The purpose of this paper is to find the relationship of Paul on the writings and ministry of Peter based on the passage where Peter mentions Paul and his writings. Early Christian church was built upon the two columns of Peter and Paul, in a sense: O...
The purpose of this paper is to find the relationship of Paul on the writings and ministry of Peter based on the passage where Peter mentions Paul and his writings. Early Christian church was built upon the two columns of Peter and Paul, in a sense: One for Gentiles and one for the circumcised. Peter calls Paul our dear brother Paul in his second epistle(3:15). If their mission is different, how could they be harmonized with the differences? Answers for these questions will give us useful information to understand the early church ministry of these apostles as well as their writings.
Paul and Peter met in an awful situation that of persecutor and persecuted. After the Damascus experience they had to work together under the same Holy Spirit. For Paul, Peter was the first person to meet to among the twelve disciples after the conversion. Peter was the first person who has the most intimate testimony and from whom Paul could get informations on Jesus' earthly ministry. As years going by, Paul's position to the Gospel of Jesus Christ had the equal status to the Gospel and the ministry of Peter and his companions. The Jerusalem Apostles gave the right hands of fellowship. It is not because of any human elements but because of his getting direct revelation from Jesus Christ. That is why he even encountered Peter face by face and scolded him in Antioch for not acting according to the truth of the Gospel of faith.
Paul was nobody or even an enemy at first for Peter. After Peter became mature he considered Paul as fellow worker for the Gospel. It had been developed even to the position of dear brother in Christ. Later his view of Paul had been moved from humanly aspect into the one who had special revelations from God. Their relationship had grown matured in love and respect for each others' ministry. In this way Paul and Peter had worked together to build the kingdom of God on earth by sharing the Gospel all over the world.