The Apocalypse of Peter – What is it?

TL;DR:

The Apocalypse of Peter is a second-century pseudepigraphal text describing vivid scenes of final judgment, echoing biblical prophecies of God’s justice and the end of the age. Though once respected by some early Christians, the Apocalypse of Peter was never accepted as Scripture and serves mainly as a reminder of false teaching and the reality of coming judgment.

what does the bible say?

The Apocalypse of Peter is a second-century pseudepigraphal text that offers a dramatic portrayal of divine judgment and the fate of the unrighteous. Written under the name of the apostle Peter, it vividly describes scenes of fire, cosmic destruction, and eternal punishment for false teachers and sinners—imagery that parallels but exaggerates biblical passages such as Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:30-31, and Matthew 24. Although it reflects authentic scriptural themes of God’s justice, repentance, and readiness for Christ’s return, its elaborate and imaginative depictions go beyond the inspired writings of Scripture. While some early Christians valued the text and even included it in limited church readings, it was ultimately rejected from the biblical canon due to doubts about its authorship and doctrinal reliability. Today, the Apocalypse of Peter stands as a historical witness to early Christian thought about judgment and the end times. It reminds us of the seriousness of sin, the certainty of God’s justice, and the hope found only in those faithful to Christ.

from the old testament

The content of the Apocalypse of Peter focuses on false teachers in the last days and the final judgment. One passage vividly describes divine wrath with imagery of fire, darkness, and cosmic upheaval, reflecting the intensity of God’s coming judgment. These scenes echo Old Testament depictions of end-time judgment, such as Isaiah 13:10 and Joel 2:30-31.

from the new testament

The Apocalypse of Peter is also similar to end-time judgment passages in 2 Peter 3:10-12 and Revelation 20:11-15.
In the Ethiopian version of the Apocalypse of Peter, Jesus expands on His response to the disciples’ question in Matthew 24:3 about the signs of the end of the age and gives extended commentary after the parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32–35).
Clearly, the Apocalypse of Peter draws on the same themes as Scripture—God’s justice, the reality of final judgment, and the call to repentance and readiness for Christ’s return (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:31-46). However, while the Apocalypse of Peter expands these images with vivid and imaginative detail, the Bible remains the authoritative revelation, calling us to faithfulness and hope in the midst of coming judgment.

implications for today

The Apocalypse of Peter (also known as the Revelation of Peter) is a pseudepigraphal writing alleged as authored by the apostle Peter that was written in the second century. It exists in three Greek manuscripts (two are incomplete) and in one Ethiopian manuscript, which differs greatly from the Greek text.

The origin of the Apocalypse of Peter can be safely assigned to the second century due to the Muratorian Canon. The Muratorian Canon is the oldest known list of New Testament books from as early as AD 170. It notes the Apocalypse of Peter as a book received yet about which there was disagreement as to its use for common reading. Since it likely quotes 4 Esdras (written about AD 100), the Apocalypse of Peter is often believed to have been written about this time. Its author was not the apostle Peter (who died in the 60s AD) and remains unknown.

The book was quoted frequently in early ancient writings as well as by the church fathers. Due to this, some felt it was an authoritative writing, yet by the end of the second century its popularity had waned. However, in the fifth-century a church historian named Sozomen wrote that to his knowledge the Apocalypse of Peter was still read each year in some churches in Palestine on Good Friday. Of major concern is that the existing manuscripts vary greatly, indicating that the original text of this document cannot be determined with a high degree of confidence.

While many notable features are found in this writing, the Apocalypse of Peter was not authored by the apostle Peter nor is it part of the biblical canon. It has, however, played a strong role in church history as a reminder of false teaching and as a reminder of God's coming judgment at the end of time.

understand

The Apocalypse of Peter is a second-century pseudepigraphal text falsely attributed to Peter.
The Apocalypse of Peter depicts vivid scenes of final judgment.
Biblical themes of God’s justice and the end times are presented in the Apocalypse of Peter, but the work adds imaginative, noncanonical details.

reflect

How do you respond when you read about God’s final judgment?
How can you stay alert to false teachings that distort the truth of Scripture, especially regarding the end times?
How does knowing that the Bible alone carries divine authority shape your understanding of writings like the Apocalypse of Peter?

engage

What can we learn from the early church’s caution in distinguishing inspired Scripture from other religious writings?
How do the vivid images of judgment in the Apocalypse of Peter compare with biblical descriptions in passages like Matthew 24 or Revelation 20?
What does the enduring interest in apocalyptic writings reveal about our human longing for justice, restoration, and hope in Christ’s return?