Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Widely read in the medieval Church.
Date & Provenance
Composed in Greek in the 4th century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Latin, Greek, Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic manuscripts. The work dates to the 4th century CE.
Why It Matters for Study
Describes Paul's vision of heaven and hell, including the punishments of sinners. Important for understanding early Christian eschatology and the development of the doctrine of purgatory.
" And Paul saw the city of God, and it was shining with gold and precious stones." — Apocalypse of Paul (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Apocalypse of Paul — Early Christian Writings Full translation and scholarly resources.
- Apocalypse of Paul — Sacred Texts Public-domain translation.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford, 1993.
Casey, R. P. The Apocalypse of Paul. Cambridge University Press, 1933.
Schneemelcher, W. New Testament Apocrypha. Westminster John Knox, 1991.