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The Three Variant Accounts of Peter's Call: a Critical and Theological Examination of the Texts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2009
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The variant accounts of Peter's call as recorded by the four Evangelists constitute a major problem in the New Testament. Can we dismiss as incredible the accounts of his call on the basis of the Gospels' inconsistencies? Fuller has pointed out that the best way to discredit a witness in court is for the cross-examiner to tie him up in knots and make his evidence to appear to be such a tissue of inconsistencies that the jury becomes convinced that he is entirely untrustworthy. But in spite of their differences, the four Gospels are united in reporting that Peter became a follower of Jesus in the very early days of his ministry. They differ, however, as to the time, place and circumstances of his call.
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[1] Fuller, R. H., The Formation of the Resurrection Narratives (Macmillan, New York, 1971) 2.Google Scholar
[2] βηθσαιδά either means ‘house of the fisher’ or ‘house of the hunter’, but the former is preferable because of its position and what it is noted for.
[3] According to Josephus and most other sources, the Jordan formed the boundary of Galilee on the East and Bethsaida Julias was beyond it.
[4] This may be the reason for the use of πόλις in Luke 9. 10 and John 1. 44 for Bethsaida, but κώμη is used in the D version of both Luke and John and also in Mark 8. 23, 26.
[5] Jos, . Antiq. XVIII 112Google Scholar. Jos. War III HIS. The foundation must have been before 2 B.C. because Julia was banished in that year.
[6] Another confusion about Bethsaida is that some ancient MSS call the Jerusalem pool, the pool of Bethsaida (BWY). Other MSS of Jn 5. 2 variously use Βηθζαθά, Βηζαθά, Βελζεθά, Βηθσαιδά, and Βηθεσδά for the pool, but similarly D reads Bethany for Bethsaida in Mk 8. 22.
[7] Some archaeological discoveries have shown that Capernaum was the home of Peter during Jesus' ministry. A modest church was erected on the supposed site of his house in 352 A.D. at Kfa-Nachum. It later became a splendid octagonal basilica often mentioned in the writings of pilgrims. Corbo, Virgil, New Memoirs of St. Peter by the Sea of Galilee (Franciscan Printing Press Jerusalem, 1968) 21–2Google Scholar; McBirnie, W. W., The Search for the Twelve Apostles (Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 1973) 46–50.Google Scholar
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[38] Bultmann, R., The Gospel of St. John, translated by Murray, G. R. Beasley, general editors, R. W. N. Hoare and J. K. Riches (The Westminster Press – Philadelphia, 1971) 97 ff.Google Scholar
[39] Other ancient texts read Ίωνā or Ίωαννā or Ίωανā.
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