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Authorship, date, and setting
The Apocalypse of Paul presents the apostle's journey beyond this world by building on the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12. Attribution to Paul is literary; the author is unidentified. In his 1924 translation, M. R. James distinguishes this work from another writing attributed to the apostle and discusses its transmission in versions. The narrative belongs to later Christian apocalyptic literature, not to the New Testament Pauline letters.
Structure of the 51 chapters
The local version has 51 chapters. In 1–10 a discovery story introduces the revelation and created beings denounce human sin. Chapters 11–19 follow angels and souls after death. In 20–30 Paul sees the city and places of the righteous. Punishments and the plea for relief occupy 31–44; chapters 45–51 return to paradise and introduce biblical figures.
Themes and key passages
In 3–7, sun, moon, stars, and sea complain about human conduct: creation serves as a moral witness. Chapters 14–18 contrast the fate of righteous and sinful souls. The rivers in 22–28 arrange groups of paradise's inhabitants. In 43–44, Paul and the condemned weep, leading to a grant of rest; this is a scene in the story, not a doctrine stated in the apostle's authentic letters.
Summary by parts
1–19: The discovery of the writing leads into Paul's account. An angel explains creation's response to sin and shows souls leaving the body and being judged.
20–30: Paul enters paradise, sees rivers of milk, honey, wine, and oil, encounters groups of the righteous, and is led through the city.
31–44: The guide shows a fiery river and punishments tied to specific conduct, including abuses by religious leaders. Paul intercedes; the scene culminates in a respite from torment.
45–51: Back in paradise, Paul meets Mary, patriarchs, Moses, and prophets. The local text ends with Elijah's testimony.
Reception and transmission
James translated a textual tradition with Latin witnesses and compared Greek, Syriac, and Coptic passages; the versions are not identical. His introduction records the account's circulation and changes. The text is apocryphal: Paul's name gives narrative authority, but the detailed journey is not part of 2 Corinthians. The 51 chapters cited here follow the local edition.
Sources
- M. R. James, The Apocalypse of Paul, in The Apocryphal New Testament (1924).