The Revelation of Peter - Part 1

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The Savior Speaks with Peter in the Temple (70,13-72,4)

 

The Savior was sitting in the temple, in the three hundredth <year> since its

foundation, <in the month of> the completion of the tenth pillar, and he was at

rest in the plentitude of the living, incorruptible Majesty. He said to me,[3]

" Peter, blessed are those who belong to the Father, for they are above the

heavens. It is he[4] who through me revealed life to people from life. I

reminded those built on what is strong[5] that they should listen to my teaching

and learn to tell the difference between words of righteousness or lawlessness

and words of righteousness, which come from the height of every word of the

fullness of truth. These people have been enlightened in good pleasure by him

whom the principalities sought but did not find, not was he proclaimed among any

of the generations of the prophets; now I[6] have appeared among these people as

the Son of Humanity,[7] exalted above the heavens, among a <huge number> of

people of the same nature.[8]

 

" Peter, you are to become perfect in keeping with your name,[9] along with me,

the one who has chosen you, for through you I have begun a work for the remnant

whom I call to knowledge.[10] (p.492) So be strong until the imitator[11] of

righteousness <...> of the one who first called you.[12] He called you so that

you might understand him properly with regard to the distinction between the

sinews of his hands and feet and the crowning by those of the middle region over

against his radiant body.[13] He will be brought in hope of providing a reward

of honor, and tonight he will reprove you three times. " [14]

 

The Nag Hammadi Scriptures (The International Edition)

Edited by Marvin Meyer; Advisory Board: Wolf-Peter Funk, Paul-Hubert Poirier,

James M. Robinson; Introduction by Elaine H. Pagels

The Revelation of Peter, p.491-492

HarperCollins Publishers - New York

ISBN:978-0-06-052378-7

ISBN-10: 0-06-052378-6

 

Notes:

 

[3] The opening of the text is difficult to understand, and the numbers are

obscure. The sentences may be translated as follows, lit: " The Savior was

sitting in the temple, in the three hundred (or hundredth) of the foundation (or

covenant), in the completion (or agreement, convergence) of the tenth pillar,

and he was resting on the number of the living, incorruptible Majesty. He said

to me... " The translation given here follows the interpretation of Andreas

Werner, in Wilhelm Schneemelcher, ed., 'New Testament Apocrypha', 2.705. In 'Nag

Hammadi Codex VII', 219, Brashler offers a different translation and

interpretation: " As the Savior was sitting in the temple, in the inner part of

the building at the convergence of the tenth pillar, and as he was at rest above

the congregation of the living, incorruptible Majesty, he said to me... "

 

[4] The Father.

 

[5] Cf. 1 'Peter' 2:5.

 

[6] Lit., " he " ; the antecedent of the pronoun indicates that this is Jesus

speaking about himself.

 

[7] Or " Son of Man. "

 

[8] The text has 'sber ('superscript e')nousia'; cf. 'homoousios', as well as

'John' 1:11.

 

[9] Peter means " rock. "

 

[10] Cf. 'Matthew' 16:17-19.

 

[11] Or " imposter " ('piantimimon', here and below). Cf. 'Concept of Our Great

Power' 45.

 

[12] On imitators of the true Savior, cf. 'Matthew' 24; 'Mark' 13; 'Luke' 21;

'Concept of Our Great Power' 44-45.

 

[13] Or " He called you so that you might understand him properly with regard to

the rejection he underwent, and the sinews of his hands and feet, and the

crowning by those of the middle region, and his radiant body. "

 

[14] A reference to the three times Peter denied Jesus at the time of the arrest

of Jesus.