Peter in the New Testament

Much of the best recent biblical scholarship comes from the USA. This short, approachable study of Peter's place in the NT has a decided edge, in that it is a collaboration between U.S. Roman Catholic and Lutheran experts. It attempts to bring biblical research methods to a figure who has caused divisiveness between the Reformation and Catholic traditions. I used the study to help me understand one of the kernel disagreements - Matthew 16:16. I quote an extract to show how it brings light and (for this Anglican priest) resolution to that text: An Aramaic substratum has been recognised in Mt's Greek. "You are petros" and "this petra" suggests a Greek play on the two words; in Aramaic they are identical: "You are Kephâ' and upon this kephâ' I will build". `This leaves no doubt that the rock on which the church was to be built was Peter.' I am now reading the other chapters with similar results - their clarity is infectious.