In the popular Bible story, Peter – one of Jesus’s closest Apostles – was an incredibly influential figurehead in the Christian faith and was one of the main characters in the Gospels of the New Testament. One of the questions surrounding the enigma of Peter, however, is whether or not he was married or not. It is important to note that due to lack of evidence, it is impossible to draw any definitive conclusions on whether or not Peter was married, so the following discussion is entirely speculative.
Firstly, some scholars have argued that Peter must have been married due to the fact that he would have been expected to marry in accordance with traditional Jewish practices. Moreover, in the Gospel of Mark and Luke, there is mentioned of a ‘mother-in-law’ which could suggest that he had a wife. Unfortunately, due to lack of clear evidence, it is hard to say with any surety if this is the case or not.
Perhaps the most authoritative speculation of the marital status of Peter comes from the famous Bible commentator, John Calvin, who argued that Peter was not married. He drew this conclusion from the ‘call’ of Jesus to Peter and his brother Andrew, who were both fisherman. Calvin argued that Jesus demonstrated his servitude by asking them to ‘leave everything and follow him’, implying that he expected them to remain unmarried and be willing to serve him wholeheartedly. Further, an apocryphal writing known as the Gospel of Philip suggests that, similar to other followers of Jesus, Peter was required to remain unmarried.
In terms of actual evidence in the Bible itself, some theologians point to the words of Jesus in Matthew 19, where he responds to a disciple’s question on whether a person should leave his wife if they wish to follow Jesus. Jesus said ‘Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others and there are eunuchs who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven.’ In this context, some argue that Jesus indirectly mentions the renunciation of marriage of his followers, such as Peter.
Whatever the case, it is impossible to know for sure whether or not Peter was married according to the Bible. It is clear, however, that his close relationship with Jesus plays an important factor in understanding the immense influence Peter has had on the Christian faith.
Was Peter Married? Perspectives From The Early Church
Though it is impossible to make definitive conclusions on whether or not Peter was married in the Bible, various early church leaders did make their own speculations on the subject. For instance, Augustine of Hippo, one of the most prominent church figures in the late 4th century, argued that both Peter and Paul were unmarried, though he did not provide any textual evidence to support his opinion.
Similarly, Gregory of Nazianzus argued that Peter was unmarried by citing the passages in Matthew 19. He believed that the renunciation of marriage was indicative of Jesus expecting his followers to be ‘eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven’. So for Gregory, the fact that Peter remain unmarried during his service to Jesus was an indicator of his commitment to his faith.
John Chrysostom, a church leader in the 5th century, also believed that Peter was never married and that his decision to remain unmarried was proof of his servitude. He argued that Peter placed ‘the kingdom of Heaven before everything else’ and thus made the decision to renounce marriage.
Generally then, most early church leaders argued in favour of Peter being unmarried. This is significant because it highlights the importance of Peter as a committed servitor to Jesus and the Christian faith, rather than as an Apostle with a family and children.
Was Peter Married? Perspectives From Scholars In Modern Times
Though the early church leaders were the first to speculate on the marital status of Peter, perspectives from more recent scholars provide more informed opinions on the matter. For instance, many scholars point to the passage in Mark’s Gospel which mentions Peter’s ‘mother-in-law’ as a possible indicator that he was married. However, as modern scholars have highlighted, there is no clear evidence in the Bible to support this claim and thus it is hard to make any definitive conclusions.
Further, it appears that many scholars have drawn their conclusions from historical documents rather than the Bible itself. For instance, non-biblical texts such as the writings of Josephus and the Gnostic Gospels have offered possible explanations on the marital status of Peter.
Generally then, scholars in modern times have taken a more nuanced approach in determining whether or not Peter was married. As with the original church leaders, some scholars assert that he must have been in accordance with traditional expectations whereas others argue that the passage from Matthew 19 is indicative of Jesus expecting his followers to remain unmarried.
Was Peter Married? A Historical Perspective
It is difficult to draw any conclusion on whether Peter was married in the Bible particularly due to the lack of evidence. Nevertheless, a historically informed approach can shed light on why this topic has been so controversial and misunderstood.
For example, writers such as Clement of Alexandria have noted that in the time of Jesus, marriage was seen as incompatible with Christianity and thus followers were expected to remain unmarried. This historical context highlights the controversy around Peter’s marital status due to the fact that, as an Apostle of Jesus, it was expected of him to remain celibate in order to remain faithful.
Interestingly, it appears that the issue of Peter’s marital status has, in certain periods, been used to further particular theological views. For example, some theologians argue that the story of Peter being married is an indication of the importance of marriage in Christianity. In contrast, others point to the passage from Matthew 19 as evidence that Peter’s celibacy was essential for him to serve Jesus.
In any case, this historical perspective highlights the importance of the question surrounding Peter’s marital status both in religious circles and in wider culture. As a result, this subject has become a point of great discussion amongst theologians, scholars and church leaders.
Did Peter Withdraw From Marriage To Follow Jesus?
Though it remains impossible to know with any surety if Peter was married or not, the question of whether or not he withdrew from marriage persists in Christian circles. Theologians believe that understanding the extent of Jesus’s ‘call’ is vital to understanding the relationship between Jesus and his Apostles.
As some argue, Peter could have been married when Jesus first called him, yet decided to withdraw from marriage from that point on to serve Jesus. With this narrative in mind, Jesus’s words in Matthew 19 take on a new meaning; rather than encouraging celibacy for all, Jesus was suggesting that for some, such as the Apostles, fully immersed servitude requires a complete lack of commitment but to a partner.
In any case, some scholars argue that the alleged renunciation of marriage by Peter and the other Apostles could symbolize the importance of fully devoted service to Jesus and Christianity. Consequently, the question of Peter’s marital status is ultimately related to understanding the complete devotion expected from Jesus’s followers.
Was Peter’s Marital Status Important For Early Christian Communities?
Though the actual marital status of Peter is impossible to determine with any surety, discussion of his marital status is believed to have had an important role in early Christian communities. This view is supported by many sources; for instance, certain accounts from the early Christian period suggest that Peter’s marital status had profound implications for understanding the expectations of Christian servitude.
Further, the fact that a debate has continued over the centuries highlights its importance. After all, if Peter was indeed married, this could signify that it was not essential to renounce marriage in order to serve Jesus, or at least have an important role in the Christian faith. In contrast, belief of Peter being unmarried has been used as an indicator that service to Jesus was incompatible with marriage.
Consequently, though it is impossible to make definite conclusions on Peter being married or not, it is clear that this subject has been very important in understanding the relationship between devoted servitude and marriage in Christianity.
The Significance Of Peter As A Symbol Of Devoted Service
Though it is impossible to make any definitive conclusions on the actual marital status of Peter, it is clear that he has been a symbol of devoted service for centuries. Despite the fact that his life is relatively unknown to us, he is remembered as an Apostle who gave up everything to follow Jesus.
Interestingly, a passage in John 21 has become associated with this symbol. In this passage, Peter is asked 3 times by Jesus if he loves him and Peter replies 3 ‘yes’ answers. This conversation has been interpreted as a test of Peter’s devotion, with some theologians arguing that the dialogue is indicative of Jesus expecting a ‘total commitment’ from the Apostles
Consequently, the ongoing debate on Peter’s marital status is ultimately a reflection of the importance of devoted service to Jesus. As such, this subject has remained significant over the years as it has enabled theologians and scholars to debate the importance of servitude, and how far it must extend, in order to be truly devoted to Jesus.
