Apocalypse of Paul

Greek versions of the apocrypha text are very rare, and those that exist contain many errors and omissions.

Of the other existing (Syrian, Coptic and Ethiopian) Syrian are considered the most reliable.

There are also several abridged copies in Latin , from which translations were made mainly into most European languages.

In addition, there is an Ethiopian version of the “Apocalypse of Paul,” in which the Apostle is replaced by the Virgin Mary .

The text is a more lengthy version or arrangement of the “ Apocalypse of Peter ” and, for the most part, is devoted to visions of heaven and then hell . The text of the text also includes a rather lengthy prologue that tells about the history of creation, the fall, etc. This part is already missing in the “Apocalypse of Peter”. At the end of the text, the Apostle Paul convinces God not to subject sinners to hell once a week on Sunday.

The narrative of the apocalypse is extremely moralistic and adds the following descriptions and remarks to the Peter Apocalypse:

• Pride is the root of all evil.
• Paradise is the land of honey and milk.
• In hell, rivers of fire and ice flow.
• Some angels carry evil ( Fallen Angels ).

• 1, 2. Revelation .
• 3-6. The appeal of all creation to God against man.
• 7-10. Angels "report" to God about human life.
• 11-18. Death and the Last Judgment .
• 19-30. The first vision of Paradise .
• 31-44. Hell . Paul frees sinners from torment on Sunday.
• 45-51. Second Vision of Paradise.

• Jan N. Bremmer and Istvan Czachesz (edd). The Visio Pauli and the Gnostic Apocalypse of Paul (Leuven, Peeters, 2007) (Studies on Early Christian Apocrypha, 9).
• MR James' translation and commentary. Oxford: Clarendon Press , 1924.
• Theodore Silverstein and Anthony Hilhorst (ed.), Apocalypse of Paul (Geneva, P. Cramer, 1997).
• Nikolaos H. Trunte. Reiseführer durch das Jenseits: die Apokalypse des Paulus in der Slavia Orthodoxa (Slavistische Beiträge 490). München - Berlin - Washington, DC (Verlag Otto Sagner). 2013.

• translation of Maria and Vadim Vitkovsky, 2001, in: Apocryphal apocalypse. Ed. Vitkovskaya, M. G., Vitkovsky, V. E. Series: Antique Christianity. - Publisher: SPb .: Aleteyya, 279 pages, 2001. ISBN: 5-89329-223-5, p.216-237 ^[1]

• “Apocalypse of Paul” in the Humer library (incomplete Russian version) , year of translation not specified, translator not specified, publication not specified
• The Apocalypse of Paul at the Wesley Center Online