The Apocalypse of Paul (ApPl), also known as the Visio Pauli after its Latin title, provides a description of hell that bears overall resemblance to the underworld of the Apocalypse of Peter, yet also differs from it in important ways. This apocalyptic writing popularized the ideas known from the Apocalypse of Peter in the Western Church, exerted a great influence on the medieval images of hell, and most likely inspired Dante. The Latin text of the ApPl, on which this chapter focuses, embodies a textual tradition of several centuries. I will concentrate on the description of hell in chs 31–42 of the ApPl with a twofold purpose: (1) comparing the images of hell in the two Apocalypses and (2) attempting to identify more specifically the origins of the punishments.

Sins in the Apocalypse of Paul

The ApPl starts with a report of the recovery of Paul's alleged account of his heavenly journey referred to in 2 Corinthians 12. Subsequently, an angelus interpres escorts Paul to various places in heaven (chs 3–30, 45–51) and hell (chs 31–44). It is during Paul's visit to hell that a catalogue of sins and punishment, similar to the one in the Apocalypse of Peter, is presented. A preliminary comparison of the two hells shows that the ApPl gives a very different list of sins and punishments, with some sins omitted, and many more added.