PER188

Peter’s second declaration

The article deals with Peter’s second declaration, in which he recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. It examines the biblical accounts that place this event at Caesarea Philippi, emphasizing the difficulty for a Jewish audience to accept divine sonship. Jesus asks his disciples not to declare his messiahship openly.

6 min Peter Messiah Jesus divine sonship Caesarea Philippi 6 verses 3 books

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Biblical texts

Matthew

Matthew 16.13-16 (King James Version)

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Mark

Mark 8.27-30 (King James Version)

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Luke

Luke 9.18-21 (King James Version)

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

John

John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Location: Caesarea Philippi

Date: August

Method: We continue with Mark

Note on the method: Matthew and Luke confirm this fact

The Messiah Jesus asks his disciples what people say about Him.

Peter’s second declaration

Comments

Matthew and Mark place this account in the villages near Caesarea Philippi, located at the foot of Mount Hermon in northern Galilee. This is where the Jordan has its main source. This city must not be confused with Caesarea, situated on the shores of the Mediterranean.

The Messiah Jesus, accompanied by his disciples, undertook a journey of about 45 km northward to evangelize the villages of this region.

Luke reports that the Messiah Jesus and his disciples were in a secluded place, probably a mountain such as Mount Hermon. It seems that He was praying alone while the disciples stood at a distance.

All three authors record this question from the Master, important in their eyes: Who am I, according to people, I the Son of Man?

How did the crowd perceive the Messiah Jesus?

The result is disappointing despite the honorific titles attributed, and only Peter gives the expected answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It seems that various peoples who witnessed Jesus’ miracles do not recognize him as the Messiah announced by the prophets.

Matthew alone specified in his text: the Son of the living God, yet he is addressing Jews, who do not understand and above all do not accept that God could have a Son! It seems that Matthew’s aim was to challenge the preconceived idea that God cannot have a son. The concept of the Trinity nevertheless remains complex to grasp.

In his Gospel, Matthew is the only one to use the expression “the Son of the living God.” This detail fits a particular context, in which the author addresses a Jewish audience for whom the idea of divine sonship remains difficult to conceive and to accept. It thus seems that Matthew’s aim was to challenge established conceptions, opening a reflection on the theological possibility of a filial relationship between God and Jesus. However, the doctrine of the Trinity remains a complex notion, requiring an in-depth approach to fully grasp its theological and philosophical implications.

The Master’s instruction not to proclaim his messiahship, which we find in Mark 8.30 and Luke 9.21, may seem surprising. We find this statement in Matthew 16.20. Was this not what He expected? He wished that the crowd, by observing the miracles He performed, would recognize his messiahship without any need to announce it explicitly.

The messiahship of Jesus should be evident to everyone, given that no one else could have performed the miracles He accomplished. However, it was under the influence of the Holy Spirit that Peter proclaimed him Messiah. Thus it is essential that divine power act directly on the so that it may understand the true identity of the Messiah Jesus.

Seconde déclaration de Pierre. L'article aborde la deuxième déclaration de Pierre qui reconnaît Jésus comme le Messie. Il examine les récits bibliques situant cet événement en Césarée de Philippe, en soulignant la difficulté pour le public juif d'accepter la filiation divine. Jésus demande à ses disciples de ne pas déclarer ouvertement sa messianité. Commentaires. Matthieu et Marc situent ce récit dans les villages voisins de Césarée de Philippe, localisée aux pieds du mont Hermon au nord de la Galilée. À cet endroit, le Jourdain trouve sa principale source. Il ne faut pas confondre cette ville avec Césarée, située sur les bords de la Méditerranée. La Messie Jésus, accompagné de ses disciples, a entrepris un voyage d'environ 45 km vers le nord pour évangéliser les villages de cette région. Luc rapporte que le Messie Jésus et ses disciples se trouvaient dans un lieu isolé, probablement une montagne telle que le mont Hermon. Il semble qu’Il priait seul tandis que les disciples se tenaient à distance. Les trois auteurs notent cette question du Maître, importante à leurs yeux : Qui suis-je, d’après les hommes, moi le Fils de l’homme ? Comment la foule percevait-elle le Messie Jésus ? Le résultat est décevant malgré les titres honorifiques attribués, et seul Pierre fournit la réponse attendue : "Tu es le Messie, le Fils du Dieu vivant". Il semble que diverses populations témoins des miracles de Jésus ne le reconnaissent pas comme le Messie annoncé par les prophètes. Matthieu, seul a précisé dans son texte : le Fils du Dieu vivant, pourtant il s’adresse à des Juifs, qui ne comprennent pas et surtout n’acceptent pas que Dieu puisse avoir un Fils ! Il semble que Matthieu avait pour objectif de remettre en question l'idée préconçue selon laquelle Dieu ne peut avoir de fils. Le concept de la trinité reste néanmoins complexe à appréhender. Dans son Évangile, Matthieu est le seul à utiliser l'expression « le Fils du Dieu vivant ». Cette précision s'inscrit dans un contexte particulier, où l'auteur s'adresse à un auditoire juif pour lequel l'idée d'une filiation divine demeure difficile à concevoir et à accepter. Il semble ainsi que Matthieu ait pour objectif de remettre en question les conceptions établies, en ouvrant une réflexion sur la possibilité théologique d'une relation filiale entre Dieu et Jésus. Toutefois, la doctrine de la Trinité demeure une notion complexe, exigeant une approche approfondie pour en saisir pleinement les implications théologiques et philosophiques. La recommandation du Maître de ne pas proclamer sa Messianité, que l'on retrouve dans Marc 8, verset 30 et Luc 9, verset 21, peut sembler étonnante. Nous retrouvons cette affirmation chez Matthieu 16, verset 20. N'était-ce pas ce qu'Il attendait ? Il souhaitait que la foule, en observant les miracles qu'Il accomplissait, reconnaisse sa messianité sans qu'il soit nécessaire de l'annoncer explicitement. La messianité de Jésus devrait être évidente pour tous, étant donné que personne d'autre n'aurait pu réaliser les miracles qu'il a accomplis. Cependant, c'est sous l'influence du Saint-Esprit que Pierre l'a proclamé Messie. Ainsi, il est indispensable que la puissance divine agisse directement sur le cœur humain afin qu'il puisse comprendre la véritable identité du Messie Jésus.