The Gnostic Revelation of Peter is a writing that was part of the Caption of the Nag Hammadigschriften in 1945. There must have been an original Greek text, but never found anything. The work is designed to distinguish it from another apocryphal, completely different, Revelation of Peter, which forms part of the Canon Muratori and dates back to the end of the second century.
The text consists of the description of a first vision of Peter, followed by a monologue of Jesus. Then follows a second and third vision of Peter, which is actually a continuous story. It ends with an assignment to Peter.
The work belongs to the more polemical writings of the Gnostic literature. It defends the gnostic view of the crucifixion that the divine Christ has left man Jesus for death on the cross. The crucified Jesus is therefore only a physical casing. In gnosticism, crucifixion is seen as a defeat of the demiurgist and his evil powers. They have been unable to kill the Savior. Similar views are also found in gnostic texts such as Jacobus's First Revelation, the Gospel of Truth, the Second Session of the Great Seth, and the Letter of Peter to Philip. The unknown author of the Gnostic Revelation of Peter takes a hard stance against the orthodox beliefs at that point and against the evolving orthodox church more generally. It is likely that the original Greek text in Egypt came about around the year 200. Essence of content
In the introduction, Peter is praised by Jesus and he encourages him for the events that will take place. After that, Peter in his own words tells the first vision he received. He sees priests and the people come down upon them with the intention of stoning them. Jesus says that Peter should not be afraid because they are blind without leaders. He asks Peter to cover his eyes and asks what he sees. Peter answers "Nothing". Jesus asks Peter to cover his eyes once more, and then Peter sees a light descending on the Savior. Then Peter first hears the cry of the crowd that Jesus wants to crucify. After listening to Jesus again, Peter hears that Jesus is glorified.
Then a long monologue of Jesus follows. There will be people who will turn away from the right faith. They will turn to the wish of the father of their error, the demiurgist. The essence of the monologue is that orthodox Christians are the real heretics. And they shall hold on to the name of a dead man, believing that they shall be cleansed, while they shall be more polluted. Jesus takes a sharp stance against the evolving orthodox church organization. In addition, he calls people who call themselves bishop or deacon as if they had received their authority from God. ... These people are like channels without water. At the end of the monologue, Jesus again speaks of Peter's courage.
In the visions received by Peter, he sees how Jesus is crucified. At the same time, he sees a smiling Jesus above the cross. Jesus tells him that the one above the cross is the living Jesus and the crucified is only his physical envelope. Then Peter sees someone who speaks like the one present above the cross and is filled with a holy Spirit. In the vision, Peter sees that this is the Savior, surrounded by a great light while angels praise him. Hereafter, the Savior once again explains the events of the crucifixion, reaffirming the orthodox views of the crucifixion.
At the end of the text, Peter receives the command he has made known to the strangers who are not of this world, which the gnostics are meant to be. The text resolves with Peter again.
wiki
