About the book: 2012 / Series “Modern Biblical Studies” This series publishes books by the world's largest and domestic biblical scholars. The series includes fundamental works on the textual criticism of the Old and New Testaments, history creating the biblical canon, translating the Bible, and researching the historical context of the biblical narrative. These publications can be used by students, teachers, clergy and laity for the study of textual criticism, isagogy and exegesis of the Holy Scriptures in the light of modern science. The publication of this book was carried out with the financial support of the Hoffnung für Osteuropa (Evangelical Church in Württemberg). This translation of Martin Hengel's book Der unterschätzte Petrus is published with the consent of the publishing house Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen. This is Martin Hengel's first book in Russian. The author, one of the leading modern New Testament scholars, examines the personality of the Apostle Peter in the context of the history of Jesus and the early church. The researcher pays special attention to the underestimation of the historical and theological significance of the fisherman from Bethsaida and the excessive harmonization of the figures of Peter and Paul in both Protestant and Catholic exegesis. The book is addressed to teachers, students, and anyone interested in the latest research in the field of biblical studies. The translator's notes are given in square brackets [...], the author's comments are given in curly brackets {...}. Author's words: see note. ― refer to his comments in curly brackets, respectively.