APOCALYPSE OF PAUL
From "The Apocryphal New Testament"
M.R. James-Translation and Notes
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1924
The Noncanonical
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Introduction
Epiphanius tells us that the Caianites or Cainites had forged
a book full of unspeakable matter in the name of Paul, which
was also used by those who are called Gnostics, which they call
the Anabaticon of Paul, Basing it on the words of the apostle
-that he was taken up into the third heaven. This has left no
trace (Heresy, 38. 2).
St. Augustine laughs at the folly of some who had forged an
Apocalypse of Paul, full of fables, and pretending to contain
the unutterable things which the apostle had heard. This is,
I doubt not, our book. (Aug. on John, Tract 98.) Sozomen, in
his Ecclesiastical History (vii. 19), says: The book now circulated
as the Apocalypse of Paul the apostle, which none of the ancients
ever saw, is commended by most monks; but some contend that this
book was found in the reign we write of (of Theodosius). For
they say that by a Divine manifestation there was found underground
at Tarsus of Cilicia, in Paul's house a marble chest, and that
in it was this book. However, when I inquired about this, a Cilician,
a priest of the church of Tarsus, told me it was a lie. He was
a man whose grey hairs showed him to be of considerable age and
he said that no such thing had happened in their city, and that
he wondered whether the tale (or, the book) had not been made
up by heretics.
Sozomen's story is that which appears in our book; and we
need not doubt that this Apocalypse made its appearance in the
last years of the fourth century.
It is condemned in the Gelasian Decree, and is mentioned with
disapproval by various late church writers.
Though not an early book, it is made up very largely of early
matter; and it had an immense vogue, especially in the West.
Greek copies of it are rare, and the texts they contain are disfigured
by many omissions. Of the Eastern versions -Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic-
the Syriac is the best. But possibly the full Latin version is
superior to all other authorities. There are several abridged
Latin texts, and from these were made the many versions which
were current in almost every European language.
In an early canto of the Inferno (ii. 28) Dante mentions the
visit of the 'Chosen Vessel' to Hell -an undoubted allusion to
the Apocalypse. And both in the Divine Comedy and in the hundreds
of earlier medieval visions of the next world the influence of
this book is perceptible, sometimes faintly, often very plainly
indeed.
The reader will soon see for himself that Paul is a direct
descendant of Peter, especially in his description of Hell-torments.
He will also see that the book is very badly put together; and
that whole episodes, e.g. visit to Paradise, are repeated. This
means that the author is combining different sources in a very
unintelligent way.
In the Greek, Latin, and Syriac the book is incomplete: it
ends abruptly in a speech of Elijah. The Coptic version -only
recently published- has a long continuation; part of this is,
I think, original but it tails off into matter which cannot be.
This conclusion has even a third visit to Paradise! I give some
particulars of it later.
The plan of the book is briefly this:
1, 2. Discovery of the revelation.
3-6. Appeal of creation to God against man
7-10. The report of the angels to God about men.
11-18. Deaths and judgements of the righteous and the wicked.
19-30. First vision of Paradise.
31-44. Hell. Paul obtains rest on Sunday for the lost.
45-51. Second vision of Paradise.
The full Latin version is the basis of my translation: the
Greek, Syriac, and Coptic are used where the Latin is corrupt.
Here beginneth the Vision of Saint Paul the Apostle.
But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I
knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, whether in the body
I know not or whether out of the body I know not -God knoweth-
that such an one was caught up unto the third heaven: and I knew
such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I know not
-God knoweth- that he was caught up into paradise and heard secret
words which it is not lawful for men to utter. For such an one
will I boast, but for myself I will boast nothing, save of mine
infirmities.
1 At what time was it made manifest? In the consulate of Theodosius
Augustus the younger and Cynegius, a certain honourable man then
dwelling at Tarsus, in the house which had been the house of
Saint Paul, an angel appeared unto him by night and gave him
a revelation, saying that he should break up the foundation of
the house and publish that which he found; but he thought this
to be a lying vision. 2 But a third time the angel came, and
scourged him and compelled him to break up the foundation. And
he dug, and found a box of marble inscribed upon the sides: therein
was the revelation of Saint Paul, and his shoes wherein he walked
when he taught the word of God. But he feared to open that box,
and brought it to the judge; and the judge took it, sealed as
it was with lead, and sent it to the emperor Theodosius fearing
that it might be somewhat strange; and the emperor when he received
it, opened it and found the revelation of Saint Paul. A copy
thereof he sent to Jerusalem and the original he kept with him.
(Gr. reverses this: he kept the copy and sent away the original.
It adds: And there was written therein as followeth.)
3 Now while I was in the body, wherein I was caught up unto
the third heaven, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:
Speak unto this people: How long will ye transgress, and add
sin upon sin, and tempt the Lord that made you? Saying that ye
are Abraham's children but doing the works of Satan (so Gr.;
Lat. Ye are the sons of God, doing the work of the devil), walking
in the confidence of God, boasting in your name only, but being
poor because of the matter of sin. Remember therefore and know
that the whole creation is subject unto God, but mankind only
sinneth. It hath dominion over the whole creation, and sinneth
more than the whole of nature. 4 For oftentimes hath the sun,
the great light, appealed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord God Almighty,
I look forth upon the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
Suffer me, and I will do unto them according to my power, that
they may know that thou art God alone. And there came a voice
unto it, saying: All these things do I know, for mine eye seeth
and mine ear heareth, but my long-suffering beareth with them
until they turn and repent. But if they return not unto me, I
will judge them all. 5 And sometimes the moon and the stars have
appealed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord God Almighty, unto us
hast thou given rule over the night; how long shall we look upon
the ungodliness and fornications and murders which the children
of men commit? suffer us to do unto them according unto our powers,
that they may know that thou art God alone. And there came a
voice unto them, saying: I know all these things, and mine eye
looketh upon them and mine ear heareth, but my long-suffering
beareth with them until they turn and repent. But if they return
not unto me, I will judge them. 6 Oftentimes also the sea hath
cried out, saying: O Lord God Almighty, men have polluted thine
holy name in me: suffer me and I will arise and cover every wood
and tree and all the world, till I blot out all the children
of men from before thy face, that they may know that thou art
God alone. And again a voice came, saying: I know all, for mine
eye seeth all things, and mine ear heareth, but my long-suffering
beareth with them until they turn and repent. But if they return
not I will judge them.
Sometimes also the waters have appealed against the children
of men, saying: O Lord God Almighty, the children of men have
all defiled thine holy name. And there came a voice, saying:
I know all things before they come to pass, for mine eye seeth
and mine ear heareth all things: but my long-suffering beareth
with them until they turn. And if not, I will judge. Often also
hath the earth cried out unto the Lord against the children of
men, saying: O Lord God Almighty, I suffer hurt more than all
thy creation, bearing the fornications, adulteries, murders,
thefts forswearings, sorceries, and witchcrafts of men, and all
the evils that they do, so that the father riseth up against
the son, and the son against the father, the stranger against
the stranger, every one to defile his neighbour's wife. The father
goeth up upon his son's bed, and the son likewise goeth up upon
the couch of his father; and with all these evils have they that
offer a sacrifice unto thy name polluted thine holy place. Therefore
do I suffer hurt more than the whole creation, and I would not
yield mine excellence and my fruits unto the children of men.
Suffer me and I will destroy the excellence of my fruits. And
there came a voice and said: I know all things, and there is
none that can hide himself from his sin. And their ungodliness
do I know, but my holiness suffereth them until they turn and
repent. But if they return not unto me, I will judge them. 7
Behold then ye children of men. The creature is subject unto
God, but mankind alone sinneth.
Therefore, ye children of men, bless ye the Lord God without
ceasing at all hours and on all days; but especially when the
sun setteth. For in that hour do all the angels go unto the Lord
to worship him and to present the deeds of men which every man
doeth from morning until evening, whether they be good or evil.
And there is an angel that goeth forth rejoicing from the man
in whom he dwelleth .
When therefore the sun is set, at the first hour of the night,
in the same hour goeth the angel of every people and of every
man and woman, which protect and keep them, because man is the
image of God: and likewise at the hour of morning, which is the
twelfth hour of the night, do all the angels of men and women
go to meet God and present all the work which every man hath
wrought, whether good or evil. And every day and night do the
angels present unto God the account of all the deeds of mankind.
Unto you, therefore, I say, O children of men, bless ye the Lord
God without ceasing all the days of your life.
8 At the hour appointed, therefore, all the angels, every
one rejoicing, come forth before God together to meet him and
worship him at the hour that is set; and lo, suddenly at the
set time there was a meeting, and the angels came to worship
in the presence of God, and the spirit came forth to meet them,
and there was a voice, saying: Thence could ye, our angels, bringing
burdens of news? 9 They answered and said: We are come from them
that have renounced the world for thy holy name's sake, wandering
as strangers and in the caves of the rocks, and weeping every
hour that they dwell on the earth and hungering and thirsting
for thy name's sake; with their loins girt, holding in their
hands the incense of their heart, and praying and blessing at
every hour, suffering anguish and subduing themselves, weeping
and lamenting more than all that dwell on the earth. And we that
are their angels do mourn with them, whither therefore it pleaseth
thee, command us to go and minister lest they do otherwise, but
the poor more than all that dwell on the earth. (The sense required
as shown by Gr. is that the angels ask that these good men may
continue in goodness.) And the voice of God came unto them, saying:
Know ye that from henceforth my grace shall be established with
you, and mine help which is my dear]y beloved Son, shall be with
them, ruling them at all times; and he shall minister unto them
and never forsake them, for their place is his habitation. 10
When, then, these angels departed, lo, there came other angels
to worship in the presence of the majesty, to meet therewith,
and they were weeping. And the spirit of God went forth to meet
them, and the voice of God came, saying: Whence are ye come,
our angels bearing burdens, ministers of the news of the world?
They answered and said in the presence of God: We are come from
them which have called upon thy name, and the snares of the world
have made them wretched, devising many excuses at all times,
and not making so much as one pure prayer out of their whole
heart all the time of their life. Wherefore then must we be with
men that are sinners? And the voice of God came unto them: Ye
must minister unto them until they turn and repent; but if they
return not unto me, I will judge them.
Know therefore, O children of men, that whatsoever is wrought
by you, the angels tell it unto God, whether it be good or evil.
11 [Syr. Again, after these things, I saw one of the spiritual
ones coming unto me, and he caught me up in the spirit, and carried
me to the third heaven.]
And the angel answered and said unto me: Follow me, and I
will show thee the place of the righteous where they are taken
when they are dead. And there after will I take thee to the bottomless
pit and show thee the souls of the sinners, into what manner
of place they are taken when they are dead.
And I went after the angel, and he took me into heaven, and
I looked upon the firmament, and saw there the powers; and there
was forgetfulness which deceiveth and draweth unto itself the
hearts of men, and the spirit of slander and the spirit of fornication
and the spirit of wrath and the spirit of insolence and there
were the princes of wickedness. These things saw I beneath the
firmament of the heaven.
And again I looked and saw angels without mercy, having no
pity, whose countenances were full of fury, and their teeth sticking
forth out of their mouth: their eyes shone like the morning star
of the cast, and out of the hairs of their head and out of their
mouth went forth sparks of fire. And I asked the angel,saying:
Who are these, Lord? And the angel answered and said unto me:
These are they which are appointed unto the souls of sinners
in the hour of necessity, even of them that have not believed
that they had the Lord for their helper and have not trusted
in him.
[Apocalypse of Zephaniah (Steindorff's 'anonymous Apocalypse;):
I went with the angel of the Lord and looked before me and saw
a place through which passed thousand thousands and myriads of
myriads of angels, whose faces were as of panthers, and their
teeth stuck forth out of their mouth, and their eyes were bloodshot,
and their hair loose like woman's hair, and burning scourges
were in their hands. (I feared and asked: Who are these? The
angel answered:) These are the ministers of the whole creation,
which come unto the souls of the ungodly and take them and lay
them down here: they fly three days with them in the air before
they take them and cast them into their everlasting torment.]
12 And I looked into the height and beheld other angels whose
faces shone like the sun, and their loins were girt with golden
girdles, holding palms in their hands, and the sign of God, clad
in raiment whereon was written the name of the Son of God, full
of all gentleness and mercy. And I asked the angel and said:
Who are these, Lord, that are of so great beauty and compassion?
And the angel answered and said unto me: These are the angels
of righteousness that are sent to bring the souls of the righteous
in the hour of necessity, even them that have believed that they
had the Lord for their helper. And I said unto him: Do the righteous
and the sinners of necessity meet [witnesses] when they are dead?
And the angel answered and said unto me: The way whereby all
pass unto God is one: but the righteous having an holy helper
with them are not troubled when they go to appear in the presence
of God.
13 And I said unto the angel: I would see the souls of the
righteous and of the sinners as they depart out of the world.
And the angel answered and said unto me: Look down upon the earth.
And I looked down from heaven upon the earth and beheld the whole
world, and it was as nothing in my sight; and I saw the children
of men as though they were nought, and failing utterly; and I
marvelled, and said unto the angel: Is this the greatness of
men? And the angel answered and said unto me: This it is, and
these are they that do hurt from morning until evening. And I
looked, and saw a great cloud of fire spread over the whole world,
and said unto the angel: What is this, Lord? And he said to me:
This is the unrighteousness that is mingled by the princes of
sinners (Gr. mingled with the destruction of sinners; Syr. mingled
with the prayers of the sons of men).
14 And I when I heard that sighed and wept, and said unto
the angel: I would wait for the souls of the righteous and of
the sinners, and see in what fashion they depart out of the body.
And the angel answered and said unto me: Look again upon the
earth. And I looked and saw the whole world: and men were as
nought, and failing utterly; and I looked and saw a certain man
about to die; and the angel said to me: He whom thou seest is
righteous. And again I looked and saw all his works that he had
done for the name of God, and all his desires which he remembered
and which he remembered not, all of them stood before his face
in the hour of necessity. And I saw that the righteous man had
grown in righteousness, and found rest and confidence: and before
he departed out of the world there stood by him holy angels,
and also evil ones: and I saw them all; but the evil ones found
no abode in him, but the holy ones had power over his soul and
ruled it until it went out of the body. And they stirred up the
soul, saying: O soul, take knowledge of thy body whence thou
art come out; for thou must needs return into the same body at
the day of resurrection, to receive that which is promised unto
all the righteous. They received therefore the soul out of the
body, and straightway kissed it as one daily known of them, saying
unto it: Be of good courage, for thou hast done the will of God
while thou abodest on the earth. And there came to meet it the
angel that watched it day by day, and he said unto it: Be of
good courage, O soul: for I rejoice in thee because thou bast
done the will of God on the earth; for I told unto God all thy
works, how they stood. Likewise also the spirit came forth to
meet it and said: O soul, fear not, neither be troubled, until
thou come unto a place which thou never knewest; but I will be
thine helper, for I have found in thee a place of refreshment
in the time when I dwelt in thee, when I was (thou wast ?) on
the earth. And the spirit [thereof] strengthened it, and the
angel thereof took it up and carried it into the heaven. And
the angel said (Syr. And there went out to meet it wicked powers,
those that are under heaven. And there reached it the spirit
of error, and said): Whither runnest thou, O soul, and presumest
to enter heaven? stay and let us see if there be aught of ours
in thee. And lo! we have found nothing in thee. I behold also
the help of God, and thine angel; and the spirit rejoiceth with
thee because thou didst the will of God upon earth. (Syr. has
more here. There is a conflict between the good and evil angels.
The spirit of error first laments. Then the spirit of the tempter
and of fornication meet it and it escapes, and they lament. All
the principalities and evil spirits come to meet it and find
nothing, and gnash their teeth. The guardian angel bids them
go back, 'Ye tempted this soul and it would not listen to you.'
And the voice of many angels is heard rejoicing over the soul.
Probably this is original matter.) And they brought it until
it did worship in the presence of God. And when they (it?) had
ceased, forthwith Michael and all the host of the angels fell
and worshipped the footstool of his feet and his gates, and said
together unto the soul: This is the God of all, which made thee
in his image and likeness. And the angel returned and declared,
saying: Lord, remember his works; for this is the soul whereof
I did report the works unto thee, Lord, doing according to thy
judgement. And likewise the spirit said: I am the spirit of quickening
that breathed upon it; for I had refreshment in it in the time
when I dwelt therein, doing according to thy judgement. And the
voice of God came, saying: Like as this soul hath not grieved
me neither will I grieve it, for like as it hath had mercy, I
also will have mercy. Let it be delivered therefore unto Michael
the angel of the covenant, and let him lead it into the paradise
of rejoicing that it become fellow-heir with all the saints.
And thereafter I heard the voices of thousands of thousands of
angels and archangels and the cherubim and the four-and-twenty
elders uttering hymns and glorifying the Lord and crying: Righteous
art thou, O Lord, and just are thy judgements, and there is no
respect of persons with thee, but thou rewardest every man according
to thy judgement. And the angel answered and said unto me: Hast
thou believed and known that whatsoever every one of you hath
done, he beholdeth it at the hour of his necessity? And I said:
Yea, Lord.
15 And he said unto me: Look down again upon the earth and
wait for the soul of a wicked man going forth of the body, one
that hath provoked the Lord day and night, saying: I know nought
else in this world, I will eat and drink and enjoy the things
that are in the world. For who is he that hath gone down into
hell and come up and told us that there is a judgement there?
And again I looked and saw all the despising of the sinner, and
all that he did, and they stood together before him in the hour
of necessity: and it came to pass in that hour when he was led
out of his body to the judgement, that he (MS. I) said: It were
better for me (MS. him) that I (he) had not been born. And after
that the holy angels and the evil and the soul of the sinner
came together, and the holy angels found no place in it. But
the evil angels threatened (had power over) it, and when they
brought it forth out of the body, the angels admonished it thrice,
saying: O wretched sou], look upon thy flesh whence thou art
come out; for thou must needs return into thy flesh at the day
of resurrection to receive the due reward for thy sins and for
thy wickedness; 16 And when they had brought it forth, the accustomed
(i.e. guardian) angel went before it and said unto it: O miserable
soul, I am the angel that clave unto thee and day by day reported
unto the Lord thine evil deeds, whatsoever thou wroughtest by
night or day; and if it had been in my power I would not have
ministered unto thee even one day; but of this I could do nothing,
for God is merciful and a just judge, and he commanded us not
to cease ministering unto your soul till ye should repent: but
thou hast lost the time of repentance. I indeed am become a stranger
unto thee and thou to me. Let us go then unto the just judge:
I will not leave thee until I know that from this day I am become
a stranger unto thee. (Here Copt. inserts a quite similar speech
of the spirit to the soul, which may be original.) And the spirit
confounded it, and the angel troubled it. When therefore they
were come unto the principalities, and it would now go to enter
into heaven, one burden (labour, suffering) was laid upon it
after another: error and forgetfulness and whispering met it,
and the spirit of fornication and the rest of the powers, and
said unto it: Whither goest thou, wretched soul and darest to
run forward into heaven? Stay, that we may see whether we have
property of ours in thee, for we see not with thee an holy helper.
(Syr. adds: And the angel answered and said: Know ye that it
is a soul of the Lord, and he will not cast it aside, neither
will I surrender the image of God into the hand of the wicked
one. The Lord supported me all the days of the life of the soul,
and he can support and help me: and I will not cast it off until
it go up before the throne of God on high. When he shall see
it, he hath power over it, and will send it whither he pleases.)
And after that I heard voices in the height of the heavens, saying:
Present this miserable soul unto God, that it may know that there
is a God, whom it hath despised. When therefore it was entered
into the heaven, all the angels, even thousands of thousands,
saw it, and all cried out with one voice saying: Woe unto thee,
miserable soul, for thy works which thou didest upon the earth,
what answer wilt thou make unto God when thou drawest near to
worship him? The angel which was with it answered and said: Weep
with me, my dearly beloved, for I have found no rest in this
soul. And the angels answered him and said: Let this soul be
taken away out of our midst, for since it came in, the stench
of it is passed upon us the angels. And thereafter it was presented,
to worship in the presence of God, and the angel showed it the
Lord God that made it after his own image and likeness. And its
angel ran before it, saying: O Lord God Almighty, I am the angel
of this soul, whose works I presented unto thee day and night,
not doing according to thy judgement. And likewise the spirit
said: I am the spirit which dwelt in it ever since it was made,
and I know it in itself, and it followed not my will: judge it,
Lord, according to thy judgement. And the voice of God came unto
it and said: Where is thy fruit that thou hast yielded, worthy
of those good things which thou hast received? did I put a distance
even of a day between thee and the righteous? did I not make
the sun to rise upon thee even as upon the righteous? And it
was silent, having nothing to answer; and again the voice came,
saying: Just is the judgement of God, and there is no respect
of persons with God, for whosoever hath done his mercy he will
have mercy on him, and whoso hath not had mercy, neither shall
God have mercy on him. Let him therefore be delivered unto the
angel Tartaruchus (Gr. Temeluchus) that is set over the torments,
and let him cast him into the outer darkness where is weeping
and gnashing of teeth, and let him be there until the great day
of judgement. And after that I heard the voice of the angels
and archangels saying: Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just is
thy judgement.
17 And again I beheld, and lo, a soul which was brought by
two angels, weeping and saying: Have mercy on me, thou righteous
God, O God the judge; for to-day it is seven days since I went
forth out of my body, and I was delivered unto these two angels,
and they have brought me unto those places which I had never
seen. And God the righteous judge said unto it: What hast thou
done? for thou hast never wrought mercy; therefore wast thou
delivered unto such angels, which have no mercy, and because
thou hast not done right, therefore neither have they dealt pitifully
with thee in the hour of thy necessity. Confess therefore thy
sins which thou hast committed when thou wert in the world. And
it answered and said: Lord, I have not sinned. And the righteous
Lord God was wroth with indignation when it said: I have not
sinned, for it lied. And God said: Thinkest thou that thou art
yet in the world? If every one of you there when he sinneth,
hideth and concealeth his sin from his neighbour, yet here no
thing is hidden, for when the souls come to worship before the
throne both the good works and the sins of every one are made
manifest. And when the soul heard that, it held its peace, having
no answer. And I heard the Lord God, the righteous judge, saying
again: Come, thou angel of this soul, and stand in the midst.
And the angel of the sinful soul came, having a writing in his
hands, and said: These, Lord, that are in mine hands, are all
the sins of this soul from its youth up unto this day, even from
ten years from its birth: and if thou bid me, Lord, I can tell
the acts thereof since it began to be fifteen years old. [Apocalypse
of Zephaniah: I looked and saw that a writing (the same word,
chirographum) was in his hand: he began to open it, and when
he had spread it out I read it in mine own language, and I found
all my sins that I had committed, recorded by him, even those
which I had committed from my childhood up unto this day.] And
the Lord God the righteous judge said: I say unto thee, O angel,
I desire not of thee the account since it began to be fifteen
years old; but declare its sins of five years before that it
died and came hither. And again God the righteous judge said:
For by myself I swear, and by mine holy angels and by my power,
that if it had repented five years before it died, even for the
walk (conversation) of one year, there should be forgetfulness
of all the evil which it committed before and it should have
pardon and remission of sins: but now let it perish. And the
angel of the sinful soul answered and said: Command, Lord, that
(such and such an) angel to bring forth those (such and such)
souls. 18 And in that same hour the souls were brought forth
into the midst, and the soul of the sinner knew them. And the
Lord said unto the soul of the sinner: I say unto thee, O soul,
confess thy deeds which thou didst upon these souls whom thou
seest, when they were in the world. And it answered and said:
Lord, it is not yet a full year since I slew this one and shed
its blood upon the earth, and with another I committed fornication;
and not that only, but I did it much harm by taking away its
substance. And the Lord God the righteous judge said: Knewest
thou not that he that doth violence to another, if he that suffered
violence die first, he is kept in this place until he that hurt
him dieth, and then do both of them appear before the judge?
and now hath every one received according as he did. And I heard
a voice saying: Let that soul be delivered into the hands of
Tartaruchus, and he must be taken down into hell. Let him take
him into the lower prison and let him be cast into torments and
be left there until the great day of judgement. And again I heard
thousands of thousands of angels singing an hymn unto the Lord
and saying: Righteous art thou, O Lord, and just are thy judgements.
19 The angel answered and said unto me: Hast thou perceived
all these things? And I said: Yea, Lord. And he said unto me:
Follow me again, and I will take thee and show thee the places
of the righteous. And I followed the angel and he took me up
unto the third heaven and set me before the door of a gate; and
I looked on it and saw, and the gate was of gold, and there were
two pillars of gold full of golden letters; and the angel turned
again to me and said: Blessed art thou if thou enterest in by
these gates, for it is not permitted to any to enter save only
to those that have kept goodness and pureness of their bodies
in all things. And I asked the angel and said: Lord, tell me
for what cause are these letters set upon these tables? The angel
answered and said unto me: These are the names of the righteous
that minister unto God with their whole heart, which dwell on
the earth. And again I said: Lord, then are their names
also their countenance and the likeness of them that serve God
is in heaven, and they are known unto the angels: for they know
them that with their whole heart serve God before they depart
out of the world.
20 And when I had entered within the gate of paradise there
came to meet me an old man whose face shone like the sun, and
he embraced me and said: Hail, Paul, dearly beloved of God And
he kissed me with a joyful countenance, but he wept, and I said
unto him: Father (Lat. Brother), why weepest thou? And again
sighing and weeping he said: Because we are vexed by men, and
they grieve us sore; for many are the good things which the Lord
hath prepared, and great are his promises, but many receive them
not. And I asked the angel and said: Who is this, Lord? And he
said unto me: This is Enoch the scribe of righteousness.
And I entered within that place and straightway I saw Elias
I and he came and saluted me with gladness and joy. And when
he had seen me, he turned himself away and wept and said unto
me: Paul, mayest thou receive the reward of thy labour which
thou hast done among mankind. As for me, I have seen great and
manifold good things which God hath prepared for all the righteous,
and great are the promises of God, but the more part receive
them not; yea hardly through much toil doth one and another enter
into these places.
21 And the angel answered and said unto me: What things soever
I now show thee here, and whatsoever thou hearest, reveal them
not unto any upon earth. And he led me and showed me: and I heard
there words which it is not lawful for a man to utter; and again
he said: Yet again follow me and I will show thee that which
thou must relate and tell openly.
And he brought me down from the third heaven, and led me into
the second heaven, and again he led me to the firmament, and
from the firmament he led me unto the gates of heaven. And the
beginning of the foundation thereof was upon the river that watereth
all the earth. And I asked the angel and said: Lord, what is
this river of water? and he said unto me: This is the Ocean.
And suddenly I came out of heaven, and perceived that it is the
light of the heaven that shineth upon all the earth (or, all
that land). And there the earth (or, land) was seven times brighter
than silver. And I said: Lord, what is this place? and he said
unto me: This is the land of promise. Hast thou not yet heard
that which is written: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
the earth? The souls therefore of the righteous when they are
gone forth of the body are sent for the time into this place.
And I said unto the angel: Shall then this land be made manifest
after (lat. before) a time? The angel answered and said unto
me: When Christ whom thou preachest cometh to reign, then by
the decree of God the first earth shall be dissolved, and then
shall this land of promise be shown and it shall be like dew
or a cloud; and then shall the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal
king be manifested and shall come with all his saints to dwell
therein; and he shall reign over them a thousand years, and they
shall eat of the good things which now I will show thee.
22 And I looked round about that land and saw a river flowing
with milk and honey. And there were at the brink of the river
trees planted, full of fruits: now every tree bare twelve fruits
in the year, and they had various and divers fruits: and I saw
the fashion (creation) of that place and all the work of God,
and there I saw palm-trees of twenty cubits and others of ten
cubits: and that land was seven times brighter than silver. And
the trees were full of fruits from the root even to the upper
branches. (Lat. is confused here. Copt. has: From the root of
each tree up to its heart there were ten thousand branches with
tens of thousands of clusters, [and there were ten thousand clusters
on each branch,] and there were ten thousand dates in each cluster.
And thus was it also with the vines. Every vine had ten thousand
branches, and each branch had upon it ten thousand bunches of
grapes, and every bunch had on it ten thousand grapes. And there
were other trees there, myriads of myriads of them, and their
fruit was in the same proportion.) And I said unto the angel:
Wherefore doth every tree bring forth thousands of fruits? The
angel answered and said unto me: Because the Lord God of his
bounty giveth his gifts in abundance unto the worthy; for they
also of their own will afflicted themselves when they were in
the world, doing all things for his holy name's sake.
And again I said unto the angel: Lord, are these the only
promises which the most holy Lord God promiseth? and he answered
and said unto me: No; for there are greater by seven times than
these. But I say unto thee, that when the righteous are gone
forth out of the body and shall see the promises and the good
things which God hath prepared for them, yet again they shall
sigh and cry, saying: Wherefore did we utter a word out of our
mouth to provoke our neighbour even for a day? And I asked again
and said: Be these the only promises of God? And the angel answered
and said unto me: These which now thou seest are for them that
are married and keep the purity of their marriage, being continent.
But unto the virgins, and unto them that hunger and thirst after
righteousness and afflict themselves for the name of the Lord,
God will give things seven-fold greater than these, which now
I will show thee.
And after that he took me out of that place where I saw these
things, and lo, a river, and the waters of it were white exceedingly,
more than milk, and I said unto the angel: What is this? and
he said to me: This is the lake Acherusa where is the city of
Christ: but not every man is suffered to enter into that city:
for this is the way that leadeth unto God, and if any be a fornicator
or ungodly, and turn and repent and bear fruits meet for repentance,
first when he cometh out of the body he is brought and worshippeth
God, and then by the commandment of the Lord he is delivered
unto Michael the angel, and he washeth him in the lake Acherusa
and so bringeth him in to the city of Christ with them that have
done no sin. And I marvelled and blessed the Lord God for all
the things which I saw.
23 And the angel answered and said unto me: Follow me and
I will bring thee into the city of Christ. And he stood by (upon)
the lake Acherusa, and set me in a golden ship, and angels as
it were three thousand sang an hymn before me until I came even
unto the city of Christ. And they that dwelt in the city of Christ
rejoiced greatly over me as I came unto them, and I entered in
and saw the city of Christ. And it was all of gold, and twelve
walls compassed it about, and there were twelve towers within
(a tower on each wall, Copt.; 12,000 towers, Syr.), and every
wall had a furlong between them (i.e. the walls were a furlong
apart, so Syr., Copt. the circumference of each was 100 furlongs)
round about; and I said unto the angel: Lord, how much is one
furlong? The angel answered and said unto me: It is as much as
there is betwixt the Lord God and the men that are on the earth,
for the great city of Christ is alone. And there were twelve
gates in the circuit of the city, of great beauty, and four rivers
that compassed it about. There was a river of honey, and a river
of milk, and a river of wine, and a river of oil. And I said
unto the angel: What are these rivers that compass this city
about? And he saith to me: These are the four rivers which flow
abundantly for them that are in this land of promise, whereof
the names are these: the river of honey is called Phison, and
the river of milk Euphrates, and the river of oil Geon, and the
river of wine Tigris. Whereas therefore when the righteous were
in the world they used not their power over these things, but
hungered and afflicted themselves for the Lord God's sake, therefore
when they enter into this city, the Lord will give them these
things without number (?) and without all measure.
24 And I when I entered in by the gate saw before the doors
of the city trees great and high, having no fruits, but leaves
only. And I saw a few men scattered about in the midst of the
trees, and they mourned sore when they saw any man enter into
the city. And those trees did penance for them, humbling themselves
and bowing down, and again raising themselves up.
And I beheld it and wept with them, and I asked the angel
and said: Lord, who are these that are not permitted to enter
into the city of Christ? And he said unto me: These are they
that did earnestly renounce the world day and night with fasting,
but had an heart proud above other men, glorifying and praising
themselves, and doing nought for their neighbours. For some they
greeted friendly, but unto others they said not even 'Hail',
and unto whom they would they opened, and if they did any small
thing for their neighbour they were puffed up. And I said: What
then, Lord? their pride hath prevented them from entering into
the city of Christ? And the angel answered and said unto me:
The root of all evils is pride. Are they better than the Son
of God who came unto the Jews in great humility? And I asked
him and said: Wherefore is it then that the trees humble themselves
and are again raised up? And the angel answered and said unto
me: All the time that these spent upon earth (Of old time they
were on the earth, Copt.) serving God (they served God): But
because of the shame and reproaches of men they were ashamed
(did blush) for a time and humbled themselves, but they were
not grieved, neither did repent, to cease from this pride that
was in them (and one day they bowed themselves because of the
disgrace of man, for they cannot endure the pride that is in
him, Copt.). This is the cause why the trees humble themselves
and again are raised up. And I asked and said: For what cause
are they let in unto the gates of the city? The angel answered
and said unto me: Because of the great goodness of God, and because
this is the entry of all his saints which do enter into this
city. Therefore are they left in this place, that when Christ
the eternal king entereth in with his saints, when he cometh
in, all the righteous shall entreat for them, and then shall
they enter into the city with them: yet none of them is able
to have confidence such as they have that have humbled themselves,
serving the Lord God all their life long.
25 But I went forward and the angel led me and brought me
unto the river of honey, and I saw there Esaias and Jeremias
and Ezekiel and Amos and Micheas and Zacharias, even the prophets
lesser and greater, and they greeted me in the city. I said unto
the angel: What is this path? and he said unto me: This is the
path of the prophets: every one that hath grieved his soul and
not done his own will for God's sake, when he is departed out
of the world and hath been brought unto the Lord God and worshipped
him, then by the commandment of God he is delivered unto Michael,
and he bringeth him into the city unto this place of the prophets,
and they greet him as their friend and neighbour because he hath
performed the will of God.
26 Again he led me where was the river of milk, and I saw
in that place all the children whom the king Herod slew for the
name of Christ, and they greeted me, and the angel said unto
me: All they that keep chastity in cleanness, when they are gone
out of the body, after they worship the Lord God, are delivered
unto Michael and brought unto the children: and they greet them
saying: They are our brothers and friends and members: among
them shall they inherit the promises of God.
27 Again he took me and brought me to the north side of the
city, and led me to where was the river of wine, and I saw there
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Lot and Job and other saints, and
they greeted me. [Apocalypse of Zephaniah: (The angel) ran unto
all the righteous that are there, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch,
Elias, and David. He conversed with them as a friend with a friend,
who talk together.] And I asked and said: What is this place,
Lord? The angel answered and said unto me: All they that are
entertainers of strangers, when they are departed out of the
world first worship the Lord God, and then are delivered unto
Michael and brought by this path into the city, and all the righteous
greet him as a son and brother, and say unto him: Because thou
hast kept kindliness and the entertainment of strangers, come
thou and have an inheritance in the city of our Lord God. Every
one of the righteous shall receive the good things of God in
the city according to his deeds.
28 And again he took me to the river of oil on the east side
of the city. And I saw there men rejoicing and singing psalms,
and said: Who are these, Lord? and the angel said unto me: These
are they that have devoted themselves unto God with their whole
heart, and had in them no pride. For all that rejoice in the
Lord God and sing praises to the Lord with their whole heart
are brought here into this city.
29 And he took me into the midst of the city, by the twelve
walls (to the twelfth wall, Copt.). Now there was in that place
an higher wall; and I asked and said: Is there in the city of
Christ a wall more excellent in honour than this place? And the
angel answered and said unto me: The second is better than the
first, and likewise the third than the second; for one excelleth
the other even unto the twelfth wall. And I said: Wherefore Lord,
doth one excel another in glory? show me. And the angel answered
and said unto me: All they that have in them even a little slandering
or envy or pride, somewhat is taken away from his glory, even
if he be in the city of Christ. Look thou behind thee.
And I turned myself and saw golden thrones set at the several
gates, and upon them men having golden crowns and jewels: and
I looked and saw within among the twelve men, thrones set in
another order (row, fashion ?), which appeared of much glory
so that no man is able to declare the praise of them. And I asked
the angel and said: Lord, who is upon the throne? And the angel
answered and said unto me: These are the thrones of them that
had goodness and understanding of heart and yet made themselves
foolish for the Lord God's sake, knowing neither the Scriptures
nor many psalms, but keeping in mind one chapter of the precepts
of God they performed it with great diligence, and had a right
intent before the Lord God; and for these great wonder shall
take hold upon all the saints before the Lord God, who shall
speak one with another, saying: Stay and behold the unlearned
that know nothing [more], how they have earned such and so fair
raiment and so great glory because of their innocency.
And I saw in the midst of the city an altar exceeding high.
And there was one standing by the altar whose visage shone like
the sun, and he held in his hands a psaltery and an harp and
sang praises, saying: Alleluia. And his voice filled all the
city. And when all that were upon the towers and the gates heard
him, they answered: Alleluia, so that the foundations of the
city were shaken. And I asked the angel and said: Who is this,
Lord, that is of so great might? And the angel said unto me:
This is David. This is the city of Jerusalem; and when Christ
the king of eternity shall come in the fullness (confidence,
freedom) of his kingdom, he shall again go before him to sing
praises, and all the righteous together shall sing praises, answering:
Alleluia. And I said: Lord, how is it that David only above the
rest of the saints maketh (made) the beginning of singing praises?
And the angel answered and said unto me: When (or, because) Christ
the Son of God sitteth on the right hand of his Father, this
David shall sing praises before him in the seventh heaven: and
as it is done in the heavens, so likewise is it below: for without
David it is not lawful to offer a sacrifice unto God: but it
must needs be that David sing praises at the hour of the offering
of the body and blood of Christ: as it is performed in heaven,
so also is it upon earth. 30 And I said unto the angel: Lord,
what is Alleluia? And the angel answered and said unto me: Thou
dost examine and inquire of all things. And he said unto me:
Alleluia is spoken in the Hebrew, that is the speech of God and
of the angels: now the interpretation of Alleluia is this: tecel
. cat . marith . macha (Gr.thebel marematha). And I said: Lord,
what is tecel cat marith macha? And the angel answered and said
unto me: This is tecel cat marith macha: Let us bless him all
together. I asked the angel and said: Lord, do all they that
say Alleluia bless God? And the angel answered and said unto
me: So it is: and again, if any sing Alleluia, and they that
are present sing not with him, they commit sin in that they sing
not with him. And I said: Lord, doth a man likewise sin if he
be doting or very aged? The angel answered and said unto me:
Not so: but he that is able, and singeth not with him, know ye
that such a one is a despiser of the word, for it would be proud
and unworthy that he should not bless the Lord God his creator.
31 And when he had ceased speaking unto me, he led me out
without the city through the midst of the trees and back from
the place of the land of good things (or, men) and set me at
the river of milk and honey: and after that he led me unto the
ocean that beareth the foundations of the heaven.
The angel answered and said unto me: Perceivest thou that
thou goest hence? And I said: Yea, Lord. And he said unto me:
Come, follow me, and I will show thee the souls of the ungodly
and the sinners, that thou mayest know what manner of place they
have. And I went with the angel and he took me by the way of
the sunsetting, and I saw the beginning of the heaven founded
upon a great river of water, and I asked: What is this river
of water? And he said unto me: This is the ocean which compasseth
the whole earth about. And when I was come beyond (to the outside
of) the ocean, I looked and there was no light in that place,
but darkness and sorrow and sadness: and I sighed.
And I saw there a river of fire burning with heat, and in
it was a multitude of men and women sunk up to the knees, and
other men up to the navel; others also up to the lips and others
up to the hair: and I asked the angel and said: Lord, who are
these in the river of fire? And the angel answered and said unto
me: They are neither hot nor cold,: for they were not found either
in the number of the righteous or in the number of the wicked,
for they passed the time of their life upon the earth, spending
some days in prayer, but other days in sins and fornications,
until their death. And I asked and said: Who are these, Lord,
that are sunk up to their knees in the fire? He answered and
said unto me: These are they which when they are come out of
the church occupy themselves in disputing with idle (alien) talk.
But these that are sunk up to the navel are they who, when they
have received the body and blood of Christ, go and commit fornication,
and did not cease from their sins until they died; and they that
are sunk up to their lips are they that slandered one another
when they gathered in the church of God; but they that are sunk
up to the eyebrows are they that beckon one to another, and privily
devise evil against their neighbours.
32 And I saw on the north side a place of sundry and diverse
torments, full of men and women, and a river of fire flowed down
upon them. And I beheld and saw pits exceeding deep, and in them
many souls together, and the depth of that place was as it were
three thousand cubits; and I saw them groaning and weeping and
saying: Have mercy on us, Lord. And no man had mercy on them.
And I asked the angel and said: Who are these, Lord? And the
angel answered and said unto me: These are they that trusted
not in the Lord that they could have him for their helper. And
I inquired and said: Lord, if these souls continue thus, thirty
or forty generations being cast one upon another, if (unless?)
they be cast down yet deeper, I trow the pits would not contain
them. And he said to me; The abyss hath no measure: for beneath
it there followeth also that which is beneath: and so it is that
if a strong man took a stone and cast it into an exceeding deep
well and after many hours (long time) it reacheth the earth,
so also is the abyss. For when the souls are cast therein, hardly
after five hundred years do they come at the bottom. 33 And I
when I heard it, mourned and lamented for the race of men. The
angel answered and said unto me: Wherefore mournest thou? art
thou more merciful than God? for inasmuch as God is good and
knoweth that there are torments, he beareth patiently with mankind,
leaving every one to do his own will for the time that he dwelleth
on the earth.
34 Yet again I looked upon the river of fire, and I saw there
a man caught by the throat (Copt. an old man who was being dragged
along, and they immersed him up to the knees. And the angel Aftemeloukhos
came with a great fork of fire, &c. Syr. similar. Some sentences
are lost in Lat.) by angels, keepers of hell (Tartaruchi), having
in their hands an iron of three hooks wherewith they pierced
the entrails of that old man. And I asked the angel and said:
Lord, who is this old man upon whom such torments are inflicted?
And the angel answered and said unto me: He whom thou seest was
a priest who fulfilled not well his ministry, for when he was
eating and drinking and whoring he offered the sacrifice unto
the Lord at his holy altar.
35 And I saw not far off another old man whom four evil angels
brought, running quickly, and they sank him up to his knees in
the river of fire, and smote him with stones and wounded his
face like a tempest, and suffered him not to say: Have mercy
on me. And I asked the angel and he said unto me: He whom thou
seest was a bishop, and he fulfilled not well his bishopric:
for he received indeed a great name, but entered not into (walked
not in) the holiness of him that gave him that name all his life;
for he gave not righteous judgement, and had not compassion on
widows and orphans: but now it is recompensed unto him according
to his iniquity and his doings.
36 And I saw another man in the river of fire sunk up to the
knees: and his hands were stretched out and bloody, and worms
issued out of his mouth and his nostrils, and he was groaning
and lamenting and crying out, and said: Have mercy on me for
I suffer hurt more than the rest that are in this torment. And
I asked: Who is this, Lord? And he said unto me: This whom thou
seest was a deacon, who devoured the offerings and committed
fornication and did not right in the sight of God: therefore
without ceasing he payeth the penalty. And I looked and saw beside
him another man whom they brought with haste and cast him into
the river of fire, and he was there up to the knees; and the
angel that was over the torments came, having a great razor,
red-hot, and therewith he cut the lips of that man and the tongue
likewise. And I sighed and wept and asked: Who is this man, Lord?
And he said unto me: This that thou seest was a reader and read
unto the people: but he kept not the commandments of God: now
also he payeth his own penalty.
37 And I saw another multitude of pits in the same place,
and in the midst thereof a river filled with a multitude of men
and women, and worms devoured them. But I wept and sighed and
asked the angel: Lord, who are these? And he said unto me: These
are they that extorted usury on usury and trusted in their riches,
not having hope in God, that he was their helper.
And after that I looked and saw a very strait place, and there
was as it were a wall, and round about it fire. And I saw within
it men and women gnawing their tongues, and asked: Who are these,
Lord? And he said unto me: These are they that mocked at the
word of God in the church, not attending thereto, but as it were
making nought of God and of his angels: therefore now likewise
do they pay the due penalty.
38 And I looked in and saw another pool (lat. old man!) beneath
in the pit, and the appearance of it was like blood: and I asked
and said: Lord, what is this place? And he said unto me: Into
this pit do all the torments flow. And I saw men and women sunk
up to the lips, and asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto
me: These are the sorcerers which gave unto men and women magical
enchantments, and they found no rest (i.e. did not cease ?) until
they died.
And again I saw men and women of a very black countenance
in a pit of fire, and I sighed and wept and asked: Who are these,
Lord? And he said unto me: These are whoremongers and adulterers
who, having wives of their own, committed adultery, and likewise
the women after the same sort committed adultery, having their
own husbands: therefore do they pay the penalty without ceasing.
39 And I saw there girls clad in black raiment, and four fearful
angels holding in their hands red-hot chains, and they put them
upon their necks (heads) and led them away into darkness. And
again I wept and asked the angel: Who are these, Lord? And he
said unto me: These are they which being virgins defiled their
virginity, and their parents knew it not: wherefore without ceasing
they pay the due penalty.
And again I beheld there men and women with their hands and
feet cut off and naked, in a place of ice and snow, and worms
devoured them. And when I saw it I wept and asked: Who are these,
Lord? and he said unto me: These are they that injured the fatherless
and widows and the poor, and trusted not in the Lord: wherefore
without ceasing they pay the due penalty.
And I looked and saw others hanging over a channel of water,
and their tongues were exceeding dry, and many fruits were set
in their sight, and they were not suffered to take of them. And
I asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are
they that brake the fast before the time appointed: therefore
without ceasing do they pay this penalty.
And I saw other men and women hanged by their eyebrows and
their hair, and a river of fire drew them, and I said: Who are
these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are they that gave themselves
not unto their own husbands and wives, but unto adulterers, and
therefore without ceasing they pay the due penalty. (For this
Copt. has: men and women hung head downwards torches burning
before their faces, serpents girt about them devouring them.
These are the women that beautified themselves with paints and
unguents and went to church to ensnare men. Syr. and Gr. omit.)
And I saw other men and women covered with dust, and their
appearance was as blood, and they were in a pit of pitch and
brimstone and borne down in a river of fire. And I asked: Who
are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are they that committed
the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, men with men, wherefore
they pay the penalty without ceasing. (Copt., Syr., Gr. omit
this paragraph.)
40 And I looked and saw men and women clad in white (bright)
apparel, and their eyes were blind, and they were set in a pit,
and I asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These
are they of the heathen that gave alms and knew not the Lord
God; wherefore without ceasing they pay the due penalty.
And I looked and saw other men and women upon a spit of fire,
and beasts tearing them, and they were not suffered to say: Lord,
have mercy on us. And I saw the angel of the torments (Aftemeloukhos,
Copt.) laying most fierce torments upon them and saying: Acknowledge
the Son of God. For it was told you before, but when the scriptures
of God were read unto you, ye paid no heed: wherefore the judgement
of God is just, for your evil doings have taken hold upon you,
and brought you into these torments. But I sighed and wept, and
I inquired and said : Who are these men and women that are strangled
in the fire and pay the penalty? And he answered me: These are
the women which defiled the creation of God when they brought
forth children from the womb, and these are the men that lay
with them. But their children appealed unto the Lord God and
unto the angels that are over the torments, saying: Avenge us
of our parents: for they have defiled the creation of God. Having
the name of God, but not observing his commandments, they gave
us for food unto dogs and to be trampled on by swine, and others
they cast into the river (Copt. adds: and did not permit us to
grow up into righteous men and to serve God). But those children
were delivered unto the angels of Tartarus (Gr. unto an angel)
that they should bring them into a spacious place of mercy: but
their fathers and mothers were haled (strangled) into everlasting
torment.
And thereafter I saw men and women clad in rags full of pitch
and brimstone of fire, and there were dragons twined about their
necks and shoulders and feet, and angels having horns of fire
constrained them and smote them and closed up their nostrils,
saying unto them: Wherefore knew ye not the time wherein it was
right for you to repent and serve God, and ye did not? And I
asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said unto me: These are they
that seemed to renounce the world (lat. God), wearing our garb,
but the snares of the world made them to be miserable: they showed
no charity and had no pity upon the widows and fatherless: the
stranger and pi]grim they did not take in, neither offered one
oblation nor had pity on their neighbour: and their prayer went
not up even one day pure unto the Lord God; but the many snares
of the world held them back, and they were not able to do right
in the sight of God. And the angels carried (lat. surrounded)
them about into the place of torments: and they that were in
torments saw them and said unto them: We indeed when we lived
in the world neglected God, and ye did so likewise. And we when
we were in the world knew that we were sinners, but of you it
was said: These are righteous and servants of God: now we know
that ye were only called by the name of the Lord. Wherefore also
they pay the due penalty.
And I sighed and wept and said: Woe unto men! woe unto the
sinners! to what end were they born? And the angel answered and
said unto me: Wherefore weepest thou? Art thou more merciful
than the Lord God which is blessed for ever, who hath established
the judgement and left every man of his own will to choose good
or evil and to do as pleaseth him? Yet again I wept very sore,
and he said unto me: Weepest thou, when as yet thou hast not
seen the greater torments? Follow me, and thou shalt see sevenfold
greater than these.
41 And he took me from the north side (to the west, Syr.)
and set me over a well, and I found it sealed with seven seals.
And the angel that was with me answered and said unto the angel
of that place: Open the mouth of the well, that Paul the dearly
beloved of God may behold; for power hath been given unto him
to see all the torments of hell. And the angel said unto me:
Stand afar off, that thou mayest be able to endure the stench
of this place. When therefore the well was opened, straightway
there arose out of it a stench hard and evil exceedingly, which
surpassed all the torments: and I looked into the well and saw
masses (lumps) of fire burning on every side, and anguish, and
there was straitness in the mouth of the pit so as to take but
one man in. And the angel answered and said unto me: If any be
cast into the well of the abyss, and it be sealed over him, there
shall never be remembrance made of him in the presence of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost or of the holy angels.
And I said: Who are they, Lord, that are cast into this well?
And he said unto me: They are whosoever confesseth not that Christ
is come in the flesh and that the Virgin Mary bare him and whosoever
saith of the bread and the cup of blessing of the Eucharist that
it is not the body and blood of Christ.
42 And I looked from the north unto the west and saw there
the worm that sleepeth not, and in that place was gnashing of
teeth. And the worms were of the measure of one cubit, and on
them were two heads; and I saw there men and women in cold and
gnashing of teeth. And I asked and said: Lord, who are they that
are in this place? And he said unto me: These are they which
say that Christ rose not from the dead, and that this flesh riseth
not again. And I inquired and said: Lord, is there no fire nor
heat in this place? And he said unto me: In this place is nothing
else but cold and snow. And again he said to me: Even if the
sun (seven suns, Copt.) rose upon them, they would not be warmed,
because of the excessive cold of this place, and the snow. And
when I heard this I spread forth mine hands and wept and sighed,
and again I said: It were better for us if we had not been born,
all we that are sinners. 43 But when they that were in that place
saw me weeping, with the angel, they also cried out and wept,
saying: Lord God, have mercy upon us.
And after that I beheld the heaven open and Michael the archangel
coming down out of heaven, and with him all the host of the angels;
and they came even unto them that were set in torment. And they
when they saw them wept again and cried out and said: Have mercy
upon us, thou Michael, archangel, have mercy upon us and upon
the race of men, for it is by thy prayers that the earth standeth.
We have now seen the judgement and have known the Son of God.
It was not possible for us to pray for this before we came into
this place: for we heard that there was a judgement, before we
departed out of the world, but the snares and the life of the
world suffered us not to repent. And Michael answered and said:
Hearken when Michael speaketh: I am he that stands in the presence
of God alway. As the Lord liveth, before whose face I stand,
I cease not for one day nor one night to pray continually for
the race of men; and I indeed pray for them that are upon earth:
but they cease not from committing wickednesses and fornication.
And they bring not forth aught of good while they are upon earth;
and ye have wasted in vanity the time wherein ye ought to have
repented. But I have prayed alway, and now do I entreat that
God would send dew and that rain may be sent upon the earth,
and still pray I until the earth yield her fruits: and I say
that if any man doeth but a little good I will strive for him
and protect him until he escape the judgement of torment. Where
then be your prayers? Where be your repentances? ye have lost
the time despicably. Yet now weep ye, and I will weep with you,
and the angels that are with me, together with the dearly beloved
Paul, if peradventure the merciful God will have pity and grant
you refreshment. And they when they heard these words cried out
and wept sore, and all said with one voice: Have mercy upon us,
O Son of God. And I, Paul, sighed and said: O Lord God, have
mercy upon thy creature, have mercy on the children of men, have
mercy upon thine image.
44 I beheld and saw the heaven shake like unto a tree that
is moved by the wind: and suddenly they cast themselves down
upon their faces before the throne: and I saw the four-and- twenty
elders and the four beasts worshipping God: and I saw the altar
and the veil and the throne, and all of them were rejoicing,
and the smoke of a sweet odour rose up beside the altar of the
throne of God; and I heard a voice saying: For what cause do
ye entreat me, our angels, and our ministers? And they cried
out, saying: We entreat thee, beholding thy great goodness unto
mankind. And thereafter I saw the Son of God coming down out
of heaven, and on his head was a crown. And when they that were
in torments saw him they all cried out with one voice, saying:
Have mercy upon us, O exalted Son of God (or, Son of God Most
High): thou art he that hast granted refreshment unto all that
are in heaven and earth; have mercy upon us likewise: for since
we beheld thee we have been refreshed. And there went forth a
voice from the Son of God throughout all the torments, saying:
What good works have ye done that ye should ask of me refreshment?
My blood was shed for you, and not even so did ye repent: for
your sake I bare a crown of thorns on mine head, for you I received
buffets upon my cheeks, and not even so did ye repent. I asked
for water when I hanged upon the cross, and they gave me vinegar
mingled with gall: with a spear did they open my right side:
for my name's sake have they slain my servants the prophets,
and the righteous: and for ail these things did I give you a
place of repentance, and ye would not. Yet now because of Michael
the archangel of my covenant and the angels that are with him,
and because of Paul my dearly beloved whom I would not grieve.
and because of your brethren that are in the world and do offer
oblations, and because of your sons, for in them are my commandments,l
and yet more because of mine own goodness: on that day whereon
I rose from the dead I grant unto all you that are in torment
refreshment for a day and a night for ever. And all they cried
out and said: We bless thee, O Son of God, for that thou hast
granted us rest for a day and a night: for better unto us is
the refreshment of one day than the whole time of our life wherein
we were upon earth: and if we had known clearly that this place
was appointed for them that sin, we should have done none other
work whatsoever, neither traded nor done any wickedness. For
what profit was our pride in the world? (Copt. What profit was
it to us to be born into the world?) For this our pride is taken
captive, which came up out of our mouth against our neighbour
(Copt. our life is like the breath of our mouth): and this pain
and our sore anguish and tears and the worms which are under
us, these are worse unto us than the torments which we suffer.
(This is hardly sense, but Copt. agrees; should it not have been
' these are worse than not to have been born ' ?) And as they
thus spake, the angels of torment and the evil angels were wroth
with them and said: How long have ye wept and sighed? for ye
have had no mercy. For this is the judgement of God on him that
hath not had mercy. Yet have ye received this great grace, even
refreshment for the night and day of the Lord's day, because
of Paul the dearly beloved of God who hath come down unto you.
45 And after these things the angel said unto me: Hast thou
seen all these things? And I said: Yea, Lord. And he said unto
me: Follow me, and I will bring thee into Paradise, that the
righteous which are there may see thee: for, behold, they hope
to see thee, and are ready to come and meet thee with joy and
exultation. And I followed after the angel in the swiftness of
the Holy Ghost, and he set me in Paradise and said unto me: This
is Paradise, wherein Adam and his wife erred. And I entered into
Paradise and saw the head of the waters, and the angel beckoned
unto me and said to me: Behold, saith he, these waters: for this
is the river Phison that compasseth about all the land of Evila.
and this other is Geon that goeth about all the land of Egypt
and Ethiopia, and this other is Tigris that is over against the
Assyrians, and this other is Euphrates that watereth the land
of Mesopotamia. And I entered in further and saw a tree planted,
out of whose roots flowed waters, and out of it was the beginning
of the four rivers, and the Spirit of God rested upon that tree,
and when the spirit breathed the waters flowed forth: and I said:
Lord, is this tree that which maketh the waters to flow? And
he said unto me: Because in the beginning, before the heaven
and the earth were made to appear, and all things were invisible,
the Spirit of God moved (was borne) upon the waters; but since
by the commandment of God the heaven and the earth appeared the
spirit hath rested upon this tree; wherefore when the spirit
breatheth, the waters flow out from the tree. And he took hold
on mine hand and led me unto the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, and said: This is the tree whereby death entered into
the world, and Adam taking of it from his wife did eat, and death
entered into the world. And he showed me another tree in the
midst of Paradise, and saith unto me: This is the tree of life.
46 And as I yet looked upon the tree, I saw a virgin coming
from afar off, and two hundred angels before her singing hymns:
and I inquired and said: Lord, who is this that cometh in such
glory? and he said unto me: This is Mary the virgin, the mother
of the Lord. And she came near and saluted me, and said: Hail,
Paul, dearly beloved of God and angels and men. For all the saints
have besought my son Jesus who is my Lord, that thou shouldest
come here in the body that they might see thee before thou didst
depart out of the world. And the Lord said to them: Wait and
be ye patient: yet a little while, and ye shall see him, and
he shall be with you for ever. And again they all with one accord
said unto him: Grieve us not, for we desire to see him while
he is in the flesh, for by him hath thy name been greatly glorified
in the world, and we have seen that he hath excelled (done away
with) all the works whether of the lesser or the greater. For
we inquire of them that come hither, saying: Who is he that guided
you in the world? and they have told us: There is one in the
world whose name is Paul; he declareth Christ, preaching him,
and we believe that by the power and sweetness of his speech
many have entered into the kingdom. Behold, all the righteous
are behind me, coming to meet thee. But I say unto thee, Paul,
that for this cause I come first to meet them that have performed
the will of my son and my Lord Jesus Christ, even I come first
to meet them and leave them not as strangers until they meet
with him in peace.
47 While she was yet speaking I saw three men coming from
afar, very beautiful, after the appearance of Christ, and their
forms were shining, and their angels; and I asked: Who are these,
Lord? And he answered: These are the fathers of the people, Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. And they came near and greeted me, and said:
Hail, Paul, dearly beloved of God and men: blessed is he that
endureth violence for the Lord's sake. And Abraham answered me
and said: This is my son Isaac, and Jacob my best beloved, and
we knew the Lord and followed him. Blessed are all they that
have believed thy word that they may inherit the kingdom of God
by labour and self-sacrifice (renunciation) and sanctification
and humility and charity and meekness and right faith in the
Lord: and we also had devotion unto the Lord whom thou preachest,
covenanting that we will come unto every soul of them that believe
in him, and minister unto him as fathers minister unto their
sons.
While they yet spake I saw twelve men coming from afar with
honour, and I asked: Who are these, Lord? And he said: These
are the patriarchs. And they came and saluted me and said: Hail,
Paul, dearly beloved of God and men. The Lord hath not grieved
us, that we might see thee yet being in the body, before thou
departedst out of the world. And every one of them signified
his name unto me in order, from Ruben unto Benjamin; and Joseph
said unto me: I am he that was sold; and I say unto thee, Paul,
that for all that my brethren did unto me, in nothing did I deal
evilly with them, not in all the labour which they laid upon
me, nor did I hurt them in any thing (Copt. kept no evil thought
against them) from morning until evening. Blessed is he that
is hurt for the Lord's sake and hath endured, for the Lord will
recompense him manifold more when he departeth out of the world.
48 While he yet spake I saw another coming from afar, beautiful,
and his angels singing hymns, and I asked: Who is this, Lord,
that is fair of countenance? And he said unto me: Dost thou not
know him? And I said: No, Lord. And he said to me: This is Moses
the lawgiver, unto whom God gave the law. And when he was nigh
me, straightway he wept, and after that he greeted me; and I
said unto him: Why weepest thou? for I have heard that thou excellest
all men in meekness. And he answered, saying: I weep for them
whom I planted with much labour, for they have borne no fruit,
neither doth any of them do well. And I have seen all the sheep
whom I fed that they are scattered and become as having no shepherd,
and that all the labours which I have endured for the children
of Israel are come to nought, and however great wonders I did
in their midst [and] they understood not: and I marvel how the
strangers and uncircumcised and idolaters are converted and entered
into the promises of God, but Israel hath not entered in: and
now I say unto thee, O brother Paul, that in that hour when the
people hanged up Jesus whom thou preachest, God the Father of
all, which gave me the law, and Michael and all the angels and
archangels, and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the righteous
wept over the Son of God that was hanged on the cross. And in
that hour all the saints waited upon me, looking on me and saying:
Behold, Moses, what they of thy people have done unto the Son
of God. Therefore blessed art thou O Paul, and blessed is the
generation and people that hath believed thy word.
49 While he yet spake there came other twelve and saw me and
said: Art thou Paul that is glorified in heaven and upon earth?
And I answered and said: Who are ye? The first answered and said:
I am Esaias whose head Manasses cut with a saw of wood. And the
second said likewise: I am Jeremias who was stoned by the children
of Israel, and slain. And the third said: I am Ezechiel whom
the children of Israel dragged by the feet over the stones in
the mountain until they scattered my brains abroad: and all of
us endured these labours, desiring to save the children of Israel:
and I say unto thee that after the toils which they laid upon
me I would cast myself down upon my face before the Lord, praying
for them and bowing my knees unto the second hour of the Lord's
day, even until Michael came and raised me up from the earth.
Blessed art thou, Paul, and blessed is the people that hath believed
through thee.
And as they passed by, I saw another, fair of countenance
and asked: Who is this, Lord? [And when he saw me he was glad]
and he said unto me: This is Lot, which was found righteous in
Sodom. And he came near and greeted me and said: Blessed art
thou, Paul, and blessed is the generation unto whom thou hast
ministered. And I answered and said unto him: Art thou Lot, that
wast found righteous in Sodom? And he said: I entertained angels
in mine house as strangers, and when they of the city would have
done them violence I offered them my two daughters, virgins,
that had never known man, and gave them to them, saying: Use
them as ye will, only do no ill unto these men, for therefore
have they entered under the roof of mine house. Therefore ought
we to have confidence, and know that whatsoever any man hath
done, God recompenseth him manifold more when he cometh (they
come) unto him. Blessed art thou Paul, and blessed is the generation
which hath believed thy word.
When therefore he had ceased speaking unto me, I saw another
coming from afar off, very beautiful in the face, and smiling,
and his angels singing hymns, and I said unto the angel that
was with me: Hath,then,every one of the righteous an angel for
his fellow? And he saith to me: Every one of the saints hath
his own, that standeth by him and singeth hymns, and the one
departeth not from the other. And I said: Who is this, Lord?
And he said: This is Job. And he drew near and greeted me and
said: Brother Paul, thou hast great praise with God and men.
Now I am Job, which suffered much for the season of thirty years
by the issue of a plague, and in the beginning the blains that
came forth of my body were as grains of wheat; but on the third
day they became like an ass's foot, and the worms that fell from
them were four fingers long: and thrice the devil appeared unto
me and saith to me: Speak a word against the Lord, and die. But
I said unto him: If thus be the will of God that I continue in
the plague all the time of my life until I die, I will not rest
from blessing the Lord God, and I shall receive the greater reward.
For I know that the sufferings of this world are nought compared
with the refreshment that is thereafter: wherefore blessed art
thou, Paul, and blessed is the people which hath believed by
thy means.
50 While he yet spake there came another crying out from afar
off and saying: Blessed art thou, Paul, and blessed am I that
have seen thee the beloved of the Lord. And I asked the angel:
Who is this, Lord? and he answered and said unto me: This is
Noe of the days of the flood. And straightway we greeted one
another, and he, rejoicing greatly, said unto me: Thou art (or,
Art thou) Paul the best beloved of God. And I asked him: Who
art thou? And he said: I am Noe that was in the days of the flood:
but I say unto thee, Paul, that I spent an hundred years making
the ark, not putting off the coat (tunic) which I wore, and I
shaved not the hair of mine head. Furthermore I kept continence,
not coming near mine own wife, and in those hundred years the
hair of mine head grew not in greatness, neither was my raiment
soiled. And I besought men at that time, saying: Repent, for
a flood of waters cometh upon you. But they mocked me and derided
my words; and again they said unto me: This is the time of them
that would play and sin as much as they will, that have leave
to fornicate not a little (lat. confused; other versions omit):
for God looketh not on these things, neither knoweth what is
done of us men, and moreover there is no flood of waters coming
upon this world. And they ceased not from their sins until God
blotted out all flesh that had the breath of life in it. But
know thou that God loveth one righteous man more than all the
world of the wicked. Therefore blessed art thou, O Paul, and
blessed is the people that hath believed by thy means.
51 And I turned myself and saw other righteous ones coming
from afar off, and I asked the angel: Who are these, Lord? and
he answered me: These are Elias and Eliseus. And they greeted
me, and I said unto them: Who are ye? And one of them answered
and said: I am Elias the prophet of God. I am Elias that prayed,
and because of my word the heaven rained not for three years
and six months, because of the iniquities of men. Righteous and
true is God, who doeth the will of his servants; for oftentimes
the angels besought the Lord for rain, and he said: Be patient
until my servant Elias pray and entreat for this, and I will
send rain upon the earth.
[Here the Greek, latin, and Syriac texts end, save that the
Syriac adds thus much:
And he gave not, until I called upon him again; then he gave
unto them. But blessed art thou, O Paul, that thy generation
and those thou teachest are the sons of the kingdom. And know
thou, O Paul, that every man who believes through thee hath a
great blessing, and a blessing is reserved for him. Then he departed
from me.
And the angel who was with me led me forth, and said unto
me: Lo, unto thee is given this mystery and revelation: as thou
pleasest, make it known unto the sons of men.
And I, Paul, returned unto myself, and I knew all that I had
seen: and in life I had not rest that I might reveal this mystery,
but I wrote it and deposited it under the ground and the foundations
of the house of a certain faithful man with whom I used to be
in Tarsus a city of Cilicia. And when I was released from this
life of time, and stood before my Lord, thus said he unto me:
Paul, have we shown all these things unto thee that thou shouldst
deposit them under the foundations of a house? Then send and
disclose concerning this revelation, that men may read it and
turn to the way of truth, that they also may not come to these
bitter torments.
And thus was this revelation discovered....
Then follows the history of the finding, which in the other
texts is prefixed to the book.]
But this conclusion can hardly be the original one. The Coptic
seems in part better. After the words 'rain upon the earth',
it continues:
The sufferings which each endureth for God's sake will God
requite unto him twofold. Blessed art thou, Paul, and blessed
are the heathen who shall believe through thee. And whilst he
was speaking, Enoch (here Enoch replaces Elisha) also came and
saluted me and said unto me: The man who endureth suffering for
God's sake, God will not afflict when he goeth out of the world.
Then there are similar meetings with Zacharias and John Baptist,
and Abel. Zacharias says:
' I am he whom they killed when I was offering up the offering
unto God: and when the angels came for the offering, they carried
my body up to God, and no man found my body whither it had been
taken.'
Then Adam, taller than the rest, appears. And this seems a
suitable finale to the procession of saints.
After this Paul is carried into the third heaven. The angel
who is with him changes in appearance and bursts into flames
of fire, and a voice forbids Paul to reveal what he has seen.
There is a description of a mysterious vision of an altar
with seven eagles of light on the right and seven on the left.
And this is followed by more descriptions of Paradise-partly
resembling a vision seen by one Siophanes, in the Book of Bartholomew.
Some sentences also are taken from, or at least found in, the
Apocalypse of Zephaniah. The meek, the prophets, David, all figure
again in this episode: last are the martyrs. The conclusion runs
thus (in substance):
The angel of the Lord took me up and brought me to the Mount
of Olives. I found the apostles assembled and told them all I
had seen. They praised God and commanded us, that is me, Mark,
and Timothy, to write the revelation. And while they were talking,
Christ appeared from the chariot of the cherubim and spoke greetings
to Peter, John, and especially Paul. He promised blessings to
those who should write or read the Apocalypse, and curses on
those who should deride it. Peter and Paul should end their course
on the fifth of Epiphi (29 June). He then bade a cloud take the
apostles to the various countries allotted to them, and commanded
them to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. And a doxology follows.
I am disposed to think that nothing after the appearance of
Adam in this version can be original. The rest is to a great
extent, I think a pasticcio from other Coptic apocrypha. It is
quite possible, of course that the original end of the Apocalypse
was lost at an early date, but the supposition is probable that
after the appearance of Adam a short conclusion followed in which
Paul returned to earth. With so ill-proportioned and inartistic
a book it is not perhaps worth while to spend much time on conjectural
restoration. Yet another possibility should be pointed out. The
climax of the Apocalypse is reached when the Sunday is granted
as a day of rest from torment. Paul has seen Paradise and hell,
and there is no more for him to do. Everything after ch. 44 is
an otiose appendix.
And we do find in the Ethiopic Apocalypse of the Virgin, which
copies that of Paul very literally, that the end comes at ch.
44, when the Virgin procures rest from Friday evening to Monday
morning for the lost. The Greek Apocalypse -one form at least
ends when she has gained for them the days of Pentecost.
It may be the case, then, that the Apocalypse of Paul as first
issued ended here, and that it was reissued with the appendix
about Paradise (45-end). In the shorter Latin recensions there
is no trace of anything after ch. 44: but this does not furnish
a conclusive argument. More to the point would be the discovery
of a copy of the full text ending with 44. |