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Articles_of_he_Bishop_of_Uramiah, page : 85
The old Arabic versions of the New Testament have
frequently written St. Peter's name as "Sham'un' as-Sapha";
that is to say, "Simon the Stone." The words of Christ:
"Thou art Peter," etc., have their equivalent in the Arabic
version in the form of "Antas-Sapha" (Matt. xvi. 18; John i.
42, etc.).
It follows, therefore, that if Simon is the Sapha, the
Church which was to be built on it would naturally be the
Mispha. That Christ should liken Simon to Sapha and the
Church to Mispha is very remarkable; but when I come to
divulge the mystery hidden in this similitude and the wisdom
embodied in the Sapha, then it must be accepted as the most
marvelous truth of Prophet Muhammad's merit to his glorious title:
'THE MUSTAPHA'!
frequently written St. Peter's name as "Sham'un' as-Sapha";
that is to say, "Simon the Stone." The words of Christ:
"Thou art Peter," etc., have their equivalent in the Arabic
version in the form of "Antas-Sapha" (Matt. xvi. 18; John i.
42, etc.).
It follows, therefore, that if Simon is the Sapha, the
Church which was to be built on it would naturally be the
Mispha. That Christ should liken Simon to Sapha and the
Church to Mispha is very remarkable; but when I come to
divulge the mystery hidden in this similitude and the wisdom
embodied in the Sapha, then it must be accepted as the most
marvelous truth of Prophet Muhammad's merit to his glorious title:
'THE MUSTAPHA'!