The Letter of Peter to Philip is a Gnostic writing.[1][2] It was initially discovered as the second tractate in Codex VIII of the Nag Hammadi library.[1] The tractate is a Coptic translation of a Greek original,[1] likely written in c. 200 AD.[2] An additional copy of the text, also written in Coptic, was later found in Codex Tchacos.[3] The writing begins as an epistle from Peter to Philip the Apostle,[4] but the narrative changes to a dialogue between Jesus and the disciples.[2] The central message of the writing is to emphasize the soteriological value of preaching the message of Jesus.[1] While the work is an epistle (letter), in practice it is more of an apocalypse, revealing secrets from Christ in the form of a dialogue recorded in a letter.[5]
^ abcdMoon, Beverly. "Letter of Peter to Philip". The Coptic encyclopedia, volume 5. Claremont Graduate University. School of Religion. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^Kaler, Michael (2009). "The Letter of Peter to Philip and Its Message of Gnostic Revelation and Christian Unity". Vigiliae Christianae. 63 (3): 264–95. doi:10.1163/157007208X377247. JSTOR20700315.