H. B. Swete wrote a critical text on this gospel one year after it was discovered. His prolegomena is based in part on lectures he delivered in the divinity school at Cambridge. This is the finest treatment of the gospel's Greek text, which also contains a thorough commentary. His introduction is extensive and traces the apocryphal documents associated with the Apostle Peter for clues to its origins. Swete delves into source criticism comparing several works of a similar kind, as well as the works relation to the canonical accounts. He discusses the doctrinal tendencies of its author and is convinced that the gospel belongs to some community in Western Syria where it was read with authority. Swete dates the work between 150 and 165. Following the text and commentary is a superb translation and comprehensive index of the Greek words used in the fragment. Likewise, his subject index is thorough and useful. While not written for beginners, this valuable volume contains timeless information not found in other editions of the work.
Book Description
The Gospel of Peter was a popular apocryphal Passion narrative written at a time when Docetism was prominent. Three fragments of the work have been preserved: 1) an eighth-century text discovered in a monk's grave in the modern Egyptian city of Akhmim (sixty miles north of Nag Hammadi, where the largest Gnostic library was found); and 2) two small papyri unearthed at Oxyrhynchus dating from the sixth century and first published in 1972. Eusebius reports that Serapion of Antioch did not object to the gospel being read in the churches of Western Syria; however, the text shows evidence of early Gnostic thought. Even though the gospel could have been written independently of the Synoptics, it seems likely that it was based on some authoritative source. The writer identifies himself as Simon Peter, as might be expected of a document from a Jewish-Christian sect. However, this work does not belong to any apostle, for it contains a few rather unusual renderings of the Passion story, including a peculiar version of the resurrection.
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About the Author
Henry Barclay Swete was born at Redlands, Bristol, England, the son of a clergyman, on March 14, 1835. He was educated at King's College, London, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Swete was ordered deacon in 1858 and ordained priest the following year. He was curate of Blagdon, Somerset (1858-65), All Saints', Cambridge (1866-68), and Tor Mohun, Devonshire (1869-72), then rector of Ashdon, Essex (1877-90). He was fellow of his college from 1858 to 1877, tutor from 1872 to 1875, and divinity lecturer in the University of Cambridge from 1875 to 1877. Swete served as professor of pastoral theology in King's College, London (1882-90); and from 1890 to his retirement in 1915 he was regius professor of divinity at Cambridge. He was examining chaplain to the bishop of St. Alban's from 1881 to 1890 and Lady Margaret preacher in 1902-03. His years at Cambridge were prolific, and he wrote on various topics, such as liturgy and theology, biblical languages, early Christian documents, and different aspects of early church history. He died in 1917.
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