{
  "id": "dict_005953",
  "term": "Walking on water",
  "slug": "walking-on-water",
  "letter": "W",
  "entry_type": "biblical_event",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "The Gospel miracle in which Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee, displaying His authority over creation. In Matthew, Peter also briefly walked on the water at Jesus’ command before beginning to sink.",
  "simple_one_line": "Jesus walking on the water is a Gospel miracle that reveals His divine authority and care for His disciples.",
  "tooltip_text": "A miracle in the Gospels in which Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee; in Matthew, Peter also walked briefly before sinking.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Miracles of Jesus",
    "Sea of Galilee",
    "Faith",
    "Peter the Apostle",
    "Divine authority of Christ"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Matthew 14:22–33",
    "Mark 6:45–52",
    "John 6:16–21",
    "Jesus walks on the sea",
    "Peter sinks"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "“Walking on water” refers to the Gospel accounts in which Jesus came to His disciples by walking on the Sea of Galilee. The event is presented as a real miracle that reveals His authority over creation and helps identify Him as more than a mere prophet. In Matthew’s account, Peter also walks briefly on the water by Jesus’ command before fear causes him to sink.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A miracle of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Jesus walks on the sea in the Gospels",
    "The event reveals His authority over nature",
    "The disciples respond with fear and worship",
    "Matthew alone records Peter walking briefly before sinking",
    "The story teaches faith, dependence, and Christ’s saving help."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "The phrase refers mainly to Jesus’ miraculous walking on the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 14:22–33, Mark 6:45–52, and John 6:16–21. These accounts present a real miracle that reveals Jesus’ power, evokes fear and worship, and strengthens the disciples’ understanding of His identity. Matthew also records Peter walking briefly on the water as he trusted Jesus’ word.",
  "description_academic_full": "“Walking on water” is a common way of referring to the Gospel miracle in which Jesus came to His disciples by walking on the sea. Scripture presents this as an actual historical miracle, not merely a symbol, and uses it to display Jesus’ authority over the natural order, His care for His disciples, and His divine identity. In Matthew’s account, Peter also steps onto the water at Jesus’ command and begins to sink when overcome by fear, illustrating both the necessity of faith and the sufficiency of Christ’s saving help. The event should therefore be understood chiefly as a miracle of Jesus that reveals who He is, while applications about faith should remain governed by the text and not turned into speculative claims.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The miracle occurs after Jesus feeds the five thousand and sends the disciples ahead by boat. The Gospels present the event as part of a sequence that shows Jesus’ power over provision, distance, wind, waves, and fear.",
  "background_historical_context": "The Sea of Galilee was known for sudden storms and difficult conditions for fishermen. A person walking on the water would have been understood as performing an extraordinary act beyond normal human ability.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In the Old Testament, God alone is portrayed as sovereign over the sea and its waves, a setting that makes Jesus’ action especially significant. The scene also fits Jewish reverence for the sea as a place of danger and uncontrolled power.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Matthew 14:22–33",
    "Mark 6:45–52",
    "John 6:16–21"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Job 9:8",
    "Psalm 77:19",
    "Psalm 89:9",
    "Matthew 8:23–27"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The Gospel accounts describe Jesus walking on the sea; the focus is on the act itself rather than on a technical theological term in the original languages.",
  "theological_significance": "The miracle displays Jesus’ divine authority over creation and supports the Gospel witness to His identity. It also shows His compassion for frightened disciples and His ability to rescue those who call on Him.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The event is best read as a claim about reality, not merely as a moral illustration. The text presents a supernatural act that reveals who Jesus is and what kind of authority He possesses.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not turn Peter’s experience into a blanket promise that believers can do whatever they attempt if they have enough faith. The miracle is primarily about Christ, not human potential. Avoid allegorizing the storm, the boat, or the sea beyond what the text itself supports.",
  "major_views_note": "Evangelical interpreters generally treat the passage as a historical miracle with theological significance. Less conservative readings may try to reduce it to symbol or legend, but the Gospel presentation favors a real event.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry concerns a Gospel miracle and should not be used to build speculative doctrines about human divinity, faith-as-power, or secret spiritual techniques. The text presents Jesus’ unique authority, and Peter’s role remains secondary and dependent on Christ.",
  "practical_significance": "The passage encourages trust in Christ during fear and instability, reminds believers that Jesus is present in trouble, and calls for reverent worship when His identity is recognized.",
  "meta_description": "Biblical event in which Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee, revealing His divine authority; Matthew also records Peter walking briefly before sinking.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/walking-on-water/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/walking-on-water.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}