Read Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament Online
Authors: [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman
Tags: #Biblical Reference, #Bible Study Guides, #Bibles, #Other Translations, #Apocryphal books (New Testament), #New Testament, #Christianity, #Religion, #Biblical Commentary, #Biblical Studies, #General, #History
In its present form, the Apocalypse of Paul dates from the end of the fourth century, but it contains materials that were composed earlier, as they are alluded to by the proto-orthodox church father Origen in the early third century. The book became quite popular in Western Christianity, and was responsible for propagating many of the wide-spread notions of heaven and hell that have come down even till today.
The excerpts here are often thought to be among the older portions of the book.
In the consulship of Theodosius Augus-
should publish what he found, but he
tus the Younger and Cynegius, a certain
thought that these things were dreams.
nobleman was then living in Tarsus, in
the house which was that of Saint Paul;
But the angel coming for the third
2
an angel appeared in the night and re-
time beat him and forced him to
vealed it to him, saying that he should
open the foundation. And digging he
open the foundations of the house and
found a marble box, inscribed on the
Translation by J. K. Elliott,
Apocryphal
New
Testament
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993) 620; 624–27; 629; 631; 633–35; used with permission.
288
THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL
289
sides; there was the revelation of Saint
the body, they immediately kissed as if it
Paul, and his shoes in which he walked
were familiar to them, saying to it, “Be
teaching the word of God. But he feared
of good courage, for you have done the
to open that box and brought it to the
will of God while placed on earth.” And
judge; when he had received it, the judge,
there came to meet it the angel who
because it was sealed with lead, sent it to
watched it every day, and said to it, “Be
the emperor Theodosius, fearing lest it
of good courage, soul; I rejoice in you,
might be something else; when the embecause you have done the will of God peror had received it he opened it, and
on earth; for I related to God all your
found the revelation of Saint Paul, a copy
works just as they were.” Similarly also
of which he sent to Jerusalem, and rethe spirit proceeded to meet it and said, tained the original himself.
“Soul, fear not, nor be disturbed, until
you come to a place which you have
3 While I was in the body in which never known, but I will be a helper to I was snatched up to the third
you: for I found in you a place of refreshheaven, . . .
ment in the time when I dwelt in you,
while I was on earth.” And his spirit
And I said to the angel, “I wish
14
strengthened it, and his angel received it,
to see the souls of the just and
and led it into heaven; and an angel said,
of sinners, and to see in what manner
“Where are you running to, O soul, and
they go out of the body.” And the angel
do you dare to enter heaven? Wait and
answered and said to me, “Look again
let us see if there is anything of ours in
upon the earth.” And I looked and saw
you; and behold we find nothing in you.
all the world, and people were as naught
I see also your divine helper and angel,
and growing weak; and I looked carefully
and the spirit is rejoicing along with you,
and saw a certain man about to die, and
because you have done the will of God
the angel said to me, “This one whom
on earth.” And they led it along till it
you see is a just man.” And I looked again
should worship in the sight of God. And
and saw all his works, whatever he had
when it had ceased, immediately Michael
done for the sake of God’s name, and all
and all the army of angels, with one
his desires, both what he remembered,
voice, adored the footstool of his feet and
and what he did not remember; they all
his doors, saying at the same time to the
stood in his sight in the hour of need; and
soul, “This is your God of all things, who
I saw the just man advance and find remade you in his own image and likeness.”
freshment and confidence, and before he
Moreover, the angel ran on ahead and
went out of the world the holy and the
pointed him out, saying, “God, remember
impious angels both attended; and I saw
his labors; for this is the soul, whose
them all, but the impious found no place
works I related to you, acting according
of habitation in him, but the holy angels
to your judgment.” And the spirit said
took possession of his soul, guiding it till
likewise, “I am the spirit of vivification
it went out of the body; and they roused
inspiring it; for I had refreshment in it,
the soul saying, “Soul, know the body
in the time when I dwelt in it, acting
you leave, for it is necessary that you
according to your judgment.” And there
should return to the same body on the
came the voice of God and said, “In as
day of the resurrection, that you may
much as this man did not grieve me,
receive the things promised to all the
neither will I grieve him; as he had pity,
just.” Receiving therefore the soul from
I also will have pity. Let it therefore be
290
NON-CANONICAL APOCALYPSES AND REVELATORY TREATISES
handed over to Michael, the angel of the
And when they had led it forth
16
Covenant, and let him lead it into the
the guardian angel preceded it,
Paradise of joy, that it may become coheir
and said to it, “O wretched soul, I am the
with all the saints.” And after these things
angel belonging to you, relating daily to
I heard the voices of a thousand thousand
the Lord your evil works, whatever you
angels and archangels and cherubim and
did by night or day; and if it were in my
twenty-four elders, saying hymns and
power, not for one day would I minister
glorifying the Lord and crying, “You are
to you, but none of these things was I
just, O Lord, and just are your judgments,
able to do: the judge is full of pity and
and there is no respect of persons with
just, and he himself commanded us that
you, but you reward every one according
we should not cease to minister to the
to your judgment.” And the angel ansoul till you should repent, but you have swered and said to me, “Have you belost the time of repentance. I have believed and known that whatever each one come a stranger to you and you to me.
of you has done he sees in the hour of
Let us go on then to the just judge; I will
need?” And I said, “Yes, sir.”
not dismiss you before I know from today
I am to be a stranger to you.” And the
And he said to me, “Look again
15
spirit afflicted it, and the angel troubled
down on the earth, and watch
it. When they had arrived at the powers,
the soul of an impious man going out of
when it started to enter heaven, a burden
the body, which grieved the Lord day and
was imposed upon it, above all other burnight, saying, “I know nothing else in den: error and oblivion and murmuring
this world, I eat and drink, and enjoy
met it, and the spirit of fornication, and
what is in the world; for who is there
the rest of the powers, and said to it,
who has descended into hell and, ascend
“Where are you going, wretched soul,
ing, has declared to us that there is judgand do you dare to rush into heaven?
ment there!’ ” And again I looked care
Hold, that we may see if we have our
fully, and saw all the scorn of the sinner,
qualities in you, since we do not see that
and all that he did, and they stood toyou have a holy helper.” And after that I gether before him in the hour of need;
heard voices in the height of heaven sayand it was done to him in that hour, when ing, “Present that wretched soul to God,
he was led out of his body at the judgso it may know that it is God whom it ment, and he said, “It were better for me
despised.” When, therefore, it had entered
if I had not been born.” And after these
heaven all the angels saw it; a thousand
things, there came at the same time the
thousand exclaimed with one voice, all
holy angels and the evil angels, and the
saying, “Woe to you, wretched soul, for
soul of the sinner saw both and the holy
the sake of your works which you did on
angels did not find a place in it. Moreover
earth; what answer are you about to give
the evil angels cursed it; and when they
to God when you have approached to
had drawn it out of the body the angels
adore him?” The angel who was with it
admonished it a third time, saying, “O
answered and said, “Weep with me, my
wretched soul, look upon your flesh from
beloved, for I have not found rest in this
which you have come out; for it is necsoul.” And the angels answered him and essary that you should return to your
said, “Let such a soul be taken away from
flesh in the day of resurrection, that you
our midst, for from the time it entered
may receive what is the due for your sins
the stink of it crosses to us angels.” And
and your impieties.”
after these things it was presented, that it
THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL
291
might worship in the sight of God, and
angels as have no mercy, and because you
an angel of God showed it God who
did no right, so neither did they act commade it after his own image and likeness.
passionately with you in your hour of
Moreover its angel ran before it saying,
need. Confess your sins which you com
“Lord God Almighty, I am the angel of
mitted when placed in the world.” And it
this soul, whose works I presented to you
answered and said, “Lord, I did not sin.”
day and night, not acting in accordance
And the Lord, the just Lord, was angered
with your judgment. And the spirit likein fury when it said, “I did not sin,” bewise said, “I am the spirit who dwelt in cause it lied; and God said, “Do you think
it from the time it was made; in itself I
you are still in the world where any one
know it, and it has not followed my will;
of you, sinning, may conceal and hide his
judge it, Lord, according to your judgsin from his neighbor? Here nothing ment.” And there came the voice of God
whatever shall be hidden, for when the
to it and said, “Where is your fruit which
souls come to worship in sight of the
you have made worthy of the goods
throne both the good works and the sins
which you have received? Have I put a
of each one are made manifest.” And
distance of one day between you and the
hearing these things the soul was silent,
just person? Did I not make the sun to
having no answer. And I heard the Lord
arise upon you as upon the just?” But the
God, the just judge, again saying, “Come,
soul was silent, having nothing to answer,
angel of this soul, and stand in the midst.”
and again there came a voice saying,
And the angel of the sinful soul came,
“Just is the judgment of God, and there
having in his hands a document, and said,
is no respect of persons with God, for
“These, Lord, in my hands, are all the
whoever shall have done mercy, on him
sins of this soul from its youth till today,
shall have mercy, and whoever shall not
from the tenth year of its birth; and if you
have been merciful, neither shall God
command, Lord, I will also relate its acts
pity him. Let it therefore be handed over
from the beginning of its fifteenth year.”
to the angel Tartaruchus, who is set over
And the Lord God, the just judge, said, “I
the punishments, and let him cast it into
say to you, angel, I do not expect of you
outer darkness, where there is weeping
an account of it since it began to be fifand gnashing of teeth, and let it be there teen years old, but state its sins for five
till the great day of judgment.” And after
years before it died and before it came
these things I heard the voice of angels
hither.” And again God, the just judge,
and archangels saying, “You are just,
said, “For by myself I swear, and by my