April 30, 2021 — The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter

“And when I said these things, the Savior said, “I have told you that these (people) are blind and deaf. Now then, listen to the things which they are telling you in a mystery, and guard them, Do not tell them to the sons of this age. For they shall blaspheme you in these ages since they are ignorant of you, but they will praise you in knowledge.” “For many will accept our teaching in the beginning. And they will turn from them again by the will of the Father of their error, because they have done what he wanted. And he will reveal them in his judgment, i.e., the servants of the Word. But those who became mingled with these shall become their prisoners, since they are without perception. And the guileless, good, pure one they push to the worker of death, and to the kingdom of those who praise Christ in a restoration. And they praise the men of the propagation of falsehood, those who will come after you. And they will cleave to the name of a dead man, thinking that they will become pure. But they will become greatly defiled and they will fall into a name of error, and into the hand of an evil, cunning man and a manifold dogma, and they will be ruled without law.” “For some of them will blaspheme the truth and proclaim evil teaching. And they will say evil things against each other. Some will be named: (those) who stand in (the) strength of the archons, of a man and a naked woman who is manifold and subject to much suffering. And those who say these things will ask about dreams. And if they say that a dream came from a demon worthy of their error, then they shall be given perdition instead of incorruption.” (Coptic Apocalypse of Peter)

The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter is an early Christian apocalypse, written pseudonymously in Peter’s name. A text that is titled as “Pseudonymously” means it was falsely attributed to Peter – someone other than Peter wrote the apocalypse. Since it shares terminology and concepts with related second- and third-century traditions, including other Nag Hammadi writings, it is typically characterized as “gnostic.” In this writing Jesus issues dire warnings against the teaching of heretics. These heretics are named as the bishop and deacons of the “orthodox” or traditional church. What these gnostic teachers call “false” is their belief that Christ did not suffer on the cross. This author believes that, though Christ’s flesh was killed, Christ was far removed from suffering. Those with the right “gnosis” or knowledge did not see the suffering Jesus on the cross, but the living Christ who was laughing at the entire proceeding as he stood far away, possibly at the right hand of G-d.

We too wonder how G-d could have allowed Jesus to suffer on the cross. I have told people before that if Christ did not actually allow himself to be nailed on the cross, suffer for all of humanity, and die for our sins, then the cross event is completely devoid of its power. Yes, we wish there could have been another way for humanity to be saved from ourselves, but extraordinary times required extraordinary measures. That is how much G-d loves all of humanity – G-d loved the world so much G-d sent the Son to die for you and me.

Difficult or not, we stand in the shadow of the cross in awe of the length G-d went for our salvation.

Pastor Dave