Justice and Mercy in the Apocalypse of Peter

Download or read book Justice and Mercy in the Apocalypse of Peter written by Eric J. Beck and published by Mohr Siebeck. This book was released on 2019-10-16 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Apocalypse of Peter, best known for its tour of hell, was a popular text in Early Christianity, but is largely neglected today. Eric J. Beck attempts to bring new life to the study of this text by challenging current assumptions regarding its manuscript tradition and primary purpose. By undertaking the first comparative analysis utilising all available manuscript evidence, the author creates a new translation of the text that at times advocates for the reliability of the oft neglected Akhmim fragment. He then offers the first detailed analysis of the text in order to ascertain the purpose of the document. In so doing, he argues against a monitory interpretation of the text. Instead, Eric J. Beck suggests the text uses an integrated understanding of justice and mercy that is meant to encourage its readers to have compassion on those who receive punishment in the afterlife.