The Apostle!Marauders...

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 92596

Since Rowling is a Christian by faith herself, this post might not be 
too long a shot... has anyone else noticed that the Marauders have a 
lot in common with four of the most known/prominent of the disciples 
of Jesus?

Here they are:
"He [Jesus] appointed twelve -designating them apostles... These are 
the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 
James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name 
Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, 
Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." (Mark 3,17 NIV version of the 
Bible)

There's no doubt the most important of the disciples are the three 
Jesus mentions first; Peter, James and John. Also note that these are 
the only ones who Jesus gives "pet names"! They meant something 
special to him. The disciple that equals those three in fame are the 
last one mentioned, not because he was close the the Master like the 
other three, but because he turned out to be the most famous traitor 
in the history of the world...

Here's my take (all HP quotes are from the UK edition):

James Potter = Bible!Peter
Just like Bible!Peter, James was the natural leader of his little 
gang. Personality-wise they have a lot in common: They're both 
intelligent characters and value truth and bravery and are extremely 
loyal to their friends. Bible!Peter did have one serious slip-up 
where he showed cowardice instead of bravery, but he learned his 
lesson and later became famous for his loyalty and bravery. He was 
willing to die for the cause, which he eventually did. Likewise; 
James Potter also needed to "grow up" (according to Sirius and Lily 
he was a bit conceited...), James Potter also died "for the cause", 
way too young.

Sirius Black = Bible!James (the Son of Thunder)
Impulsive, temperamental, rash, reckless and prone to action: A 
true "Son of Thunder" :-) Bible!James and Sirius Black are both 
characters that are true and fiercely loyal to their friends.  Bible!
James was executed by sword; Sirius died by the "magical sword"; a 
beam from Bella's wand...

Remus John Lupin = John
It was Remus's middle name that got me thinking :-). You might think 
that the quiet and kind Remus can't be compared to Bible!James's 
brother John, the Son of Thunder. But despite the fact that John 
started out as a "son of Thunder" like his brother, that's not what 
he's famous for. John is known as the "apostle of Love"; the meek and 
friendly one that wrote the most famous and beautiful words about 
love in the Bible. His personality fits perfectly with Rowling's 
Remus. Interestingly, John was the only apostle that died of natural 
causes (old age); all the other apostles were killed "in battle". 
Hopefully this means Lupin will live as well :-)

Peter Pettigrew = Judas
This goes without saying I guess :-) Judas betrayed his 
Master/Saviour by turning him over to his enemies; Peter Pettigrew 
betrayed his friends by revealing the whereabouts of "the One with 
the power to vanquish the Dark Lord"... Judas committed suicide when 
he finally realised what he had done; I don't know if Peter Pettigrew 
would; but I can imagine him going on a desperate suicidal "rescue 
mission" to help Harry, as a redemptive measure... After all, he owes 
Harry one.

Severus Snape = Paul
This is an interesting comparison. Paul was originally not among the 
apostles. He was a tireless persecutor of Christians and had a lot of 
them tracked down and killed. He hated the Bible!Marauders :-) After 
a rather shocking personal experience, though, Paul changed his mind 
and decided to join the other side. The Bible!Marauders at first 
didn't want to accept Paul as one of their own; many were, naturally, 
suspicious of his intentions. The boss himself (Bible!God; compare 
to: "'I trust Severus Snape,' said Dumbledore simply." -OoP p. 734 :-
) had to use his powers of persuasion in order to make them accept 
Paul. Paul went on to become the most famous apostle to this day, 
possibly even more famous than Bible!Peter and John. Ring any bells? 
Sounds like our Snape to me :-) I hope Snape too turns out to not 
only prove himself to be trustworthy, but famous for his achievements 
(he'd love to finally get some recognition, wouldn't he :-).
I also have to add that Paul has, like Snape, a brilliant and 
analytical mind, and his books are the ones in the Bible that are the 
most complex and "many-layered" (in Snape's words; it's all 
about "fine distinctions" -OoP p. 468). His explanations on faith, 
for instance, can easily be compared to Snape's enigmatic words on 
the art of Potion-making. Paul is the "Faith Master", as Snape is the 
Potion Master :-)

I have no idea whether the likeness between the Marauders and the 
four most known disciples, and the apostle Paul and Snape are 
intentional on Rowling's part; I seriously doubt it. But it doesn't 
matter: I was having fun with this post :-)

Berit
http://home.no.net/berjakob/snape.html