The Visio Pauli and the Gnostic Apocalypse of Paul

by Bremmer, Jan N.; Czachesz, Istvan

• ISBN13: 9789042918511
• ISBN10: 9042918519
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-06-30
• Publisher: Peeters Pub & Booksellers

Summary

The la"Visio Paulira" and the Gnostic la"Apocalypse of Paulra"" is the first modern collection of studies on the most important aspects of the la"Visio Paulira", the most popular early Christian apocalypse in the Middle Ages. The volume starts with a short study of the textual traditions of the la"Visio Paulira", its Jewish and early Christian traditions as well as its influence on later literature, such as Dante. This is followed by studies of the Prologue, the four rivers of Eden, the place of the Ocean, the relation between body and soul, the image of hell and its punishments, and the connection with fantastic literature. Finally, a codicological, comparative, and textual re-evaluation of the Coptic translation attempts to correct earlier errors and to rehabilitate the value and interest of this long neglected version of the la"Visio Paulira". The book is concluded with a study of the earthly tribunal in the fourth heaven of the Gnostic la"Apocalypse of Paulra". As has become customary, the volume is rounded off by an extensive bibliography of the la"Visio Paulira" and the Gnostic la"Apocalypse of Paulra" and a detailed index.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
List of abbreviations	p. ix
Notes on contributors	p. x
The Apocalypse of Paul: Previous History and Afterlife	p. 1
The Miraculous Discovery of the Hidden Manuscript, or the Paratextual Function of the Prologue to the Apocalypse of Paul	p. 23
The Four Rivers of Eden in the Apocalypse of Paul (Visio Pauli). The Intertextual Relationship of Genesis 2.10-14 and the Apocalypse of Paul 23	p. 50
Thinking with Oceans: Muthos, Revelation and the Apocalypse of Paul	p. 77
The Relation between Body and Soul in the Apocalypse of Paul	p. 105
Torture in Hell and Reality	p. 130
The Apocalypse of Paul and Fantastic Literature	p. 144
The Coptic Apocalypse of Paul in Ms Or 7023	p. 158
Earthly Tribunal in the Fourth Heaven (NH V,2 20,5-21,22)	p. 198
Bibliography of the Visio Pauli and the Gnostic Apocalypse of Paul	p. 211
Index of names, subjects and passages	p. 237
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