Geoff Hudson

Simon bar Gioras was the principal Jewish hero of the first Jewish war against the Romans. He fought to the end without surrendering but was eventually captured (much to the surprise of the Romans) when his luck ran out. His name is immortalised as the fictitious Simon Peter (Rocky III) in the NT.

During the battle for Jerusalem, two of the main groups of defenders were led by Simon and John of Gischala. At Titus’ request, Josephus approached the walls on three different occasions to persuade the defenders to surrender. On each occasion, Simon, John and their supporters denied Josephus’ requests. For the first denial (War 5:9:2 - 5:10:1), Josephus’ pleadings are rebutted with “reproaches” and “imprecations” (curses) from the defenders. At the second denial (War 6:2:1-2), Josephus wept (with “groans” and “sobs”) at the wall knowing that many of the remaining residents of Jerusalem (including some of his relatives) could be wiped-out in retribution, by one side or the other. For the third (War 6:6:3 – 6:7:2), the defenders declared that they had sworn an oath never to surrender. These events were used by the gospel editors to construct the story in which Simon Peter, on three occasions in the high priests courtyard, denied that he knew Jesus, and on the third occasion, cursed himself, swore “I do not know the man!” and then “went out and wept bitterly” (Mat.26:69-75). This was after Peter had sworn to Jesus “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Mat.26:33). John of Gischala eventually surrendered (War 6:9:4), but Simon bar Gioras never agreed to.

After losing the battle for Jerusalem, Simon hid underground in a cavern with a group of friends, some of whom were stone cutters (War 7:2:1). They tried to mine their way out to a safe place and escape, but were impeded by “solid earth”, no doubt rock. Their provisions ran out. So Simon came to the surface dressed in priestly attire, no doubt praying that God would come at the last minute to wreak vengeance on his enemies.

These events were used, may be subliminally, by the gospel editors to have Jesus give Simon the name Peter meaning rock – “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mat.16:18). Well the editors certainly did found the church on the character of Peter.

So that’s how Simon got his nickname, Rocky III - a character on the level of another Simon surnamed Potter. That’s why you need degrees in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin before you can understand these stories. But that’s not the end of this story.

After the war, Simon was taken to Rome with John of Gischala (John the son of Levi) and 700 captives. He was dressed-up to hide his emaciation, given the front position among the captives in the triumphal procession, drawn along by a rope around his head, and finally executed (probably strangled) (War 7:5:6). These events became the basis for John 21:18 and 19 where Jesus said (to the disciple Simon/Peter), “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” – yet more fabrication.

Hence, I see Simon Peter as a fabricated character. Where the first disciples are called by [Jesus], the editor inserted Simon Peter with the other fictitious disciple Andrew before the disciples James and John who were then relegated to secondary status (Mk.16:16).

Geoff

Geoff Hudson

Mark 1

{John} went [into Galilee] {to the LAKE}, PROCLAIMING the [good news] {SPIRIT} of God.

(15)"The time has come," he said. "The [kingdom] {Spirit} of God is near.

[Repent] {hear} and [believe] {obey} the [good news] {Spirit}!"

(16)As {Jesus] {John} walked beside the [Sea of Galilee] {LAKE}, he saw…

[Simon]

…{James the son of Rechab} and his brother…

[Andrew]

…{John} casting a [net] {pot} [into] {onto} [the lake] {a wheel}, for they were…

[fishermen]

…{potters}.

(17)"Come, [follow] {obey} [me] {the Spirit}," John said, "and [I] {he} will make you [fishers] {potters} of men."

(18)At once they left their [nets] {pots.}

and [followed] {obeyed} [him] {the Spirit}.

(19)[When he had gone a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
(20)Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.]

Notes:
v.(14)Here [Jesus] {John} “went” “into Galilee”. Mat.4:12 emphasises: “he returned to Galilee". Lk.4:44 has Jesus at one instant in Judea, then Lk.5:1 has him at the next instant “standing by the Lake of Gennesaret”; Jesus was travelling at the speed of light. In none of these accounts is there any indication of the journey time to Galilee – a journey time would have been approximately seven days allowing a generous 10 miles a day. [Jesus] {John} was obviously still in Judea. He didn’t go to the Sea of Galilee, but he WENT to the Lake – the Lake Asphaltitis. PROCLAIMING is explicit. [Jesus’] {John’s} mission was to proclaim the Spirit.
v.(15)Before they could receive the Spirit, or for the Spirit to “appear” to them, they first had to hear and obey him.
v.(16,17,18) The first two disciples to hear and obey the Spirit were James and his brother John, both sons of Rechab, and potters by trade. Rechabite potters were literate – they wrote on tablets of stone. They probably manufactured ostracons. As Rechabites, they were entitled like priests to service in the temple. Zechariah and his son, John the prophet, were Rechabites. The fictitious Simon (Peter) and Andrew were substituted for James and John, to give the former pair the pre-eminence. Strangely, Simon and Andrew have no father or lineage.
v.(19,20) Were added by an editor, in effect placing James and John second to Peter and Andrew. Zebedee and the hired men are spurious.

Geoff Hudson

Perhaps Mark 1:15 wold be better as:

(15)"The [time] {Spirit} has come,"

Geoff