Why wasn the Apocalypse of Peter included in Biblical canon?
Though it was referenced by Clement, likely used by the author of the Apocalypse of Paul, and was included in the Muratorian Canon (c.200 C.E.) as well as the Codex Claramontanus, it was omitted from other canon lists. It is difficult to speculate why it fell out of favor in the orthodox church. It probably included several contributing factors: 1) the church was very leery (and increasingly embarrassed) by apocalypses in general. Even John’s was constantly argued about, and notably absent from several of the early canon lists. 2) the Apcalypse of Peter was often associated with the heretical Gospel of Peter in the minds of many, especially heretics, even though the works have no notable similarity to eachother, and the wording and styles are very different and evidently the work of two very different authors. 3) “It was not recieved”, meaning outside of Italy, it was essentially unknown in most of the other apostolic churches (that is the ones founded by the actual apostles) – most im
