‘My Power, Power, You Have Left Me’: Christology in the Gospel of Peter

Heike Omerzu

‘My Power, Power, You Have Left Me’: Christology in the Gospel of Peter

Section of Biblical Exegesis

Abstract

The christology of the Gospel of Peter has been debated ever since the so-called Akhmîm document (PCairo 10759) was discovered in 1886-7. This fragment contains an account of Jesus’ passion and resurrection partly paralleled in the canonical gospels, and it can most likely be identified with the gospel that Serapion, bishop of Antioch, encountered in Rhossus around 200 CE. This essay reconsiders the supposed ‘docetism’ of this text by analysing representations of Jesus’ death on either side of the canonical divide. The starting point is a narrative and intertextual analysis of key features of the Gospel of Peter, including indirect characterization by the use of christological titles, Jesus’ silence during the crucifixion ‘as if he felt no pain’, and his last words at the cross, ‘My power, power, you have forsaken me!' These features are compared to the canonical gospels and other early Christian traditions on Jesus’ death.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Connecting Gospels : Beyond the Canonical/Non-Canonical Divide
Editors	Francis Watson, Sarah Parkhouse
Number of pages	26
Place of Publication	Oxford
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Publication date	1 Jan 2018
Pages	163-188
ISBN (Print)	9780198814801
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2018

Cite this

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abstract = "The christology of the Gospel of Peter has been debated ever since the so-called Akhm{\^i}m document (PCairo 10759) was discovered in 1886-7. This fragment contains an account of Jesus{\textquoteright} passion and resurrection partly paralleled in the canonical gospels, and it can most likely be identified with the gospel that Serapion, bishop of Antioch, encountered in Rhossus around 200 CE. This essay reconsiders the supposed {\textquoteleft}docetism{\textquoteright} of this text by analysing representations of Jesus{\textquoteright} death on either side of the canonical divide. The starting point is a narrative and intertextual analysis of key features of the Gospel of Peter, including indirect characterization by the use of christological titles, Jesus{\textquoteright} silence during the crucifixion {\textquoteleft}as if he felt no pain{\textquoteright}, and his last words at the cross, {\textquoteleft}My power, power, you have forsaken me!' These features are compared to the canonical gospels and other early Christian traditions on Jesus{\textquoteright} death.",

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AB - The christology of the Gospel of Peter has been debated ever since the so-called Akhmîm document (PCairo 10759) was discovered in 1886-7. This fragment contains an account of Jesus’ passion and resurrection partly paralleled in the canonical gospels, and it can most likely be identified with the gospel that Serapion, bishop of Antioch, encountered in Rhossus around 200 CE. This essay reconsiders the supposed ‘docetism’ of this text by analysing representations of Jesus’ death on either side of the canonical divide. The starting point is a narrative and intertextual analysis of key features of the Gospel of Peter, including indirect characterization by the use of christological titles, Jesus’ silence during the crucifixion ‘as if he felt no pain’, and his last words at the cross, ‘My power, power, you have forsaken me!' These features are compared to the canonical gospels and other early Christian traditions on Jesus’ death.

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‘My Power, Power, You Have Left Me’: Christology in the Gospel of Peter

Abstract

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