Perceiving the Mystery of the Merciful Son of God: an analysis of the purpose of the Apocalypse of Peter
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Date
10/07/2019Item status
Restricted AccessEmbargo end date
10/07/2020Author
Beck, Eric J.
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Abstract
This thesis examines the primary purpose of the Apocalypse of Peter. While most
scholars assume the intent of the text is to use its grotesque imagery of punishments in
hell to serve as a warning to its readers against sinning, no thorough exegetical analysis
of the purpose of the Apocalypse of Peter has yet been undertaken to verify this claim.
This thesis is, therefore, the first sustained analysis of the primary purpose of the
document. It begins by reviewing previous scholarship on the text and discussing
terminological and methodological concerns. Chapter three then surveys ten ancient
afterlife torment texts in order to demonstrate the diverse ways the genre was utilised
and the importance of the context surrounding the hellish descriptions to the
interpretation of these texts. Prior to an examination of the primary purpose of the
Apocalypse of Peter, chapter four presents and discusses a new, composite translation
of the text that is the first to compare all the available manuscripts on a verse-by-verse
basis. Chapters five and six present the exegetical analysis of the purpose of the text
first by looking at the context surrounding the tour of hell and then at the tour itself.
In these chapters, it is argued that the primary purpose of the Apocalypse of Peter is to
move its readers to have compassion on the wicked by integrating divine justice and
mercy. The study concludes by examining the possible impact the proposed
interpretation of the text may have on various readers.