The Apocalypse of Peter
The earliest Christian apocalypse outside the New Testament
Overview
The Apocalypse of Peter is the earliest known Christian apocalypse outside the New Testament, likely composed in the first half of the 2nd century AD. It was widely read and nearly included in the New Testament canon — the Muratorian Canon (c. AD 170) lists it as accepted by some, and Clement of Alexandria quoted it as Scripture. The text presents a vision given to Peter by Jesus on the Mount of Olives, directly following the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24). Jesus shows Peter both the glories of heaven (a paradise of light and fragrance) and the torments of hell (a vivid, detailed description of punishments matching specific sins). The text is remarkable for its explicit identification of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 as Enoch and Elijah, and for its detailed description of the Second Coming and final judgment. The Ethiopic version (discovered 1910) is generally considered more complete and may preserve earlier traditions than the Greek Akhmim fragment. The two versions differ significantly in some details, suggesting a complex textual history.
Date & Discovery
Greek fragment found at Akhmim, Egypt (1887); complete Ethiopic version discovered in 1910
Canon Status
Key Eschatological Themes
Prophetic Connections
This is the most explicit ancient identification of the Two Witnesses. Both Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven without dying, making them uniquely qualified to return, prophesy for 1,260 days, be killed, and then resurrect. The early church widely held this view before Moses-and-Elijah became dominant.
The cosmic fire judgment in the Apocalypse of Peter closely parallels 2 Peter 3:10-12, suggesting either common source material or that 2 Peter drew on this tradition. The "elements melting with fervent heat" is nearly verbatim in both texts.
The paradise described in the Apocalypse of Peter — unfading flowers, fragrant trees, blessed inhabitants clothed in light — is a precursor to Revelation 21's New Jerusalem. The tradition of a transformed paradise as the final state of the righteous is consistent across both texts.
Historical Fulfillments
| Prophecy | Fulfillment | Date | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| The text predicts widespread apostasy and false prophets before the end | The rise of Gnosticism and various heretical movements in the 2nd-3rd centuries was seen by early Christians as partial fulfillment | AD 100-300 | debated |