Overview

The Gospel of Peter is a fragmentary ancient text that provides a unique account of the passion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Discovered in the late 19th century, the surviving portion begins after Jesus' trial and focuses intensely on the crucifixion and its immediate aftermath. It is notable for its dramatic and legendary embellishments not found in the canonical gospels. These include a portrayal of Jesus who is silent and feels no pain on the cross, the explicit shifting of blame from Pontius Pilate to Herod Antipas and the Jewish leadership, and a spectacular resurrection scene witnessed by Roman guards and Jewish elders. In this version, two gigantic angelic beings descend from heaven, enter the tomb, and emerge supporting a resurrected Jesus, followed by a talking cross. Though ultimately rejected by mainstream Christianity, the text is an invaluable witness to the diversity of early Christian beliefs about Jesus's nature and death.

Summary

The surviving fragment of the Gospel of Peter begins where the canonical accounts leave off, after Pilate has washed his hands of the matter. Uniquely, it is King Herod Antipas, not Pilate, who commands the crucifixion. The narrative emphasizes the guilt of 'the Jews' (referring to the leadership), who refuse to wash their hands like Pilate. During the crucifixion, Jesus is described as being silent, 'as though he had no pain.' His final cry is not 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' but 'My power, my power, you have forsaken me,' a phrase that led early critics to accuse the text of docetism. After his death, Joseph of Arimathea receives the body for burial. The Jewish elders, fearing the disciples might steal the body, request a Roman guard from Pilate. The tomb is sealed and watched by both Roman soldiers and the elders themselves. The climax is a dramatic, public resurrection. The guards see two men descend from heaven in a great light. The stone rolls away on its own, and the two men enter the tomb. They then emerge supporting a third man, their heads reaching to heaven while the head of the one they led surpassed the heavens. A cross follows them out of the tomb and is heard to speak, answering a voice from heaven with the word, 'Yes.' The fragment concludes with Mary Magdalene and other women arriving at the empty tomb the next morning.

Historical Context

The Gospel of Peter likely originated in Syria during the mid-second century CE, a period of vibrant theological diversity and literary production within early Christianity. The author was clearly familiar with the four canonical gospels, as the text weaves together elements from Matthew, Luke, and John into a single, harmonized passion narrative. However, it also adds significant legendary material, reflecting a trend in the second century to fill in perceived gaps or enhance the drama of the original gospel stories. The text's strong anti-Judaic polemic, which places the full responsibility for Jesus's death on Herod and the Jewish leadership while completely exonerating Pilate, reflects the growing separation and tension between Jewish and Christian communities at the time. Its Christology, particularly the hints of docetism (the idea that Christ's humanity and suffering were apparent rather than real), places it within a spectrum of early Christian beliefs about Jesus's divine and human natures that were still being debated before the establishment of orthodox doctrine in later centuries.

Why It Was Excluded from the Canon

The Gospel of Peter was rejected from the biblical canon primarily due to its perceived docetic Christology. The church father Serapion of Antioch (c. 200 CE) initially permitted its use but later condemned it after closer examination, noting that it promoted the heretical view that Jesus did not truly suffer on the cross. The text's description of Jesus being silent 'as though he had no pain' and his cry 'My power, my power, you have forsaken me' suggested to orthodox readers that only a divine 'power' inhabited a human shell, rather than Jesus being fully human and fully divine. This theological deviation was the principal cause for its exclusion. Additionally, its pseudepigraphical nature, with an attribution to Peter that scholars deem inauthentic, and its late date of composition relative to the canonical gospels, meant it lacked the apostolic authority required for canonical inclusion. The text's highly legendary and miraculous elements, such as the talking cross, also distinguished it from the more sober accounts that were eventually accepted as scripture.

Key Themes

Key Passages

Reading Tips

When reading the Gospel of Peter, it is most helpful to have the passion narratives from the canonical gospels (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, John 18-20) fresh in your mind. Constantly compare this account to the canonical versions to identify what is similar, what is different, and what is added. Pay close attention to the portrayal of the main characters: How does Jesus experience the crucifixion? Who is responsible for his death? What is the role of the Jewish leaders versus the Romans? Note the highly dramatic and supernatural quality of the resurrection scene. Ask yourself why an ancient author might have made these changes. Considering these questions will illuminate the unique theological perspective and community concerns that gave rise to this fascinating text.

Influence & Legacy

Due to its early condemnation for docetism, the Gospel of Peter had a limited direct influence on the development of mainstream Christian theology. It was largely lost to history until its rediscovery in 1886. However, its existence is a crucial piece of evidence for the diversity of early Christianity and the variety of gospel texts that circulated before the canon was finalized. It demonstrates that different communities held different views on the nature of Christ's suffering and death. The text's spectacular resurrection scene, particularly the detail of the cross following Jesus from the tomb, may have influenced later Christian iconography and art. For modern scholarship, the Gospel of Peter is an invaluable primary source for understanding second-century Christianity, the process of gospel writing, the development of Christology, and the history of early Jewish-Christian relations.

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