Apocalypse of Paul
The Visio Sancti Pauli (also Paul Apocalypse or Revelation of Paul ) is a vision of the afterlife and is among the Apocrypha. She had great influence on the visionary literature of the Middle Ages. Because of the link with 2 Cor 12, 2 ff. it was the Apostle Paul attributed.
The Gnostic Paul Apocalypse among the writings of Nag Hammadi (NHC V, 2 ) is not related to the often witnessed, and delivered Paul Apocalypse.
Textual tradition
The original Greek version from the first half of the 5th century has not survived. The original version was first translated in two Latin versions: L1, the so-called long version, must have originated in the 5th century well preserved are manuscripts since 8 / 9 Century. L2 is known in three manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries. It could be that L2 dates from the 12th century. The vernacular translations commence with an Old English manuscript from the 10th century, mostly go back to the version of L1. In the Western Church are over 200 manuscripts known in many languages of the Visio Sancti Pauli.
Reception
Augustine of Hippo condemned the Apocalypse of Paul, since it contradicts the second letter to the Corinthians. In the 12th century created a Middle High German poem based on the L2 version.
Content
Paul talks about his experiences from the first-person perspective. He describes the separation of body and soul, the encounter with an angel and the various regions of the afterlife in which the souls have to endure among other tortures on himself. The visit described in the version L1 in paradise falls away in most later versions, the punishments of hell, however, are described in detail. Notably, the poor souls Sunday rest be granted after the Archangel Michael and Paul have asked God for this relief of pain.