonofMan”figuretheremaynotbeanapocalypticfigure(cf.Casey,pp.99–112)andinanycaserefersprimarilytoEnoch.MoreovertheNTevidenceconnectsJesuswiththeSonofMan(e.g.,Mark14:62andparallels);and,moreimportantyet,anyinterpretationiscalledinquestionthatfliesinthefaceofthefactthattheGospelwritersneverusethetermtodescribeJesusbutalwaysreportitasbeingonJesus’lips.Onthefaceofit,thisshowsthatitwasJesus’favoriteself-designationandthattheearlychurchrespectedthis,evenwhenitdidnotalwaysknowwhattomakeofit(cf.furtherJeremias,NTTheology,pp.267f.).

2.Jeremias(NTTheology,pp.257–76)hasarguedthatsomeoftheSon-of-Mansayingsinallthreeclassificationsareauthentic;butwhereinsynopticparallelsoneGospelincludesthereferencetotheSonofManandanotheromitsit(e.g.,Matt24:39-Luke17:27;Matt10:32-Luke12:8),thelatterisauthentic.Onthelastpoint,somehavearguedjustthereverse(e.g.,F.H.Borsch,TheSonofManinMythandHistory[London:SCM,1967]).TheweaknessofJeremias’sviewliesprimarilyintheconsistencywith




whichtheexpressionoccursonJesus’lipsalone:ifevangelistswereaddingthetitletodisplace“I,”itisatleaststrangetheyneverusethetitletorefertoJesusincontextswherethereisnosynopticparallel.HereitseemsbesttosidewithBorsch,thoughwecannotbesure.MoreoverJeremias’schosenbackgroundrunsfromDaniel7:13–14inastraightlinethroughtheSimilitudesofEnochtotheNT.ThushedependsonanestablishedapocalypticSon-of-Manfigurethatthesourcesdonotsupport.

3.ByappealingtoAramaicbackground,Vermes(Black,AramaicApproach,AppendixE)arguesthatonlythosepassagesareauthenticinwhich“SonofMan”isnomorethanacircumlocutionfor“I,”bywhichthespeakerreferstohimselfobliquelyoutofmodestyorhumility;theotherusesintheGospelsarethecreationofanapocalypticallymindedchurch.SomewhatsimilarstancesareadoptedbyCasey,whodeemsauthenticthesayingsthatrefertomankindgenerally,andBarnabasLindars(“JesusasAdvocate:AContributiontotheChristologyDebate,”BJRL62[1980]:476–97;id.,“TheNewLookontheSonofMan,”BJRL63[1981]:437–62),whoarguesthattheuseofthearticle(ho)inGreek,makingtheexpression“thatSonofMan”or“the[known]SonofMan”or“the[expected]SonofMan,”showsthatitwasthetranslationofthetraditionfromAramaictoGreekthatgavemessianicorDanielicmeaningtotheterm.Thereforeusagesreflectingsuchmeaningcannotbeauthentic.Quiteapartfromproblemssurroundingthedatingofthelinguisticevidence(cf.Fitzmyer,above),thistheorypostulatesacreativechurchandacomparativelydullJesuseventhoughtheevangelistsconsistentlyrestrictthecreativeuseof“SonofMan”toJesus.Themoreitisarguedthatthechurchexercisedacreativeroleinthetheologicaldevelopmentofthistitle,thestrangeritisthattheevangeliststhemselvesdonotapplythetermtoJesus.

4.Inhismostrecentbook(SonofMan),Higginsreiteratesandpolisheshisthesisthatthe“kernel”(i.e.,authentic)sayingsareallfromQandreferwithoutexceptiontosomeofthefutureactivitiesoftheSonofMan,butnottohis“coming”or“cominginglory,”basedonthe“reasonableassumptionoftheexistenceofaSonofmanconceptinJudaism”(p.124),andonastrangeappealtomultipleattestationeventhoughallhis“kernel”sayingsoriginallyspringfromQ(p.125).HigginssaysJesusdoesnotsomuchidentifyhimselfastheSonofMan(counterevidence,suchasMark14:62,heascribestothechurch)asconfinetheterm“toJesus’clothingofhismessageofhisanticipatedjudicialfunctioninthejudgmentinsymbolicimagery”(ibid.).Thetheorythereforefallsunderthestricturesraisedagainst1and2.

5.C.F.D.Moule(“NeglectedFeaturesintheProblemof‘theSonofMan,’”inGnilka,NeuesTestament,pp.413ff.;id.,Christology,pp.11–22),incontrasttoVermes,insiststhatthedefinitearticle(usedeverywhereexceptJohn5:27)provesthedesignationtobetitular,andthuswhateverSemiticconstructionlaybehindit,itmusthavereferredtoaparticular,known“SonofMan.”TheonlycandidateisthefigureinDaniel7:13–14,possiblyexpoundedinJudaism.Thisfigurewasunderstoodtoreferinacorporatewayto“thesaintsoftheMostHigh”(Dan7:18);and,appliedtoJesus,thetitlesimultaneouslyaffirmsthatherepresentsthosesaintsandisapartofthem.“SonofMan”islessatitlethan“asymbolofavocationtobeutterlyloyal,eventodeath,intheconfidenceofultimatevindicationintheheavenlycourt.…Jesusisthusreferringtothe




authority(whetherinheavenoronearth)oftrueIsrael,andso,ofauthenticMan,obedient,throughthickandthin,toGod’sdesign”(Christology,p.14).

Despiteattractivefeaturesofthisreconstruction,somereservationsmustbevoiced.Thereappearstobemoretitular(indeed,messianic)forceinsomepassagesthanMouleallows(e.g.,Matt16:13–20;26:63–64);yetironicallyhemaybeoveremphasizingthesignificanceofthedefinitearticle,sincethereisevidenceintheGospelsthatthepeopleofJesus’daydidnotalwaysunderstandthedesignationtorefertothe“well-known”SonofMan(e.g.,Matt16:13–28;John12:34).

Thebestexplanationattemptstoavoidthereductionismthatisimplicitinmostofthepreviousapproaches,whichtooquicklyrulesoutcertainkindsofevidenceortakesthemaslatecreationsofthechurch.ApartfromthefactthatintheGospels“SonofMan”isalwaysfoundonJesus’lips,theauthenticityoftheSon-of-Mansavingsstandsupwellunderthecriteriaofredactioncriticism(R.N.Longenecker,“`SonofMan’Imagery,”JETS18[1975]:8–9).

ButwhatdidJesusmeanbytheexpressions?Thesimplestansweristhatheusedthetermpreciselybecauseitwasambiguous:itcouldconcealaswellasreveal(cf.E.Schweizer,“TheSonofMan,”JBL79[1960]:128;Longenecker,“`SonofMan’Imagery,”pp.10–12;Hendriksen;Marshall,Origins,pp.76–78).WhenJesusvestedthetermwithitsfullmessianicsignificance,itcouldonlyrefertoDaniel7:13–14.Hedidthismostoftentowardtheendofhisministrywhenalonewithhisdisciplesandtalkingabouteschatologicalevents(esp.Mt24:27,30andparallels),orwhenunderoathathistrial(26:63–64).DespitethefactthattheDanielicfigureisoftensaidtoheasymbolforthesaintsoftheMostHigh(Dan7:18),thisisnotcertain.Agoodcasecanbemadeforthehypothesisthat“onelikeasonofman”isnotasymbolforthesaints(7:18,27).HeisinthepresenceoftheAncientofDays;theyareonearthduringthetimeofthe“littlehorn”(v.21).Perhaps“onelikeasonofman”securestheeverlastingkingdomforthesaintsoftheMostHigh(cf.W.J.Dumbrell,“Daniel7andtheFunctionofOldTestamentApocalyptic,”ReformedTheologicalReview34[1975]:16ff.;andesp.ChristopherRowland,“TheInfluenceoftheFirstChapterofEzekielonJewishandEarlyChristianLiterature,”[Ph.D.dissertation,CambridgeUniversity,1974],p.95).One“likeasonofman”isarepresentativefigure,notacorporateone;andtheuseofthesymbolofthecloudriderfavorsapersonalratherthanacorporateinterpretation.

Bethatasitmay,themessianicimportofthetitleinsomeNTpassagescanscarcelybedoubted.ButDaniel7:13–14didnotwieldsuchlargeinfluenceonfirst-centuryJudaismthatsimplereferenceto“theSonofMan,”evenwiththearticle,wouldbeinstantlytakentorefertotheMessiah.JohnBowker(“TheSonofMan,”JTS28[1977]:19–48)hasdecisivelyshownhowmanySemiticpassages—inEzekiel,Psalm8,theTargums—usethetermtocontrastthechasmbetweenfrail,mortalmanandGodhimself.ThisadmirablysuitsahostofNTreferences,notonlythesufferingandpassiontexts,butotherslikeMatthew8:20.Jesuscombinedthetwo,DanielicMessiahandfrailmortal,preciselybecausehisownunderstandingofmessiahshipwaslacedwithboththemes.

WehavealreadydetectedinMatthewtheinterminglingofDavidicMessiahand




SufferingServant.While“SonofMan”capturesbothauthorityandsuffering,itisambiguousenoughthatpeoplewhodidnotthinkoftheMessiahinthisdualwaswouldhavebeenmystifiedtillaftertheCross.Itmaywellhavebeenanacceptablewayforaspeakertorefertohimself,inwhichcasethetitularusagecouldonlyhavebeendiscernedfromthecontext.MoreoveritwouldhavebeenextremelydifficultforJewsexpectingapurelypoliticalandgloriousMessiahtoknowwhatthetitlemeant,becausejustwhentheythoughttheyhaddiscerneditsmessianicsignificance,JesusinsertedsomethingabouttheSonofMan’ssufferings.Thatexplainstheperplexedquestion,“Whoisthis‘SonofMan’?”(John12:34;cf.Luke22:69–70).EventhediscipleswhohadatsomelevelbeguntorecognizeJesustheSonofManasMessiah(Matt16:13–16)couldnotacceptorcomprehendJesus’repeatedassertionsthattheSonofManwasdestinedtosufferanddie(Matt16:21–23;17:9–12,22,andparallels).OnlywhenunderoathandwhenitnolongermatteredwhetherhisenemiesheardhisclearclaimtomessiahshipdidJesusrevealwithoutanyambiguityatallthathe,theSonofMan,wasthemessianicfigureofDaniel7:13–14(Matt26:63–64andparallels);andthenhisopponentsdidnotrealizethatanessentialpartofhismessiahshipwassufferinganddeath.InJesus’ministry“SonofMan”bothrevealsandconceals.Thereforehechoseitastheidealexpressionforprogressively,andtosomeextentretrospectively,revealingthenatureofhispersonandwork.

AfterthePassion,Jesus’disciplescouldnothelpbutfindinhisfrequentearlieruseofthetermamessianicclaim.Indeed,itisamarkoftheirfidelitytotheseparatehistoricalstagesoftheunfoldinghistoryofredemptionthatindescribingJesus’prepassionministrytheyconfinethedesignationtothelipsofJesusalone.ThusnoreaderofMatthewwhothroughtheprologueknowsthatJesusthoughamanismorethanamanandthrough16:13–20;26:63–64knowsthattheSonofManistheMessiahcouldfailtoseeironyin9:1–8.Jesusforgivessinsandperformsamiraclesothattheonlookersmayknowthatthe“SonofMan”hasauthorityonearthtoforgivesins;butthepeoplepraiseGodbecausehehasgivensuchauthority“tomen.”Theyareright(Jesus,theSonofMan,ismortal,amanbornofwoman,andheadingforsufferinganddeath),andtheyarewrong(theydonotyetrecognizehimasmorethanaman,virginborn,andthemessianicfigurewhoappeared“asasonofman”—i.e.,inhumanform—inoneofDaniel’svisions).Sotheinterpretationthatprevailedfromthesecondcenturyon—that“SonofMan”designatesJesus’humanityand“SonofGod”hisdivinity—isnotsomuchwrongassimplistic.

InMatthew8:20,“theSonofMan”couldeasilybereplacedby“I.”MoreoveritoccursinasettingthatstressesJesus’humanityandmayforeshadowhissufferings.ForpostpassionChristianreaders,itcouldonlyspeakoftheMessiah’swonderfulself-humiliation.Fortheteacherofthelaw(vv.18–19),itwasagreatchallengejusthowgreataonecouldonlybeknownaftertheResurrection.2 2 Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 209–213). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.




FourTheoriesMatthew14:2(ESV)2andhesaidtohisservants,“ThisisJohntheBaptist.Hehasbeenraisedfromthedead;thatiswhythesemiraculouspowersareatworkinhim.”Malachi4:5–6(ESV)5“Behold,IwillsendyouElijahtheprophetbeforethegreatandawesomedayoftheLordcomes.6Andhewillturntheheartsoffatherstotheirchildrenandtheheartsofchildrentotheirfathers,lestIcomeandstrikethelandwithadecreeofutterdestruction.”Bar-JonahJohn1:42(ESV)42HebroughthimtoJesus.Jesuslookedathimandsaid,“YouareSimonthesonofJohn.YoushallbecalledCephas”(whichmeansPeter).FoundationActs4:10–12(ESV)10letitbeknowntoallofyouandtoallthepeopleofIsraelthatbythenameofJesusChristofNazareth,whomyoucrucified,whomGodraisedfromthedead—byhimthismanisstandingbeforeyouwell.11ThisJesusisthestonethatwasrejectedbyyou,thebuilders,whichhasbecomethecornerstone.12Andthereissalvationinnooneelse,forthereisnoothernameunderheavengivenamongmenbywhichwemustbesaved.”1Corinthians3:11(ESV)11Fornoonecanlayafoundationotherthanthatwhichislaid,whichisJesusChrist.1Peter2:5–8(ESV)5youyourselveslikelivingstonesarebeingbuiltupasaspiritualhouse,tobeaholypriesthood,toofferspiritualsacrificesacceptabletoGodthroughJesusChrist.6ForitstandsinScripture:

“Behold,IamlayinginZionastone,acornerstonechosenandprecious,andwhoeverbelievesinhimwillnotbeputtoshame.”

7Sothehonorisforyouwhobelieve,butforthosewhodonotbelieve,“Thestonethatthebuildersrejectedhasbecomethecornerstone,”

8and“Astoneofstumbling,andarockofoffense.”Theystumblebecausetheydisobeytheword,astheyweredestinedtodo.




RockΠέτροςPetros;anounakinto4073,usedasapropername;“astone”or“aboulder,”Peter,oneofthetwelveapostles:—Peter(150),Peter’s(5).3πέτραpetra;aprim.word;a(largemassof)rock:—rock(10),rocks(3),rocky(2).4AuthorityMatthew18:15–20(ESV)

15“Ifyourbrothersinsagainstyou,goandtellhimhisfault,betweenyouandhimalone.Ifhelistenstoyou,youhavegainedyourbrother.16Butifhedoesnotlisten,takeoneortwoothersalongwithyou,thateverychargemaybeestablishedbytheevidenceoftwoorthreewitnesses.17Ifherefusestolistentothem,tellittothechurch.Andifherefusestolisteneventothechurch,lethimbetoyouasaGentileandataxcollector.18Truly,Isaytoyou,whateveryoubindonearthshallbeboundinheaven,andwhateveryoulooseonearthshallbeloosedinheaven.19AgainIsaytoyou,iftwoofyouagreeonearthaboutanythingtheyask,itwillbedoneforthembymyFatherinheaven.20Forwheretwoorthreearegatheredinmyname,thereamIamongthem.”

3 Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc. 4 Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

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Lesson 03 - Life of Peter-Class-01 - Lesson 03-Clas… · Life of Peter – Bellevue Church of Christ Auditorium Class – Spring 2016 Lesson III – The Confessions* Jn 6:66–69;