Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.
Date & Provenance
Composed in the 3rd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex V.
Why It Matters for Study
Presents a vision of the apostle Paul's ascent through the heavens, with the Holy Spirit guiding him and revealing the nature of the aeons. Important for understanding Gnostic apocalyptic literature.
" And the Holy Spirit said to me: Paul, I am the Spirit who accompanies you, and I will show you the things that are above." — 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 — Gnostic Society Full translation with introduction.
- Early Christian Writings — Apocalypse of Paul Indexed text and scholarly resources.
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
Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.
MacRae, G. W., & Murdock, W. R. " The Apocalypse of Paul." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.
MacRae, G. W., & Murdock, W. R. " The Apocalypse of Paul." In Nag Hammadi Codices V, 2-5 and VI. Brill, 1979.