The Apocalypse of Peter is an early Christian text of unknown authorship which describes the visionary journey of the apostle Peter through heaven and hell. It likely dates to the second century AD and was considered scripture by some early Christians, though it was eventually excluded from the biblical canon.
The text purports to record revelations given to Peter by Jesus about the fate of souls after death. It contains vivid descriptions of the torments of the damned in hell contrasted with the bliss of the righteous in heaven. The Apocalypse of Peter exercised significant influence over the development of the doctrine of eternal punishment in Christianity.
Contents of the Apocalypse of Peter
The Apocalypse of Peter can be divided into three main sections:
Peter’s Vision of Heaven
Peter describes being taken up by angels through the heavens, where he sees the glories prepared for the righteous. He witnesses the each of the heavens and the angels who inhabit them praising God. In the highest heaven, Peter sees the Lord on his throne surrounded by angels.
Peter’s Vision of Hell
Peter then sees the place of punishment prepared for sinners. He gives lurid descriptions of the torments suffered by different types of sinners in hell. Blasphemers hang by their tongues over flames. Adulterers are driven up a cliff by whips of fire. Women who braided their hair to entice men are hung by their hair over boiling mire. The text gives symbolic punishments for different sins.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Afterlife
After the vision, Jesus delivers a lengthy sermon to Peter and the disciples about the fate of souls after death. He emphasizes the rewards of righteousness versus the punishments for different vices. He warns them to avoid false teachings and prophets. Jesus promises the disciples that their names are written in the Book of Life in heaven.
Manuscripts and Authorship
The Apocalypse of Peter was likely composed in the second century AD, though some scholars argue for a fourth century date. The text is pseudonymous, meaning it was attributed to Peter though not actually authored by him. This was a common literary device in early Christian apocalyptic literature.
The text was known to early church fathers such as Clement of Alexandria, who accepted it as scripture. The oldest surviving fragments come from the Akhmim Codex, an early Coptic Christian manuscript discovered in Egypt in 1887. Other fragments in Greek, Ethiopic, and Arabic are also extant.
The Apocalypse of Peter was accepted into the New Testament canon by the church at Rhossus in Syria in the fifth century. However, it was ultimately excluded from the canonical books of the Bible due to concerns that it overemphasized sensational visions of the afterlife.
Influence and Themes
As an early Christian apocalypse, the Apocalypse of Peter helped shape the genre of afterlife tourism in medieval Christian and Jewish literature. Dante’s Inferno and visions of heaven and hell in later centuries drew inspiration from it. The text also contributed to the development of the doctrine of eternal punishment in hell.
Major themes of the Apocalypse of Peter include:
– Dualism between the destiny of the saved and the damned
– An imminent eschaton and imminent judgment
– The rejection of false prophets and heretics
– Symbolic punishments for vices in hell
– Angelology and descriptions of the heavens
– Ethical exhortation to righteousness
The text reflects wider debates within early Christianity concerning orthodoxy, apostolic authority, and correct doctrine about the afterlife. Along with other apocalypses, it signals diversity in early Christian beliefs about the fate of the soul after death.
Selected Passages
The Apocalypse of Peter contains striking passages portraying the torments of hell. A few notable excerpts illustrate its style:
“And other men and women were being hurled down from a great cliff and reached the bottom, and again were driven by those who were set over them to climb up upon the cliff, and thence were hurled down again, and had no rest from this punishment.” (Ethiopic version)
This passage describes the punishment for deceitful merchants and those who lend money at interest. They are continually driven up and down a cliff without reprieve.
“And there were also others, women, hanged by their hair over that mire that bubbled up. These were they who adorned themselves for adultery.” (Greek fragment)
The text gives grisly punishments tailored to specific sins. Here women who seduced men with their beauty are hung by their hair over boiling muck.
“And near that place I saw another strait place . . . and there sat women having the their lips cut in pieces and fire was burning on their breasts.” (Greek fragment)
Women who exposed or mockingly slandered their neighbors have their lips cut and burning coals placed on their chests.
The Apocalypse of Peter vividly conveys early Christian beliefs about the realities of rewards and punishments after death for moral instruction. It contributed to ongoing debates surrounding hell and the afterlife.
Relevance and Legacy
As an extra-canonical early Christian apocalypse, the Apocalypse of Peter provides insight into diverse beliefs about the afterlife during the first centuries of Christianity. It had a noteworthy influence on visions of heaven and hell in the medieval period and beyond.
Key aspects of its legacy include:
– Illustrating variety of belief in the early church – The text shows that the doctrines of hell and the afterlife were not settled during the first centuries but subject to debate and diversity.
– Shaping Christian tradition – Its symbolic punishments and focus on moral exhortation influenced later Christian apocalyptic writings and sermons.
– Contributing to doctrine of eternal punishment – Its grim punishments reinforced ideas of an eternal hell that exerted influence on many later theologians.
– Inspiring Dante and later artists – The symbolic torments and afterlife tourism in the Apocalypse of Peter helped shape Dante’s Inferno and inspired many medieval writers and artists.
– Interest for scholars – As Christian apocrypha, the text provides valuable evidence for scholars about early Jewish-Christian apocalypticism and the evolution of doctrine concerning the afterlife.
Though disputed by some early believers, the Apocalypse of Peter had a robust influence over the development of Christian teachings about the fate of the soul after death and artistic portrayals of the torments of hell. It marks one trajectory of diversity within early Christianity.
References to the Apocalypse of Peter in Early Sources
The Apocalypse of Peter is mentioned in several early Christian sources, suggesting it was reasonably well-known in the early Church.
A few key references include:
– The Muratorian Fragment (c. 180 AD) – One of the earliest canon lists; refers to the Apocalypse of Peter as scripture but notes some contest its public reading in church.
– Clement of Alexandria (c. 200 AD) – Wrote the text was “divinely inspired” though doubted by some; cited it as scripture in his writings.
– Sossianus Hierocles (4th century) – Quoted from the Apocalypse of Peter in arguing against the notion of divine punishment.
– Eusebius (4th century) – Listed the Apocalypse of Peter as disputed/spurious scripture; quoted Clement’s positive view.
– Macarius Magnes (c. 400 AD) – Cited the text as scriptural authority in arguing against hellenic doctrines.
– Decree of Gelasius (5th century) – Declared the Apocalypse of Peter apocryphal and not genuine scripture.
Translation Examples from the Ethiopic Version
The Ethiopic translation provides the most complete surviving text of the Apocalypse of Peter. Here are a few excerpts that give a sense of its style and content:
“The Father hath committed all judgement unto the Son.” The destiny of sinners – their judgement and punishment – is set forth in this text.
“Then I saw the Holy Spirit and the angels ascending by that way, and the holy apostles and prophets and martyrs and many (souls) besides.” Peter sees the righteous saints ascending to heaven.
“And women were hanged up by their hair above that mire which boiled up; and these were they that adorned themselves for adultery.” Punishments are tailored to sins.
“And hard by that place I saw another pit . . . and there sat women up to their necks in the mire; and opposing them sat many children who were born out of due time, crying.” Abortion is condemned.
“I tell you that all these things will be added unto the just at the consummation of the age.” The rewards of the righteous are described.
The Apocalypse of Peter creatively blends moral exhortation with symbolic punishments and rewards to vividly convey its message.
Analysis of Major Themes
Some of the notable themes contained in the Apocalypse of Peter include:
Afterlife Tourism
A central aim is taking the reader on a visionary journey through heaven, hell, and the fate of souls to arouse moral transformation through fear and hope. This afterlife tourism draws inspiration from precursors while inspiring later works.
Justice and Judgment
Divine justice is enacted through graphic punishments and rewards. The text is driven by this notion of balancing the scales – the righteous destined for bliss, the wicked damned to torment.
Pedagogy and Exhortation
The elaborate visions serve a pedagogical purpose, using dramatic images of punishment to exhort ethical uprightness. The sermon of Jesus further underscores this didactic function.
Recompense and Retribution
The punishments and rewards correspond to deeds, enacting a form of cosmic recompense. This illustrates the doctrine of particular judgment – judgment according to individual merit.
Dualism and Cosmic Conflict
A cosmic dualism between the realm of the righteous angels and damned souls pervades the text. This reflects the apocalyptic worldview of a conflict between the forces of good and evil.
Symbolic Imagery
The torments utilize creative and often ironic symbolism tailored to sins. This imagery proved highly influential in hellscapes later centuries.
By harnessing vivid imagery in service of moral formation, the Apocalypse of Peter provides insight into the development of early Christian eschatology.
Comparison to Other Apocalypses on Heaven and Hell
The Apocalypse of Peter belongs to a tradition of extra-canonical Christian apocalypses focused on the afterlife, including:
The Apocalypse of Paul
– Likely late 4th century text with similar journey through heaven and hell.
– Less gruesome torments than Apocalypse of Peter and greater focus on angelic liturgies.
– Helped inspire Dante’s Inferno.
The Vision of Paul
– Details Paul’s rapture through the heavens.
– Earlier Gnostic, less detailed description of punishments.
– Emphasizes the cosmic liturgy surrounding God’s throne.
The Apocalypse of the Virgin
– Post-5th century text detailing Mary’s journeys through hell.
– Presents punishments similar to the Apocalypse of Peter.
– Incorporates and creatively embellishes its model.
While these all contribute to the genre of afterlife tourism, the Apocalypse of Peter offers the most elaborate vision of infernal punishments tailored to different sins. This proved deeply influential.
Similarities and Differences from the Canonical Book of Revelation
The Apocalypse of Peter shares similarities with the Book of Revelation in canonical scripture but also evinces key differences:
Similarities:
– Visions granted to a major apostle
– Focus on impending judgment and eschatological transformation
– Cosmic dualism between righteous and unrighteous
– Extensive angelology and supernatural imagery
Differences:
– Specifically tours heaven and hell vs. Revelation’s prophetic symbolism
– Not as focused on recapitulating biblical imagery and numbers
– More blatantly concerned with moral formation over prophetically unveiling history
– More elaborate punishments for sins rather than judgments against Rome/persecutors
While both offer apocalyptic visions forecasting God’s justice, the Apocalypse of Peter moralizes heaven and hell for pedagogical aims in contrast to Revelation’s layered symbolism.
Significance for the Development of Doctrine on the Afterlife
The Apocalypse of Peter contributed to the development of doctrine concerning heaven, hell, and the intermediate state between death and final judgment in several ways:
– Reinforced ideas of immediate individual judgment after death based on merit, including graphic punitive punishments.
– Propagated concepts of static, permanent places of reward and punishment corresponding to souls’ deeds.
– Shaped notion of hell as a place of fiery torments of graded severity tailored to degree of sin.
– Focused extensively on justice, judgment, reward/punishment over concepts like Sheol or Hades.
– Vividly illustrated cosmic dualism between heaven and hell and the forces of good vs. evil.
– Helped develop concepts about architecture, geography, and spatiality of heaven and hell.
Though the text portrays diverse early speculation, its influence is visible in many later variations on the themes of infernal punishment and blissful reward according to one’s deeds during life.
Rejection from the Biblical Canon
Despite being valued by some early influential Christians, the Apocalypse of Peter faced doubts and was ultimately excluded from scripture on several grounds:
– Overtly sensational nature of its symbolic visions of the afterlife raised suspicion.
– Considered derivative; some saw it as exaggerating and embellishing stories from the canonical gospels.
– Deemed inauthentic, since likely not penned by Peter himself.
– Contradicted emerging orthodoxy about the delayed general resurrection and judgment.
– Overemphasis on hellish torments and problematic ethical implications of portrayal of God.
– Lacked Old Testament grounding and support that biblical apocalypses like Daniel or Revelation contained.
Though initially accepted by some Christians, concerns mounted that ultimately relegated it to the realms of apocryphal literature rather than scripture.
Enduring Impact on Christian Culture
Though excluded from the Bible, the Apocalypse of Peter left a lasting impact on Christian culture over the centuries:
– Inspired iconography, church art, and passion plays dramatizing the torments of the damned.
– Shaped stories and literary motifs about journeys to the underworld that proliferated in medieval legends.
– Influenced writers and poets like Dante, Chaucer, and Milton in vividly portraying hell.
– Provided source material for sermons and exhortations stressing repentance to avoid damnation.
– Propagated notions of hell adopted by later theologians and preachers.
– Contributed symbolism and concepts that frequently appeared in folklore and popular piety.
– Reinforced the cultural ubiquity of concepts like Satan ruling hell and corresponding punishments.
Though not canonical, the Apocalypse of Peter’s visions permeated the religious imagination and exerted artistic and theological influence long after its composition.
Modern Scholarly Perspectives
Modern scholars have shed light on the Apocalypse of Peter from various angles:
Form criticism has illuminated:
– Its roots as an example of Early Jewish-Christian apocalyptic writing
– Its compositional ties to the genre of afterlife tours and infernal visions
Redaction criticism has examined:
– How it creatively incorporated sources from Jewish and Christian traditions
– Development of the text and additions over time
Source criticism weighs:
– Possible literary dependence on the canonical Book of Revelation
– Influence from depictions of the underworld and afterlife in Greek myths
Literary analysis notes:
– Vivid and often gruesome symbolic imagination in portraying the torments of hell
– Creative pedagogical and rhetorical aims underlying the graphic accounts
With contemporary scholarly tools, the Apocalypse of Peter has yielded many insights into the diversity of early Christianity and evolution of views on the afterlife.
Conclusion
The early Christian Apocalypse of Peter provides a fascinating window into beliefs about heaven, hell, and the afterlife during Christianity’s formative centuries. Drawing from Jewish apocalyptic traditions while elaborating imaginative symbolic punishments, the text exercised noteworthy influence over theological, artistic, and literary depictions of the beyond in Christian culture. Though excluded from scripture, the Apocalypse of Peter captures the creative ferment and diversity of doctrines about the fate of the soul in early Christianity. Vivid tours of the infernal realm aimed to evoke repentance and righteous living remain its enduring legacy.