Suppose in an alternative universe, where black is white, and water runs uphill that Jesus actually was changing Simon's name to "Rock" --- "Big Rock" at that. How would one go about naming a man with a feminine word?
Thank you.
SD
Jesus would need only have said that Peter was the Petra now. He didn't say that, nor could he say that. And it is illustrated in the fact that not once in the entire new testament is Peter referenced after this point with the Greek word Petra. That word is reserved, and not for Peter.
Peter was called Petros prior to this event, and he was called Petros after this event. Cephas is equivelant to Petros. It is not, however, equivelant to Petra. Therefore, trying to hide behind the word 'Cephas' is about as effective as a 300 pound man trying to hide behind a toothpick.