Peter: Apostle for the Whole Church (Studies on Personalities of the New Testament) - Softcover

Perkins describes the search for the historical Peter, and the influence his image has had, in Roman Catholic and Protestant ecumenical discussions. Pointing to portrayals of Peter in the Pauline and Johannine traditions, the synoptic Gospels, and the Book of Acts, Perkins argues that precisely because there is no single Petrine tradition in the New Testament, the apostle might serve as a unifying figure for incongruous forms of Christianity. Perkins argues that Peter should be viewed as a harmonizing figure who captures the Christian imagination not only because he is the most prominent of Jesus' disciples, but also because his weaknesses and strengths present a character accessible to the average Christian.

Pheme Perkins is a professor in the Theology Department at Boston College, specializing Johannine materials, Paulline Epistles and Gnosticism. She is a member of and leader in several professional organizations, including the Society of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Bible Association, the Society of New Testament Studies, and the Association of Theological Schools. Recent publications include: Gnosticism and the New Testament (Fortress Press), Peter: Apostle for the Whole Church (Fortress Press), Ephesians: Abingdon New Testament Commentary (Abingdon Press), Abraham's Divided Children: Galatians and the Politics of Faith (Trinity Press International).