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HopeSS: The Harvest and the Harvesters — 2 Comments

  1. I was listening to your discussion in Hope Sabbath School with much interest. It was briely mentioned that Christ is the Rock. Reflecting Old Testament usage the apostle Paul designates Christ as the Rock (petra) leading Israel through the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4).

    As a matter of interest it can be noticed that the hebrew word for Rock (zur) is equivalent with the divine title --- God. The Septuagint often translates this hebrew word (zur) Rock with --- God. The expression: The Rock (zur), his work is perfect, is translated by the Septuagint: God (Theos),true are his works (Deuteronomy 32:4). It goes on: Rock (zur) of his salvation, is rendered in the Septuagint with: God (Theos) of his salvation (Deuteronomy 32:15). Hence, Rock is a designation of God himself. This is also confirmed in the Psalms (Psalm 31:3; 42:9-10).

    Christ, knowing what was in man, knew Simon, son of Jona, without needing information in advance (John 2:24-25). In the current aramaic language Christ called him Cephas. John, being fluent both in aramaic and greek, is translating this aramaic term with the greek word Petros (John 1:42). Peter is not given the title Petra, Rock. This would have bestowed upon Peter a divine title of the Godhead.

    The term petros is well known in the hellenistic world as an designation of a stone. This term occurs in the writings of Homer and Flavius Joesphus in designating a stone (Bauer, p. 1298). Hellenizing an aramaic name, a well known greek word is used.

    Looking at Peters life and character, it is astonishing as to how he has grown up from imperfection to maturity of steady faith, even being faithful unto death. He was a living stone in need of Christ the Rock and Foundation of Faith to be built upon. We all are living stones being carried by Christ, the Rock and Firm Foundation and alo carrying each other (Galatians 6:2).

    Regards

    Winfried Stolpmann

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  2. Winfried, thank you for a very good word study. Isn’t it something that Jesus could see not only Himself as the rock but also see Peter as a little easily moved pebble? Certainly the Bible shows us that Peter was greatly affected by social surroundings especially when the right was being ridiculed.

    (2)

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