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Who was Peter and what was his true stature in the early church? For Protestants at least, Peter seems caught between two caricatures: the rustic fisherman of Galilee and the author of two lesser New Testament letters. And in both cases he is overshadowed by Paul. In The Life and Witness of Peter, Larry Helyer seeks to reinstate this neglected and underestimated apostle to his rightful stature as an early Christian leader and faithful witness to Christ. Reconstructing Peter's life, theology and legacy from evidence in 1 and 2 Peter, the Gospels, Acts, Paul's letters, and texts from the early church, Helyer renders a great service for students of the New Testament. We are introduced to Peter the eyewitness who stands behind much of Mark's Gospel, Peter the preacher who lends deep credibility to the account of Acts, and Peter the letter-writer whose words glow with spiritual intelligence. Along the way we are rewarded with a careful analysis of prominent theological themes in Peter's letters. And we learn much about the traditions, legends and legacy of Peter in the post-apostolic era.
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Reviews
"This book fills a neglected area of study in NT theology. . . . The Life and Witness of Peter is one of a number of recent publications on the apostle and his epistles and helps to demonstrate a renewed interest in the Petrine writings, particularly in regard to ecumenical studies. The style of writing is simple and accessible to lay people and students in biblical studies. . . . This book has the advantage of bringing together all references to Peter in the NT. The author's commanding knowledge of intertestamental literature, as presented in Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period, also helps to set the context of first-century Christianity and challenging passages in the Petrine epistles."
Denis Fortin, Seminary Studies, Autumn 2013
"Perhaps the primary significance of Helyer's work is the role it plays in the contemporary renewal of interest in the person and theology of Peter, the Rock."
Gene L. Green, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, December 2013
"The Life and Witness of Peter would be one of the first books I would recommend for students, pastors, and others interested in the life and legacy of the Apostle Peter. It is thoroughly readable, refreshingly conservative, and written by a brother whose interpretive posture has been benefited by the word he is handling. . . . Helyer is clearly a most able scholar and teacher, and while this book is accessible to all, it does not avoid the tough questions. He manages throughout the book to simply, but not simplistically, explain and suggest sensible solutions to the whole range of complex issues that surround the topics under discussion in the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Petrine Epistles most specifically. As an introduction to Peter, it is deceptively perceptive and will enrich students and scholars alike."
David K. Burge, Themelios 38, Issue 2, August 2013