Contrasting the Epistles Written by the Apostles Peter and Paul

In the history of the Christian Church, there are not any two individuals who are more respected and well known than the apostles Paul, or Saul of Tarsus and the “Big Fisherman,” Simon Peter or Cephas. Each one had their own unique personality, style, temperament, and it seems, a ministry to different groups of people as well (Cp. Galatians 1: 7-8). It would be an interesting study to compare what these two complex individuals taught from their perspectives on the matters of faith practices and doctrinal issues among the believers throughout the Middle East, Asia Minor, and Europe.

The apostle Peter penned his letter to Jewish believers who had been scattered [emigrated] from Judea, possibly because of persecutions, to the regions that are mentioned in I Peter 1:1-2; 2: 12.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, ‘scattered’
(Cp. Acts 8: 1, 4; 11: 19, 20??) throughout PONTUS, GALATIA CAPPADOCIA, ASIA, and BITHYNIA, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, by which you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles. . .
NOTE: These other areas in ASIA MINOR were possibly areas outside of the Apostle Paul’s missionary activities except for ASIA and GALATIA.

The apostle Peter gives instructions on how believers are to behave toward the governing authorities in I Peter 2: 13-17, which is also reinforced by the apostle Paul (Romans 13: 1-7; I Timothy 2: 1-3; Titus 3: 1)

The next major teaching is the duties of believing husbands and wives to each other (I Peter 3: 1-7; Ephesians 5: 22-33) and also the role of women [Paul ONLY; I Timothy 2: 9-15].

Peter writes about worldly lusts, sensuality, drinking parties, dissipating [wasting one’s energies] in I Peter 2: 11; 4: 1-4, and Paul echoes the same thing (Romans 13: 13-14).

Both Peter and Paul talk about the end of the world (I Peter 4: 7; Romans 13: 11, 12a).

Another major topic is the administration of spiritual gifts, as Peter alludes to in I Peter 4: 9-10, and Paul in Romans 12: 6-8; I Corinthians 12: 4-11.

Interestingly, the apostle Peter gives instructions on the ordination of the office of “elder,” of which even Peter claims that he is one (I Peter 5: 1-4); these qualifications are mentioned by Paul (I Timothy 3: 1-7; Titus 1: 5-9).

Another teaching which is closely connected to that of eldership is the respect and responsibility of which such an appointment is due, especially from the younger men; written by Peter (I Peter 5: 3-7), and by Paul (I Timothy 5: 1, 19-21).

It seems that both the apostles use almost identical closing greetings in their letters, such as by Peter, “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” (Cp. 5: 14) The apostle Paul uses, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. . .” (Cp. Romans 16: 16; II Corinthians 13: 12; I Thessalonians 5: 26).

In Peter’s second letter, a similar continuity and consistency between his theology and the apostle Paul continues. In this last letter Peter is nearing his impending death [by martyrdom; John 21: 18-19??], which he mentions here (II Peter 1: 14-15), and Paul mentions the same in II Timothy 4: 6-7.

Peter and Paul both attest to the Divine inspiration of the [O.T.] Scriptures as mentioned in I Peter 1: 20-21 and I Timothy 3: 15.

Peter and Paul talk about “the last days” and the appearance of ‘false prophets and teachers’ (Cp. II Peter 2: 1-3; Acts 20: 29-31; I Timothy 4: 1-2; Jude 3-4)

The apostle Peter also says (II Peter 3: 1-4), “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles (??). Knowing first of all, that in the last days (Cp. I Timothy 4: 1) mockers will come with their mocking; following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

Lastly, Peter concludes this letter with the admonition (II Peter 3:14-16), “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless, and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things (I Thessalonians 4: 13 - 5: 2; II Thessalonians 1: 7-10; 2: 1-12; I Timothy 5: 13-16??), in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures (Old Testament??), to their own destruction.”

In carefully examining the theological agreement between these two giants of the ‘Faith,’ the one thing that is conspicuously absent is any mention by the apostle Peter regarding the Old Testament Law of Moses and Jewish customs, especially circumcision. Whereas Peter ignores the subject altogether, this topic was the cornerstone of Paul’s teaching such that it was a problem for the Jewish leadership among the believers in Jerusalem; of which James, the Lord’s brother was the leader, it seems.

Acts 21: 17-24.
And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And now the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. And after he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. “What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. “Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses in order that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 25, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com