CHRYS; And truly if Peter had not confessed that Christ was in a peculiar sense born of the Father, there had been no need of revelation; nor would he have been worthy of this blessing for confessing Christ to be one of many adopted sons; for before this they who were with Him in the ship had said, Truly you are the Son of God. Nathanael also said, Rabbi, you are the Son of God. Yet were not these blessed because they did not confess such sonship as does Peter here, but thought Him one among many, not in the true sense a son; or, if chief above all, yet not the substance of the Father. But see how the Father reveals the Son, and the Son the Father; from none other comes it to confess the Son than of the Father, and from none other to confess the Father than of the Son; so that from this place even it is manifest that the Son is of the same substance, and to be worshipped together with the Father. Christ then proceeds to show that many would hereafter believe what Peter had now confessed, whence He adds, And I say to you, that you are Peter.
Martha speaks these words after Christ tells her "I am the Resurrection"; likewise Nathaniel does so after Christ shows him His omniscience. But Peter confesses without leading questions, as a revealed knowledge from the Father.
CHRYS. She seems not to have understood His words; i.e. she saw that He meant something great, but did not see what that was. She is asked one thing, and answers another.
While I do read the early writers, their words mean no more to me than do current writers in speaking on scriptures. All they tell us is what they think it means, and others may agree or disagree.
Martha speaks these words after Christ tells her "I am the Resurrection"; likewise Nathaniel does so after Christ shows him His omniscience. But Peter confesses without leading questions, as a revealed knowledge from the Father.
Peter, along with the other apostles, was asked a very explicit question..."But who do you say I am?" If that is not a leading question, what is? Peter and the other apostles had heard Jesus say that he is the life (resurrection)on many occasions. But, naturally, they never really took him serious until after he rose from the dead. Peter's response, I believe, was as the Holy Spirit, which is God, moved him to speak.