Sophia,

My name is Robert, in other languages it would become Roberto. That is because I am male. You wouldn't call me Roberta because that is feminine, so the author could not use Petra for the name directly without creating an embarrassing misuse of the name. The use of Petra in the opposite place could convey the sense of the massive boulder associated with the location of the profession by Peter as a metaphor. That said, all of this really is quite beside the point.

The actual conversation they had was is Aramaic and Simon became kephas in Aramaic, as you will note in the gospel of John and Paul's letters.

The whole argument the Protestants have created doesn't exist because the conversation never happened in Greek. So, this intent they ascribe to Jesus to distinguish Peter from Himself is contrived. The actual point of the real conversation does the opposite.

Jesus gives Simon a new name, Peter, just like God gives all of the important figures in the Old Testament new names when He establishes a New Covenant with them. This covenant, identifies Simon with Jesus Himself who is the Rock.

Then, Jesus gives him the keys, which are a symbol of His own Authority, so that Peter may act in his stead. There is no getting around the significance of what happened between Jesus and Peter. Protestants don't want to except it because they don't want to except the Pope.

Peace,

Bob Kirby
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