Monstrous and Infernal Beings in the Apocalypse of Paul
The construction of ideal Christianity in fourth century Egypt
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24220/2447-6803v50a2025e15434Keywords:
Apocalypse of Paul, Ancient Christianity, Monastic identity, Monster theoryAbstract
This article investigates ancient Christianity through the symbolic constructions of the Apocalypse of Paul. The study adopts an explanatory approach, analyzing the textual structure of the document, its depictions of infernal realms, and the monstrous figures it contains. Drawing on Jeffrey Jerome Cohen’s theory of the monstrous, the article explores how these entities function as mechanisms of social control and identity formation within the religious context of early Christianity, particularly among Egyptian monastic communities. From a historicalcultural perspective, the analysis interprets the meanings and functions of these monstrous images, highlighting their role in shaping religious experience and moral discourse during the Christianization of the Roman Empire in the fourth century.
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