century arises in connexion with the ΑΡΟΟΑΙΥΡΘΕ ΟΕ Peter, to which Harnack assigns the date 110-160, or probably 120-140. The work is used by the Viennese Church, and therefore the earlier date is more likely. Only a fragment of the Apocalypse is preserved to us, . in which there are some striking coincidences with 2 Peter (cf. M. R. James, A Lecture on the Revelation of Peter). Some of these may be quoted here: (1) πολλοὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἔσονται ψευδοπροφῆται, καὶ ὅδους καὶ δόγματα ποικίλα τῆς ἀπωλείας διδάξουσιν: ἐκεῖνοι δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς ἀπωλείας γενήσονται. καὶ τότε ἐλεύσεται 6 θεός . . . καὶ κρινεῖ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀνομίας (Apoc. § 1; cf. 2 Peter ii. 1, iii. 7, 12.) (2) & Κύριος ἔφη, Ἄγωμεν eis τὸ ὄρος . . . ἀπερχόμενοι δὲ pet αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς οἱ δώδεκα µαθηταί (Apoc. § 2; cf. 2 Peteri. 18). The passage goes on to say that the Apostles desired “that He would show them one of our righteous brethren who have departed,” ἵνα ἴδωμεν ποταποί (2 Peter iti. 11) εἰσι τὴν µορφήν, καὶ θαρσήσαντες παραθαρσύνωµεν καὶ τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἡμῶν ἀνθρώπους (cf. ἐγνωρίσαμεν ὑμῖν, 2 Peter i. 16); ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον (i. 19). (3) τόπον
. αὐχμηρὺν πάνυ; . . . σκοτεινὸν εἶχον αὐτῶν τὸ ἔνδυμα κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα τοῦ τόπου (5 6; cf. i. 19). (4) A frequent use of κολάζειν, or the noun (cf. §§ 6, 7, 10, 11, 2 Peter ti. 9). (5) ot βλασφημοῦντες τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης (§ 6; cf. § 13 and 2 Peter ii. 2, 21). (6) (a) λίµνητις . . πεπληρωμένη βορβόρου (§ 8. BdpBopos occurs in § 9 twice, and in § 16); (0) ἐκυλίοντο (815; cf. ii. 22). (7) ἀμελήσαντες τῆς ἐντολῆς τοῦ θεοῦ (8 15; cf. ii. 21, 11. 2). (8) (2) ἡ γῆ παραστήσει πάντας τῷ θεῷ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως καὶ αὐτὴ μέλλουσα κρίνεσθαι σὺν καὶ τῷ περιέχοντι οὐρανῷ (quoted by Macarius Magnes, 4 pocritica iv. ϐ). (0) τακήσεται πᾶσα δύναμις οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἑλιχθήσεται 6 οὐρανὸς ὡς βιβλίον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἄστρα πεσεῖται Mac. Magn. op. cit. iv. 7; cf. 2 Peter iii. 10-13; see Mayor, ed. pp. cxxx. Π.).
All scholars are agreed that these and other coincidences are more than accidental (cf. Salmon, of. cit., p. 591). Various hypo- theses to account for them are suggested.
(1) Did 2 Peter borrow from the Apocalypse ? (Harnack, Chrono- logie, p. 471). A comparison, however, of the language of the two documents suggests that 2 Peter is simpler and shorter in the ex- pression of the same ideas; and in some cases, ideas and phrases, separated in 2 Peter, are gathered together in one passage in the Apocalypse (cf. (1), (2), (8) above). Bigg (op. cit., p. 207) also σοπ- tends against this hypothesis on the ground that the description of hell is suggested by Plato, Aristophanes, Homer, and especially Virgil, and points to a later date than the Epistle. The rare word ταρταρώσας is indeed used by 2 Peter of the punishment of the wicked after death, and the conception is undoubtedly derived from heathen