Leviathan · Character

Peter

The apostle whose promise of new heavens grounds Hobbes's claim that eternal life begins at resurrection, not at birth, and that the Church is an assembly, not a kingdom.

supporting

Also known as St. Peter, Simon Peter, Simon

First appearance: part i of man

As a supporting figure in Leviathan, Peter is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned in the context of apostolic authority and the foundation of the church.

In the storyPart III: Of a Christian CommonwealthOpen this moment free

See Peter in Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth Book page

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Hobbes cites Peter to insist the kingdom of God is a civil commonwealth where God reigns by a vicar, and that immortality comes by promise rather than by nature. Peter's name also anchors the book's long excavation of the word "church" — a congregation summoned by authority, not a standing government over princes. The stakes are political: if Peter's church is an assembly, no bishop inherits a throne from him.

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The fuller portrait of Peter sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Peter in part i of man

Character Web

33 connections

A slice of how Peter sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Early Christian and adversarial figures
Protagonist
Biblical and religious leaders
Historical and theological exemplars

+28 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it reveals the sovereign's right to punish is not a gift from subj…

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Relationships

Jesus Christ
professional · positive
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief… How this plays out →
Pope Zachary
professional · positive
Jesus Christ
professional · positive
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief… How this plays out →
Jesus Christ
professional · positive
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief… How this plays out →

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief apostle and foundation of the Church.
Pope Zachary
Peter and Pope Zachary are linked as first bishop of Rome and a later pope, with Zachary inheriting Peter's apostolic authority.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief apostle and foundation of the Church.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ and Peter share a master-disciple relationship, with Peter as the chief apostle and foundation of the Church.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Peter in part i of man

In the story

Peter appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth
Mentioned in the context of apostolic authority and the foundation of the church.
Of Power Ecclesiastical
Mentioned as the apostle who, along with others, will judge the world at Christ's second coming, not the Pope.
XLIII: Of What Is Necessary for a Man’s Reception Into the Kingdom of Heaven
Mentioned as being withstood by St. Paul, illustrating that even apostles can err in superstructure.
Of Demonology, and Other Relics of the Religion of the Gentiles
Mentioned in the context that the Pope's authority is not a privilege of St. Peter but of the city of Rome.
Of the Benefit That Proceedeth from Such Darkness, and to Whom It Accrueth
Referenced in the context of the Pope's claim to authority via the right of St. Peter, and in the analogy of Peter's net breaking from too many fish.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Peter unlock in the free preview.

See Peter in part i of man

See Peter in Part III: Of a Christian Commonwealth