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Simon

biblical_name_disambiguation theological_term standard

Simon is a common New Testament personal name borne by several different people, including Simon Peter, Simon the Zealot, Simon of Cyrene, Simon the Pharisee, Simon the tanner, and Simon Magus.

At a Glance

A common biblical personal name used for several New Testament individuals.

Key Points

Description

Simon is a common personal name in the New Testament and is applied to several distinct individuals. The best known is Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles, but the name also appears for Simon the Zealot, Simon of Cyrene, Simon the Pharisee, Simon the tanner, and Simon Magus. Because the same name is shared by multiple figures, interpretation depends on the immediate literary context. This entry is therefore best treated as a biblical name/disambiguation headword rather than a theological concept.

Biblical Context

In the New Testament, Simon most often identifies real people in specific narrative settings. The name occurs in the Gospels, Acts, and related passages, sometimes with a qualifying descriptor such as 'Peter,' 'the Zealot,' 'of Cyrene,' or 'the tanner.'

Historical Context

Simon was a common Jewish name in the Second Temple and early Christian periods, which helps explain why several unrelated people in the New Testament bear it. English readers often need context markers because the same name can appear in very different settings.

Jewish and Ancient Context

The name Simon reflects a widespread Jewish naming pattern in the first century. Multiple persons could share the same name, so Scripture often distinguishes them by family role, hometown, occupation, or a descriptive title.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Greek Simōn (Σίμων), a common personal name. In context it may refer to different individuals, so translators and readers must rely on surrounding identifiers.

Theological Significance

Simon is not a doctrine, but several important New Testament figures share the name. The most significant is Simon Peter, whose confession of Christ and apostolic role make the name prominent in Christian theology and gospel history.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry illustrates a basic interpretive principle: proper names require context. A shared name does not imply a shared identity, and meaning is determined by the author’s immediate reference.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every occurrence of Simon refers to Simon Peter. Read the surrounding narrative, titles, and relationships carefully. This is a naming issue, not a theological category in itself.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal dispute about the name itself. The main issue is disambiguation across different New Testament individuals.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should not be used to build doctrine apart from the specific biblical person intended by the context. It is a resolver for identity, not a theological synthesis.

Practical Significance

Careful identification of the correct Simon helps readers interpret passages accurately and avoid conflating distinct people or teachings.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Simon

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