[wagglebee]

I can see that it makes sense to not be Peter but either his profession or Christ. Besides, Peter referred to Jesus as the rock in his letter, I Peter. I don’t see that anywhere in Scripture that the rock means anything but God/Jesus. Maybe I’m missing it, but I don’t recall it.

Prior to this time there is NOTHING to indicate that Peter (Petros, Cephas, etc.) had EVER been used as the name of a person. Had our Lord looked at Simon and said, "you are George and on this rock I will build my Church," nobody would have wondered. But the fact remains that He changed his name to Peter and either He was referring to Simon Peter in that verse or He intentionally said something that would long be misunderstood and He would have no reason to do that.

Keep in mind that EVERY time God changed a person's name in the Bible it was accompanied by a significant new leadership role. God only changed ONE name in the New Testament and that was Peter.

[Cronos]

Keep in mind that EVERY time God changed a person's name in the Bible it was accompanied by a significant new leadership role. God only changed ONE name in the New Testament and that was Peter.

Abram = Abraham, Jacob = Israel, etc.