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Saint Peter

Saint Peter

1 4.4
Many Christians call Saint Peter the leading follower of Jesus and the first pope
  • proper noun
translation icon : San Pedro
  • Clearly, this is known from an example by which Pope Innocent X had made the Cathedra of Saint Peter behind the open bronze tabernacle made earlier by Urban.

Examples

  • So these two lawyers go to heaven, and they meet Saint Peter...

  • PHOTO (COLOR): Figure 1: Saint Peter

    Academic text (1995)
  • You guys heard of Saint Peter?

  • In the Brancacci Chapel, in Florence, Italy, a fresco of Saint Peter

    Academic text (1995)
  • Early in the morning, under a glorious blue sky in a prosperous city, Saint Peter, the first pontiff, is on his way to open the church doors.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Saint Peter said that baptism "now saves you" (1 Pet. 3:21).

    Blog text (28)
  • I believe that our gloriously reigning Pontiff, Benedict XVI, is a direct successor to the Seat of Saint Peter.

    Blog text (7)
  • According to Roman Catholic tradition, Saint Peter was installed as the first Pope by Jesus Christ.

  • I believe that our gloriously reigning Pontiff, Benedict XVI, is a direct successor to the Seat of Saint Peter.

  • Medieval and modern Catholics believed the Archbishop of Rome (i.e., the Pope) was in direct apostolic lineage back to Saint Peter.

Synonyms

Peter
vsSaint Peter
2.0

One of the twelve followers of Jesus who leads the others and is the first pope in Catholic belief

is a formal titled name including leadership role and honorifics
St. Peter
vsSaint Peter
4 4.1

A leading follower of Jesus who led the first apostles and became the first Pope

is the full titled form including role and honorific
Simon Peter
vsSaint Peter
1 5.8

One of the twelve followers of Jesus who is seen as the leader and, by Catholic tradition, the first Pope

is the same figure but focuses on religious titles rather than the given name
Saint Peter the Apostle
vsSaint Peter
5.5

A follower of Jesus who led the first Christians and is seen by Catholics as the first pope

is the same person but named without honorifics or role title
St. Peter the Apostle
vsSaint Peter
6.7

A follower of Jesus who led the Apostles and Catholics regard as the first Pope

is the same name but written in full rather than abbreviated

Surface Forms

Morphology

saint + Peter

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'saint' = a holy person and 'Peter' = the proper name, so a learner will infer it denotes a holy person called Peter. While they may not know the specific historical roles (e.g., 'first Pope' or leading apostle) the core meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and is cross-linguistically common.

Etymology

Saint Peter comes from the Bible: Jesus gave his friend Peter a name that means 'rock' to show he would be a strong leader. That's why Saint Peter is remembered as the first leader of the Church and is often shown with keys, a picture that suggests he is 'guarding' the gates of heaven.