The Apocalypse of Paul

1THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL (V,2) Introduced and translated by G eorge W. MacRae and W illiam R. M urdock Edited by D ouglas M. P arrott The first of the four apocalypses in Codex V is a highly syncretistic, gnostic version of the ascension of Paul through the heavens. It bears no literary rela­ tionship to the Greek work of the same name, though the latter also deals with Paul’s vision of judgment in the heavens. Whether it had affinities with the now lost “ Ascension of Paul” used by the “ Gnostics” according to Epiphanius, it is impossible to tell, but it should be noted that in Epiphanius’ account the “ Ascen­ sion” refers only to three heavens, whereas it is the uniqueness of the present work that it describes Paul’s experience of the fourth to the tenth heavens; the third is mentioned only as a starting point. Apoc. Paul begins with a narrative of Paul’s encounter with a small child on the “ mountain of Jericho” en route to Jerusalem. The child, who is Paul’s guid­ ing spirit or interpreting angel, sometimes called the Holy spirit in the text, takes him to the heavens to meet his fellow apostles, who accompany him during his further ascent. In the fourth heaven Paul witnesses the judgment of souls; in the fifth, angels driving souls to judgment. The sixth heaven is illuminated by a light from above, and in the seventh Paul meets an old man on a shining throne who threatens to block his further ascent. He continues, however, into the Ogdoad and the ninth and tenth heavens, and when he reaches the last he has been trans­ formed so that he greets, no longer his fellow-apostles, but his fellow-spirits. The language of the narrative fluctuates from third person to first at 19,8, back to third person at 19,18, and finally to first person again from 20,5 on. The incon­ sistency may perhaps be attributed to literary carelessness rather than to multiple sources, for at these points in the narrative no clear “ seams” can be detected on other grounds. For purposes of analysis, the contents of Apoc. Paul may be divided into three distinct episodes: an epiphany scene, a scene of judgment and punishment, and a heavenly journey. In the first, the little child who meets Paul on the mountain and gives him a revelation most naturally suggests an epiphany of the risen Christ, who is sometimes described as a small child (e.g., in Ap. John (BG,2) 20,19-21,4, Act. Jn. 88). This experience, as the allusion to Gal 1:15 (Jer 1:5) in 18,15-16 suggests, functions as the calling of Paul to be an apostle and thus inter­ prets Gal 1:11-17. The heavenly visitor not only reveals to Paul but conducts him above to (the heavenly) Jerusalem, to the apostles, thus interpreting Gal 2:1-2 also. The ascent itself builds on 2 Co 12:2-4. The scene of the judgment and punishment of souls in the fourth and fifth

2THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL (V ,2 ) 2 5 7 heavens has its closest parallel in Jewish apocalyptic literature, notably in the Testament o f Abraham 10 (long recension) and even more closely in the Coptic version of the short recension, which has several details peculiar to it. The author of Apoc. Paul is indebted to other traditions, however, for his picture of the three angels who rival one another in whipping the souls forward to judgment (22,5-10). This is clearly an evocation of the Erinyes of Greek mythology. Like­ wise the toll-collector who is also judge belongs to Babylonian and Hellenistic astrology. The scene is thus the result of popular syncretism. The third main element of the work, the heavenly journey, is concentrated for the most part in the sixth and seventh heavens. The ascent theme may have been borrowed from Jewish apocalyptic tradition, but its gnostic coloring is obvious in the depiction of the “ old man” on the throne in the seventh heaven (Dan 7:13; 1 Enoch 46-47) as a hostile figure who tries to block the gnostic soul’s ascent to the Ogdoad and the higher heavens. And the interrogation of Paul also recalls similar dialogues or formulas in other gnostic works (e.g., 1 Apoc. Jas. (V,5), Gos. Mary (BG,7), Gos. Thom. (11,2, saying 50). The date and provenance of the document cannot be determined with any cer­ tainty. That it comes from gnostic circles with a typical anti-Jewish bias seems assured by the negative view of the deity in the seventh heaven. The portrayal of Paul as exalted even above the other apostles is at home in second-century Gnos­ ticism, especially Valentinianism, and, according to Irenaeus (Haer. II.30.7), there was a gnostic tradition of interpreting Paul’s experience in 2 Co 12:2-4. Nothing in Apoc. Paul demands any later date than the second century for its composition. THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL V 17, 19-24, 9 [The Apocalypse of] Paul 1 [...] 183 the road. And [he spoke to him], 1 saying, “ [By which] 5 road [shall I go] up to [Jerusalem]?” 1 The little child [replied, saying], 1 “ Say your name, so that [I may show] 1 you the road.” [The little child] 1 knew [who Paul was]. 10 He wished to make conversation with 1 him through his words [in order that] he 1 might find an excuse for speaking 1 with him. The little child spoke, 1 saying, “ I know 15 who you are, Paul. 1 You are he who was blessed from 1 his mother’s womb. For I have [come] 1 to you that you may [go up to Jerusalem] 1 to your fellow [apostles. And]20 for this reason [you were called. And] 1 I am the [Spirit who ac­ companies] 1 you. Let [your mind awaken, 1 Paul], with [...]. 19 For [... ] 1 whole which [... ] 1 among the [principalities and] these authori­

32 5 8 ties [and] 1 archangels and powers 5 and the whole race of demons, 1 [...] the one that reveals 1 bodies to a soul-seed.” 1 And after he brought that speech 1 to an end, he spoke, saying 10 to me, “ Let your mind awaken, 1 Paul, and see that this mountain 1 upon which you are standing is the mountain 1 of Jericho, so that you may know the 1 hidden things in those that are visible. 15 Now it is to the twelve apostles 1 that you shall go, 1 for they are elect spirits, and they will 1 greet you.” He raised 1 his eyes and saw them 20 greeting him. Then the 1 Holy [Spirit] who was speaking 1 with [him] caught him up 1 on high to the third 1 heaven, and he passed 25 beyond to the fourth [heaven]. 1 The [Holy] Spirit spoke to him, 1 saying, “ Look 1 and see your [likeness] 1 upon the earth.” And he [looked] 30 down and saw those [who were upon] 1 the earth. He stared [and saw] 1 those who were upon the [ . . .. Then 20 he] gazed [down and] saw 1 the [twelve] apostles 1 [at] his right [and] at his left 1 in the creation; and the Spirit was 5 go­ ing before them. But I saw 1 in the fourth heaven according to class - I 1 saw the an­ gels resembling 1 gods, the angels bringing 1 a soul out of the land of 10 the dead. They placed it at the gate 1 of the fourth heaven. And 1 the angels were whipping it. 1 The soul spoke, saying, 1 “ What sin was it that I committed 15 in the world?” 1 The toll-collector who dwells in the 1 fourth heaven replied, saying, 1 “ It was not right to commit all those lawless deeds 1 that are in the world 20 of the dead.” 1 The soul replied, saying, 1 “ Bring witnesses! Let them [show] you 1 in what body I com­ mitted lawless deeds. 1 [Do you wish] to bring a book 25 [to read from]?” And 1 the three witnesses came. 1 The first spoke, saying, 1 “ Was I [not 1 in] the body the second hour30 [...]? I rose up against you 21 un­ til [you fell] into anger [and 1 rage] and envy.” And 1 the second spoke, saying, 1 “ Was I n o t 5 in the world? And I entered at 1 the fifth hour, and I saw you 1 and desired you. And behold, 1 then, now I charge you with the 1 murders you committed.” 10 The third spoke, saying, 1 “ Did I not come to you at 1 the twelfth hour of the day when 1 the sun was about to set? I gave you darkness 1 until you should accomplish your sins.” 15 When the soul heard these things, 1 it gazed downward in 1 sor­ row. And then it gazed 1 upward. It was cast down. 1 The soul that had been cast down 20 [went] to [a] body which had been prepared 1 [for it. And] behold 1 [its] witnesses were finished. [Then I 1 gazed] upward and [saw 1 the] Spirit saying [to me], 25 “ Paul, come! [Proceed 1 toward] me!” Then as I [went], 1 the gate

4THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL ( v ,2 ) 2 5 9 opened, [and] 1 I went up to the fifth [heaven]. 1 And I saw my fellow apostles30 [going with me] 22 while the Spirit accompanied us. 1 And I saw a great angel 1 in the fifth heaven holding 1 an iron rod in his 5 hand. There were three other angels with 1 him, and I stared into 1 their faces. But they were rivalling 1 each other, with whips 1 in their hands, goading the 10 souls on to the judgment. 1 But I went with the Spirit 1 and the gate opened for me. 1 Then we went up to the sixth heaven. 1 And I saw my fellow apostles 15 going with me, and the Holy Spirit 1 was leading me before them. 1 And I gazed up on high and saw a 1 great light shining down 1 on the sixth heaven. I spoke, 20 saying to the toll-collector 1 who was in the sixth heaven, “ [Open] 1 to me and the [Holy] Spirit [who 1 is] before [me].” He opened [to me]. [Then 1 we went] up to the seventh [heaven 25 and I saw] an old man [...] 1 light [and 1 whose garment] was white. [His throne], 1 which is in the seventh heaven, 1 [was] brighter than the sun 30 by [seven] times. 23 The old man spoke, saying to [me], 1 “ Where are you going, Paul, 1 O blessed one and the one who was 1 set apart from his mother’s womb?” 5 But I looked at the Spirit, 1 and he was nodding his head, saying 1 to me, “ Speak with him!” 1 And I replied, saying 1 to the old man, “ I am going to the place 10 from which I came.” And 1 the old man responded to me, “ Where are you from?” 1 But I replied, saying, 1 “ I am going down to the world of 1 the dead in order to lead captive 15 the captivity 1 that was led captive 1 in the captivity of Babylon.” 1 The old man re­ plied to me, 1 saying, “ How will you be 20 able to get away from me? Look 1 and see the principalities and 1 authorities.” [The] 1 Spirit spoke, saying, “ Give him [the] 1 sign that you have, and [he will] 25 open for you.” And then I gave [him] 1 the sign. He turned his face 1 downwards to his creation 1 and to those who are his own authorities. 1 And then the 30 (seventh) heaven opened and we went up to [the] 24 Ogdoad. And I saw the 1 twelve apostles. They 1 greeted me, and we went 1 up to the ninth heaven. I 5 greeted all those who were in the 1 ninth heaven, and we went up 1 to the tenth heaven. And I 1 greeted my fellow spirits. 1 The Apocalypse of Paul