What is the Apocalypse of Peter?

Answer

The Apocalypse of Peter, also known as the Revelation of Peter, is a piece of literature believed to have been written around the middle of the second century A.D. It should not be confused with the Gnostic Gospel of Peter, which is a completely different work. The Apocalypse of Peter does not exist in a complete manuscript but has been found in quotations from early church leaders and two partial fragments. The first fragment, written in Greek, was discovered in Egypt in 1886; a second, Ethiopian fragment was found in 1910. The text is concise, consisting of no more than a few dozen verses, and the authorship is unknown.

The two fragments found represent distinct versions of the Apocalypse of Peter. The Greek and Ethiopian versions differ significantly, although they cover much of the same subject matter. In the Greek version, the disciples ask Jesus to show them believers who have transitioned from this world to righteousness. Christ presents them with a marvelous vision of the redeemed, but He also reveals a dreadful and terrifying image of the condemned. This scene bears many similarities to the Greek myths of the underworld. Readers of Dante’s Inferno would find the descriptions in the Greek fragment somewhat familiar.

In the Ethiopian version, the disciples inquire of Christ about the signs of the end times and seek further explanation regarding the incident with the fig tree (Mark 11). Christ reveals a vision of the future that includes catastrophic levels of destruction and chaos. This version also discusses the glorious state of the righteous and the agonizing torment of the unrighteous.

The Apocalypse of Peter was not included by early Christians in the collection of scriptures that formed the Bible. While some early Christian writers viewed it as inspired, the general consensus excluded it from the final canon of Scripture. Not only do both versions of the text contain imagery that clearly draws parallels to other religious texts, but they also offer unique perspectives on eschatological themes.

Not only does the Apocalypse of Peter differ from well-known Biblical principles, but it also deviates from Greek mythology. Consequently, it was excluded from the canon of the Bible.

At some stage, the Apocalypse of Peter may have been widely circulated, considering the numerous citations found in other texts. As a historical record, it offers intriguing insights into the beliefs and viewpoints of certain early Christians. Nevertheless, being a non-canonical text, its value lies primarily in its use as a point of reference. Similar to numerous other ancient writings that were categorized as part of the Old and New Testament Apocrypha, the Apocalypse of Peter should not be relied upon as a source of doctrine.