Advertisement
Gnostic Gospel: Unveiling the Hidden Teachings of Early Christianity
Are you intrigued by the mysteries surrounding early Christianity? Have you heard whispers of secret gospels, hidden teachings, and a different path to salvation than the one presented in the canonical New Testament? Then you've stumbled upon the right place. This comprehensive guide delves into the fascinating world of the Gnostic Gospel, exploring its key tenets, historical context, and enduring legacy. We'll unravel the complexities of this often-misunderstood branch of early Christianity, separating fact from fiction and providing a clear understanding of its significance in the history of religious thought.
What is the Gnostic Gospel?
The term "Gnostic Gospel" doesn't refer to a single, unified text but rather encompasses a diverse collection of writings discovered primarily in the Nag Hammadi library in Egypt in 1945. These texts offer alternative narratives of Jesus's life and teachings, radically different from the orthodox Christian accounts found in the Bible. Gnosticism, the underlying philosophy, emphasizes the importance of gnosis, or spiritual knowledge, as the path to liberation from the material world and union with the divine.
Key Features of Gnostic Gospels:
1. The Divine Spark Within:
Unlike orthodox Christianity, which often emphasizes sin and redemption through faith, Gnostic Gospels highlight the inherent divinity within each individual. They posit that a divine spark, a piece of the creator God, is trapped within the material world. Salvation, therefore, isn't about atoning for sin but about recognizing and liberating this inner divinity through spiritual enlightenment.
2. The Demiurge and the True God:
Gnostic texts often introduce a complex cosmology. The creator God of the Old Testament, the Demiurge, is portrayed not as the supreme being, but as an inferior, flawed creator who inadvertently created the material world and trapped the divine sparks within it. The true God, often referred to as the Monad or Pleroma, remains unknowable and transcendent.
3. Secret Knowledge (Gnosis):
The acquisition of gnosis, or esoteric knowledge, is paramount in Gnostic thought. This knowledge isn't gained through faith or adherence to dogma but through spiritual insight, self-reflection, and often through the guidance of a spiritual teacher (often called a "Sophia" in some texts). This secret knowledge reveals the true nature of reality and the path to liberation.
4. Different Portrayals of Jesus:
Gnostic Gospels present a different image of Jesus compared to the canonical Gospels. He is often depicted not simply as a divine teacher but as a divine being who came to reveal the true nature of the God and to assist humanity in liberating the divine spark. His crucifixion and resurrection might have symbolic or allegorical meanings rather than being interpreted literally.
Historical Context and Significance:
The Gnostic Gospels emerged during the same period as orthodox Christianity, vying for dominance within early Christian communities. Their discovery profoundly impacted our understanding of early Christianity's diversity and the complex theological debates that shaped its development. While the church fathers ultimately rejected Gnostic teachings as heresy, the Gnostic Gospels provide valuable insights into alternative interpretations of Jesus and the nature of the divine. Their influence on later religious and philosophical movements, particularly within Neoplatonism and esoteric traditions, is undeniable.
The Misconception of Gnosticism:
It is crucial to dispel some common misconceptions about Gnosticism. It's often portrayed as a nihilistic or dualistic system that denigrates the material world. While some Gnostic texts exhibit elements of dualism, the complexity of Gnostic thought defies simplistic categorization. Many Gnostic teachings emphasize the importance of self-knowledge and ethical living within the material world, even while seeking liberation from its limitations.
Conclusion:
The Gnostic Gospels offer a captivating glimpse into a vibrant, diverse, and intellectually challenging branch of early Christianity. Their discovery challenges our conventional understanding of religious history, forcing us to reconsider the monolithic narrative often presented. Studying these texts requires careful consideration, understanding their historical context and recognizing the diverse range of beliefs and practices within Gnosticism. While not considered canonical within mainstream Christianity, the Gnostic Gospels remain vital sources for understanding the intellectual and spiritual ferment of early Christianity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Are Gnostic Gospels part of the Bible? No, the Gnostic Gospels are not included in the Bible's canon. They were deemed heretical by early church fathers.
2. Where can I find translations of Gnostic Gospels? Many translations of Gnostic texts are available online and in academic bookstores. Look for reputable publishers and scholarly translations.
3. What is the difference between Gnosticism and orthodox Christianity? The core difference lies in the understanding of salvation. Orthodox Christianity emphasizes faith in Jesus's sacrifice, while Gnosticism emphasizes achieving gnosis (spiritual knowledge) to liberate the divine spark within.
4. Were all Gnostic groups similar in their beliefs? No, Gnosticism was a diverse movement with various schools of thought and different theological interpretations.
5. How did the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library impact our understanding of early Christianity? The discovery revealed the significant diversity of religious thought within early Christianity and challenged the notion of a single, unified early Christian tradition. It provided a more nuanced and complex picture of early Christian history.
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospels Elaine Pagels, 2004-06-29 Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Gnostic Gospels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time. In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today. With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of “Christianities” emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment—and access to God—within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary—or worthy—expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed—and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message. Brilliant, provocative, and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus Marvin W. Meyer, 2009-09-15 For all those readers curious to read the actual texts of the Gnostic Gospels, here is the definitive collection of all the Gnostic Gospels and Gospel–like texts. o Marvin Meyer, premier scholar of Gnostic and other Christian literature outside the New Testament, presents every Gnostic Gospel and Jesus text with a brilliant overall introduction, introductions to each text, and notes that explain everything the reader needs to know to understand the text. He includes his latest translations of not only the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Mary, but other texts such as the Secret Book of John, which some scholars regard as the second part of the New Testament Gospel of John. The material is largely from the discovery at Nag Hammadi, freshly translated and introduced, but also includes texts found elsewhere. The texts, especially taken together, present an image of Jesus as the ultimate wisdom teacher, a kind of mysterious Jewish Zen master, who scandalized listeners by his radical egalitarianism (regarding women, slaves, the poor, the marginalized as of equal status, or more, with establishment male believers) and his insistence on living the message, spiritual experience, vs. outer observance only. o For those wanting to learn more after reading The Da Vinci Code. This book provides the definitive next book for those looking for expert presentation of the alternative Gnostic stream of Christianity, in which there is no talk of crucifixion and Mary Magdalene is presented as the disciple that Jesus loved best. Marv is one of the original secret gospels scholars who has done an enormous amount of work to bring these texts to light. All of his research on the Nag Hammadi texts is having an incredible impact on our knowledge of early Christian history––it is virtually redefining it. ––Dr. Elaine Pagels, Princeton University |
| gnostic gospel: The Nag Hammadi Library in English James McConkey Robinson, 1984 |
| gnostic gospel: The Secret Teachings of Jesus , 1986-05-12 In December 1945, two Egyptian fellahin, digging for natural fertilizer in the Nile River valley unearthed a sealed storage jar. The jar proved to hold treasure of an unexpected sort: a collection of some fifty-two ancient manuscripts, most of which reflect the teachings of a mystical religious movement we call Gnosticism (from the Greek word gnosis, knowledge). The texts are also, with few exceptions, Christian documents, and thus they provide us with valuable new information about the character of the early church, and about the Gnostic Christians within the church. In this volume, Marvin W. Meyer has produced a new English translation for general readers of four of the most important and revealing of these early Christian texts -- the Secret Book of James, the Gospel of Thomas, the Book of Thomas, and the Secret Book of John. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospels Alan Jacobs, Vrej N. Nersessian, 2016-11-15 This eye-opening collection of texts sheds light on the esoteric knowledge of Gnosticism, revealing intimate conversations between Jesus and his Disciples In 1945, several gospels, hidden since the first century, were found in the Egyptian Desert at Nag Hammadi. This discovery caused a sensation as the scrolls revealed the mysteries of the Gnostics—a movement which emerged during the formative period of Christianity. ‘Gnosis’, from the Greek, broadly meaning ‘hidden spiritual knowledge’, was associated with renouncing the material world, and focusing on attaining the life of the Holy Spirit. Many Christian sects are derived from the esoteric knowledge of Gnosticism. The gospels selected here by Alan Jacobs reveal intimate conversations between Jesus and his Disciples. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene sheds new light on his relationship with his favorite follower, while the Gospel of Thomas consists of mini-parables of deep inward and symbolic meaning—many of which are not found in the New Testament. The wisdom in this inspiring collection of texts is wholly relevant to our lives today, addressing the questions of good and evil, sin and suffering, and the path to salvation. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Bible Willis Barnstone, Marvin W. Meyer, 2006 The most comprehensive collection of gnostic literature ever published, this volume is the result of a unique collaboration between a renowned poet-translator and a leading scholar of early Christian texts. |
| gnostic gospel: The Secret Book of John , 2005 The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel - Annotated & Explained decodes the principal themes, historical foundation, and spiritual contexts of this challenging yet fundamental Gnostic teaching. Drawing connections to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, kabbalistic Judaism, and Sufism, Davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the Gnostic religious quest. He illuminates the Gnostics' ardent call for self-awareness and introspection, and the empowering message that divine wholeness will be restored not by worshiping false gods in an illusory material world but by our recognition of the inherent divinity within ourselves.--BOOK JACKET. |
| gnostic gospel: The Essential Gnostic Gospels Alan Jacobs, 2006 The Gnostics were early Christians whose beliefs and practices put them at odds with the orthodox Church; indeed, the Church considered Gnostics to be heretics and made a concerted effort to destroy their writings. However, in 1945, a remarkable discovery was made in Nag Hamadi, in the Egyptian desert: a jar containing 13 papyrus documents, dating back to the fourth century ad, with genuine Gnostic texts in the original Greek. In addition, this manuscript included four gospels that offered accounts of Jesus and His times that are strikingly different from the New Testament. Alan Jacobs brings his unrivalled scholarship to bear on these illuminating and eye-opening works, offering inspiring and poetic translations that capture the verses’ uplifting spiritual message and beauty. |
| gnostic gospel: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels J. Michael Matkin, 2005 The founding of the early Christian Church had as much to do with politics and intrigue as it did with theology and religion. This history and the documents uncovered at the Nag Hammadi site in Egypt have formed the basis of some of the most interesting and mysterious questions today. Was Mary Magdalene a disciple of Jesus? What role did Jesus mother Mary play? What does the Gospel of Thomas tells us? Enter The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels. Expert author J. Michael Matkin has provided easy and understandable overviews to all these major works and more. With chapters discussing each of the major and minor documents found at Nag Hammadi, the book also includes an overview of Gnosticism and its most influential people. Readers get an easy, understandable view of the early Church, these relatively new documents, and their meaning to modern religion and philosophy today. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Discoveries Marvin W. Meyer, 2009-07-21 The Meaning of the Nag Hammadi, now in paperback opens the with the thrilling adventure story of the discovery of the ancient Papyrii at Nag Hammadi. Muhammad Ali, the fellahin, discovered the sealed jar, he feared that it might contain a jinni, or spirit, but also had heard of hidden treasures in such jars. Greed overcame his fears and when he smashed open the jar, gold seemed to float into the air. To his disappointment, it was papyrus fragmenst, not gold, but for scholars around the world, it was invaluable. Meyer then discusses the pre–Christian forms of wisdom that went onto influence what Christians believe today. In addition, some Nag Hammadi texts are attributed to Valentinus, a man who almost became Pope, and whose rejection changed the church in significant ways. Text by text, Meyer traces the history and impact of this great find on the Church, right up to our current beliefs and popular cultural fascination with this officially suppressed secret knowledge about Jesus and his followers. |
| gnostic gospel: Pistis Sophia G. R. S. Mead, 2012-03-08 The first English translation, published in 1896, of an important gnostic text preserved in a Coptic manuscript. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Paul Elaine Pagels, 1992-03-01 In this highly original work, Elaine Pagels demonstrates how evidence from gnostic sources may challenge the assumption that Paul writes his letters to combat gnostic opponents and to repudiate their claims to secret wisdom. Drawing upon evidence from the gnostic exegesis of Paul, including several Nag Hammadi texts, the author examines how gnostic exegetes cite and interpret key passages in the letters they consider Pauline-1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Hebrews. Besides offering new insight into controversies over Paul in the second century, this analysis of gnostic exegesis suggests a new perspective for Pauline study, challenging students and scholars to recognize the presuppositions-hermenuetical and theological-involved in their own reading of Paul's letters. Elaine H. Pagels is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University. She is the author of The Gnostic Gospels, which won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Johannie Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis, Adam, Eve, and the Serpent, and the best-selling Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas. |
| gnostic gospel: Reading Judas Elaine Pagels, Karen L. King, 2007-03-06 The instant New York Times bestseller interpreting the controversial long-lost gospel The recently unearthed Gospel of Judas is a source of fascination for biblical scholars and lay Christians alike. Now two leading experts on the Gnostic gospels tackle the important questions posed by its discovery, including: How could any Christian imagine Judas to be Jesus' favorite? And what kind of vision of God does the author offer? Working from Karen L. King's brilliant new translation, Elaine Pagels and King provide the context necessary for considering its meaning. Reading Judas plunges into the heart of Christianity itself and will stand as the definitive look at the gospel for years to come. |
| gnostic gospel: Beyond the Gnostic Gospels Eduard Iricinschi, Lance Jenott, Nicola Denzey Lewis, Philippa Townsend, 2013 This volume gathers contributions from both junior and senior scholars whose studies have developed in dialogue with Elaine Pagels' work on Nag Hammadi literature and ancient heresiology. Published initially in 1979, Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels represents a landmark of scholarship in religious studies. It not only made the Nag Hammadi writings and Gnosticism popular topics in modern culture, it also invited scholars to rethink early Christianity from new perspectives. What were previously seen as dry theological arguments and intricate Gnostic mythologies received new interpretations in the Gnostic Gospels as echoes of political debates about orthodoxy and heresy, clerical authority, martyrdom and gender. After The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels extended her research in various directions, from perceptions of sexuality in early Christianity and identity politics in the Christian creation of the Satan figure to ancient biblical interpretations, ritual in Nag Hammadi texts, and, recently, the Gospel of Judas and ancient apocalypses. The studies included in this volume engage each stage of Pagels' vast trajectory, and provide critical evaluations of the field of Gnosticism studies as it has developed over the past four decades, in the subfields of the Sethian and Valentinian schools, and beyond. The studies include new interpretations of the Nag Hammadi texts and fresh analyses of ancient heresiological literature. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospels Elaine Pagels, 1989-09-19 A provocative study of the gnostic gospels and the world of early Christianity as revealed through the Nag Hammadi texts. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Bible: The Pistis Sophia Unveiled Samael Aun Weor, 2011-02-24 “It came to pass, when Jesus had risen from the dead, that he passed eleven years discoursing with his disciples, and instructing them.” The Apostles wrote down what Jesus taught them during those eleven years, resulting in The Pistis Sophia, the most important Gnostic scripture. Includes an extensive commentary by Samael Aun Weor. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gospel of Judas, Second Edition Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, Gregor Wurst, Francois Gaudard, 2008-06-17 For 1,600 years its message lay hidden. When the bound papyrus pages of this lost gospel finally reached scholars who could unlock its meaning, they were astounded. Here was a gospel that had not been seen since the early days of Christianity, and which few experts had even thought existed–a gospel told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, history’s ultimate traitor. And far from being a villain, the Judas that emerges in its pages is a hero. In this radical reinterpretation, Jesus asks Judas to betray him. In contrast to the New Testament Gospels, Judas Iscariot is presented as a role model for all those who wish to be disciples of Jesus and is the one apostle who truly understands Jesus. Discovered by farmers in the 1970s in Middle Egypt, the codex containing the gospel was bought and sold by antiquities traders, secreted away, and carried across three continents, all the while suffering damage that reduced much of it to fragments. In 2001, it finally found its way into the hands of a team of experts who would painstakingly reassemble and restore it. The Gospel of Judas has been translated from its original Coptic to clear prose, and is accompanied by commentary that explains its fascinating history in the context of the early Church, offering a whole new way of understanding the message of Jesus Christ. |
| gnostic gospel: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels J. Michael Matkin, 2005-09-06 The birth of the Christian Church—and what it means for modern religion and philosophy. This engaging guide presents an accessible overview of the birth of the Christian Church, using the historical works found at the famous Nag Hammadi site in Egypt. With chapters discussing each of the major and minor documents found at Nag Hammadi, this volume also includes an overview of Gnosticism and the major players, revealing not only what the texts say, but also what they mean. - Renewed interest in Gnosticism and the Gnostic gospels is driven by interest in the Nag Hammadi documents, The Da Vinci Code, the Matrix movies, the Kabbalah, renewed interest in the divine feminine ideal, and the fact that many who’ve left the Church are looking for new answers in the early church. - Author is a scholar and expert who’s studied with some of the top people in the field. |
| gnostic gospel: The Everything Gnostic Gospels Book Meera Lester, 2007-02-12 The books of the Bible are not the only ancient writings to tell the stories of Jesus and his followers - other Gnostic texts have also been found as well. The Everything Gnostic Gospels Book provides an overview of Gnosticism and the historical figures who are believed to be the authors: Thomas, James, Mary Magdalene, and others. This accessible guide explores the following questions: What do Gnostics believe? Who were the authors of the Gnostic Gospels? How are the Bible scriptures and Gnostic Gospels different? How are they the same? How were official Christian texts chosen? Learn about the different versions of Christianity that battled for supremacy in the first centuries after the death of Jesus. This entertaining and educational book describes each of the Gnostic Gospels, providing insight into the turbulent times of early Christianity as well as the renewed contemporary interest in these mysterious writings. |
| gnostic gospel: From Jesus to Christ Paula Fredriksen, 2008-10-01 Magisterial. . . . A learned, brilliant and enjoyable study.—Géza Vermès, Times Literary Supplement In this exciting book, Paula Fredriksen explains the variety of New Testament images of Jesus by exploring the ways that the new Christian communities interpreted his mission and message in light of the delay of the Kingdom he had preached. This edition includes an introduction reviews the most recent scholarship on Jesus and its implications for both history and theology. Brilliant and lucidly written, full of original and fascinating insights.—Reginald H. Fuller, Journal of the American Academy of Religion This is a first-rate work of a first-rate historian.—James D. Tabor, Journal of Religion Fredriksen confronts her documents—principally the writings of the New Testament—as an archaeologist would an especially rich complex site. With great care she distinguishes the literary images from historical fact. As she does so, she explains the images of Jesus in terms of the strategies and purposes of the writers Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.—Thomas D’Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor |
| gnostic gospel: Christless Christianity Michael Horton, 2008-11-01 Is it possible that we have left Christ out of Christianity? Is the faith and practice of American Christians today more American than Christian? These are the provocative questions Michael Horton addresses in this thoughtful, insightful book. He argues that while we invoke the name of Christ, too often Christ and the Christ-centered gospel are pushed aside. The result is a message and a faith that are, in Horton's words, trivial, sentimental, affirming, and irrelevant. This alternative gospel is a message of moralism, personal comfort, self-help, self-improvement, and individualistic religion. It trivializes God, making him a means to our selfish ends. Horton skillfully diagnoses the problem and points to the solution: a return to the unadulterated gospel of salvation. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospels of Thomas, Mary & John Katherine John, 2013-01-28 Collected here are three gnostic writings from Thomas, Mary, and John. These books that were left out of the New Testament shed light on the life and relationships of Jesus Christ and his friends and family, especially his mother Mary. |
| gnostic gospel: The New Testament and Gnosis Alastair Logan, Alexander J. M. Wedderburn, 2015-01-29 Important essays on Gnosis and Gnosticism. Contributors include Rudolph, Pagels, Grant, and Barrett. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Jean-Yves Leloup, 2005-02-16 A new translation and analysis of the gospel that records the actual words of Jesus • Explores the gnostic significance of Jesus's teachings recorded in this gospel • Explains the true nature of the new man whose coming Jesus envisioned • Translated and interpreted by the author of the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead it is a collection of his teachings--what he actually said. These 114 logia, or sayings, were collected by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim to be Jesus's closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration. In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing Thomas has much in common with gnostics of non-dualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians but so we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic New Age April D. DeConick, 2016-09-27 Gnosticism is a countercultural spirituality that forever changed the practice of Christianity. Before it emerged in the second century, passage to the afterlife required obedience to God and king. Gnosticism proposed that human beings were manifestations of the divine, unsettling the hierarchical foundations of the ancient world. Subversive and revolutionary, Gnostics taught that prayer and mediation could bring human beings into an ecstatic spiritual union with a transcendent deity. This mystical strain affected not just Christianity but many other religions, and it characterizes our understanding of the purpose and meaning of religion today. In The Gnostic New Age, April D. DeConick recovers this vibrant underground history to prove that Gnosticism was not suppressed or defeated by the Catholic Church long ago, nor was the movement a fabrication to justify the violent repression of alternative forms of Christianity. Gnosticism alleviated human suffering, soothing feelings of existential brokenness and alienation through the promise of renewal as God. DeConick begins in ancient Egypt and follows with the rise of Gnosticism in the Middle Ages, the advent of theosophy and other occult movements in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and contemporary New Age spiritual philosophies. As these theories find expression in science-fiction and fantasy films, DeConick sees evidence of Gnosticism's next incarnation. Her work emphasizes the universal, countercultural appeal of a movement that embodies much more than a simple challenge to religious authority. |
| gnostic gospel: Judas and the Gospel of Jesus Nicholas Thomas Wright, 2006 N.T. Wright, an ancient historian, biblical scholar, and bishop, offers a Christian response to the discovery (and the sensation surrounding that discovery) of the Gospel of Judas. |
| gnostic gospel: Cold-Case Christianity J. Warner Wallace, 2013-01-01 Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator. Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity. |
| gnostic gospel: The Nag Hammadi Scriptures Marvin W. Meyer, James M. Robinson, 2010-09-14 The Nag Hammadi Scriptures, edited by Marvin Meyer, is the most complete, up-to-date, one-volume, English-language edition of the renowned library of Gnostic manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945, which rivaled the Dead Sea Scrolls find in significance. It includes the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the recently discovered Gospel of Judas, as well as other Gnostic gospels and sacred texts. This volume also includes introductory essays, notes, tables, glossary, index, etc. to help the reader understand the context and contemporary significance of these texts which have shed new light on early Christianity and ancient thought. The compilation of ancient manuscripts that constitute The Nag Hammadi Scriptures is a discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about the early Christian church, ancient Judaism, and Greco-Roman religions. |
| gnostic gospel: The Origin of Satan Elaine Pagels, 1996-04-30 From the National Book Award-winning and National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of The Gnostic Gospels comes a dramatic interpretation of Satan and his role on the Christian tradition. Arresting...brilliant...this book illuminates the angels with which we must wrestle to come to the truth of our bedeviling spritual problems. —The Boston Globe With magisterial learning and the elan of a born storyteller, Pagels turns Satan’s story into an audacious exploration of Christianity’s shadow side, in which the gospel of love gives way to irrational hatreds that continue to haunt Christians and non-Christians alike. |
| gnostic gospel: Hidden Gospels Philip Jenkins, 2002-12-05 This incisive critique thoroughly and convincingly debunks the claims that recently discovered texts such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and even the Dead Sea Scrolls undermine the historical validity of the New Testament. Jenkins places the recent controversies surrounding the hidden gospels in a broad historical context and argues that, far from being revolutionary, such attempts to find an alternative Christianity date back at least to the Enlightenment. By employing the appropriate scholarly and historical methodologies, he demonstrates that the texts purported to represent pristine Christianity were in fact composed long after the canonical gospels found in the Bible. Produced by obscure heretical movements, these texts have attracted much media attention chiefly because they seem to support radical, feminist, and post-modern positions in the modern church. Indeed, Jenkins shows how best-selling books on the hidden gospels have been taken up by an uncritical, drama-hungry media as the basis for a social movement that could have powerful effects on the faith and practice of contemporary Christianity. |
| gnostic gospel: The Other Gospels , 2013-11-20 Bart Ehrman--the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus and a recognized authority on the early Christian Church--and Zlatko Plese--a foremost authority on Christian Gnosticism--here offer a valuable compilation of over 40 ancient gospel texts and textual fragments that do not appear in the New Testament. This comprehensive collection contains Gospels describing Jesus's infancy, ministry, Passion, and resurrection, and includes the controversial manuscript discoveries of modern times, such as the Gospel of Thomas and the most recent Gospel to be discovered, the Gospel of Judas Iscariot. Each translation begins with a thoughtful examination of important historical, literary, and textual issues in order to place the Gospel in its proper context. This volume is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in early Christianity and the deeper meanings of these apocryphal Gospels. |
| gnostic gospel: Studies in the New Testament and Gnosticism George W. MacRae, 1987 |
| gnostic gospel: Stolen Identity Peter Jones, 2005-12 In his newest work, Jones confronts the Gnostic idea of Jesus, and contrasts it with the true, biblical person of Jesus. Through this treatise, author Peter Jones shows readers that Our Savior can be personally known. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gospel of the Gnostics Duncan Greenlees, 2006-10 Recommended by top scholars in the field of Gnostic studies for many years, but has been virtually impossible to find until now. One of the best books on the subject, essential for any serious researcher. A virtual gold mine of Gnostic material, some translated and presented here for the first time. |
| gnostic gospel: ˜Theœ Gospel of the Egyptians Alexander Böhlig, 1975 |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Gospel Illuminated Cyd Charise Ropp, Ph.D., 2019-03-21 Hidden secrets of the Gnostic Gospel are demystified for the first time in history. Gnosis is freely dispensed within these pages for those who have eyes to see and a desire for truth. Each Gnostic feature is illustrated by the author in a way that makes the meanings clear. I have purposely stripped away unnecessary details that do nothing but confuse the matter. No lists of names of aeons nor discussions of numerology. Just the simple gnostic gospel presented in 50 full-color, glossy pages. Enlightenment, salvation, and redemption may be found within these pages. The Kingdom is at hand. |
| gnostic gospel: A Study Guide for Elaine Pagels's "The Gnostic Gospels" Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016 |
| gnostic gospel: The Secret History of the Gnostics Andrew Phillip Smith, 2015-11-24 Learn more about the myths, practices, history, and recent resurgence of Gnosticism as a Gnostic scholar seeks to answer why this Christian mystical movement has inspired the likes of Dan Brown and Philip Pullman The Secret History of the Gnostics offers long-awaited illumination on the mystical movement that teaches ‘gnosis’—knowledge of God as opposed to unquestioning faith. Acclaimed author Andrew Phillip Smith delves into the myths and practices of this ancient movement, exploring its popularity during 2nd century AD, its subsequent decline under the weight of orthodoxy in the Church, and its present-day resurgence. Gnosticism has travelled a fascinating path—from the Manichaeans in Modern Persia between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD, to the triumphs and tragedies of the Cathars in Southern Europe between the 12th and 14th centuries, to, finally, today’s Mandaeans in Iraq. However, as the author points out, the revival of Gnosticism extends further than these narrow sects, offering inspiration to a legion of literary figures, including Dan Brown and Philip Pullman. Gnosticism’s emphasis on personal over organized religion—in keeping with the doctrine of the early Christian era during which it thrived—has found particular resonance with today’s multicultural world. In addition to discussing the Gnostic gospels and the sect’s practical beliefs and customers, The Secret History of the Gnostics is also, in effect, a manifesto, an appeal to those inspired by or drawn to the Gnostic faith not to forget its origins. |
| gnostic gospel: What is Gnosticism? Karen L. King, 2003 A study of gnosticism examines the various ways early Christians strove to define themselves in a pluralistic Roman society, while questioning the traditional ideas of heresy and orthodoxy that have previously influenced historians. |
| gnostic gospel: The Gnostic Scriptures Bentley Layton, 1995-01-08 This introduction to the gnostic scriptures takes a look at the theology, religious atmosphere and literary traditions of ancient Christianity and Hellenistic Judaism. |
The Secret Teachings Of Jesus Four Gnostic Gospels (PDF)
The Secret Teachings Of Jesus Four Gnostic Gospel ; Alan … Mar 12, 2024 · containing 13 papyrus documents, dating back to the fourth century ad, with genuine Gnostic texts in the original Greek. In addition, this manuscript included four gospels that offered accounts of Jesus and His times that are strikingly different from the New Testament.
The Gospel of Mary Coptic-English Interlinear
Gospel for us today, see my book The Gospel of Mary: A Fresh Translation and Holistic Approach, available from Amazon.com. Notes 1Cf. Esther De Boer, Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Trinity Press International), 1997, pp. 75,76,79; Karen L. King, The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle (Polebridge Press), 2003, pp. 7-12.
THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS: Are They Authentic (Part Two in a …
of this has been fueled by the titles of some of the documents themselves, particularly the so-called "Gnostic gospels": the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Philip, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of the Egyptians, and the Gospel of Truth. The connotation of a "gospel" is that it presents the life of Jesus as a teacher, preacher, and healer — similar
THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS - Internet Archive
However, unlike incontrovertibly Gnostic texts such as the Gospel of Judas, matters are more complex with the Gospel of Thomas. Although the gospel was initially widely accepted by the scholarly world as being a Gnostic work, it does not contain any of the elaborate hierarchies of divine beings or have many immediately obvious esoteric
The Thirteenth Daimon: Judas and Sophia in the Gospel of …
1 The Thirteenth Daimon: Judas and Sophia in the Gospel of Judas Marvin Meyer Like my colleague and friend Professor April DeConick, author of The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says, I too recently read a text that interested me greatly but caused me to believe something went terribly wrong.1 The text DeConick read was the translation of the …
THE JOHANNINE GOSPEL IN GNOSTIC EXEGESIS PAUL THE …
Includes index. 1. Gnosticism. 2. Chenoboskion manuscripts. I. Title. BT1390.P3 273-1 79-4764 ISBN 0-394-50278-7 Designed by Anita Karl
The Apocrypha and Gnostic gospels - Amazon Web Services, …
14. [Pic of Old Gnostic gospel] So they wrote the Gnostic gospels. The Gnostics fraudulently attached the names of famous Christians to their writings, such as “the gospel of Thomas”, “the gospel of Philip”, “the gospel of Mary”, etc. All these books and other gnostic volumes are generally referred to as the New Testament Apocrypha.
The Synoptic Gospels - Religious Studies Center
the earliest extant text of the Gospel of Mark is preserved in a manuscript from about the middle of the third century AD.7 While this manuscript is a collection of the other New Testament Gospels and Acts as well, it is most likely that the Gospel of Mark first circulated as a single Gospel.8
GNOSTICISM AND THE GNOSTIC JESUS (Part One in a Two …
on Gnosticism and Gnostic themes such as "Valentinus: A Gnostic for All Seasons." Some have created institutional forms of this ancient religion. In Palo Alto, California, priestess Bishop Rosamonde Miller officiates the weekly gatherings of Ecclesia Gnostica Myteriorum (Church of Gnostic Mysteries), as she has done for the last eleven years.
Conversion and Gnosis in the 'Gospel of Truth' - JSTOR
Among the voices muted by Nock's approach are those of gnostic Christians. Under the terms of Nock's analysis, these individuals did not experience genuine conversion when they embraced a gnostic understanding of the Christian gospel, nor were they gen-uine Christians. Though they might claim to be Christian, they were only Gnostics, adherents ...
Gnostic Inner Illumination and Carl Jung's Individuation
true Gnostic who came into the world as a teacher. As the words of Jesus from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas illustrate: I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts ...
The ‘Secret’ Gospel of Mark - BiblicalStudies.org.uk
The gnostic compilation Pistis Sophia, for example (known only from a fourth-century Coptic manuscript), purports to ... Gospel according to Mark’ (Heresies iii. 11.7)―from which Irenaeus’s editor W. W. Harvey inferred that another Gospel assigned to Mark, in addition to the well-known one, was current in ...
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY MAGDALENE
the Gospel of Mary (as the text is named in the manuscript, though it is clear this named Mary is the person we call Mary of Magdala). Two other small fragments of the Gospel of Mary from separate Greek editions were later also unearthed in archaelogical excavations at Oxyrhynchus in Northern Egypt. (Fragments of the Gospel of Thomas were also ...
A Brief Introduction to Gnostic Texts - Church History 101
gospels and the various Gnostic texts - the basic message contained in the New Testament is powerful because it is profound - taking the complicated and making it exceedingly simple to understand. These Gnostic texts, in many instances, are just not easy to …
THE GOSPEL - Archive.org
The Gospel of Judas may be classified as what is often called a gnostic gospel. Probably composed around the middle of the second century, most likely on the basis of earlier ideas and sources, the Gospel of Judas represents an early form of spirituality that emphasizes gnosis, or "knowledge"—mystical knowledge, knowledge of God
THE COPTIC GNOSTIC TEXTS FROM NAG HAMMADI
(2) The Gospel of Truth, (3) The Epistle to Rheginos, (4) The Treatise on the Three Natures, (5) Prayers of Peter and Paul. Its provenance, unlike the other codices, is from the philosophical Gnostics—the Valentinians. In fact, Dr. Quispel thinks The Gospel of Truth was written by Valentinus himself, and his colleague, Dr. Van Unnik,
Gnostic Christianity and the Gnosis of Light - David Paul Boaz
Barnstone and Meyer’s The Gnostic Bible (2006)(p.242). Why were these vital texts excluded? Orthodoxy: The Anti-Mystical Dualism of the Early Church The Gospel of Mary (Gnostic) illustrates the Orthodox vs. the Gnostic viewpoints: Mary represents the Gnostic, mystical, visionary; Peter represents the Orthodoxy, suspicious of
Hermes John - Theological Conference
The Fourth Gospel in the Early Gnostic World Abstract The Gospel of John is an evangelistic, multi-front polemic written, in part, to compete with an early Hermetic-Gnosticism. Alongside GJohn’s exaltation and defense of Jesus in the face of Jewish rejection, GJohn also offers a
The “Gospel” of Judas - Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Church
Gospel of Judas. is just another notoriously unhistorical Gnostic gospel like some of the texts that were found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt some sixty years ago. Therefore, it must first be clearly stated that. The Gospel of Judas is not a gospel written byJudas himself. In an Associated Pressinterview, one of the world’ s
A Gnostic Gospel? Tide and Genre in the Nag Hammadi …
A Gnostic Gospel? 7 Bohlig and Wisse treat each of these cases as examples of three distinctive patterns of title assignment in the Nag Hammadi collection.12 Gos. Truth reflects the case in which there is no title formally marked in the manuscript. A text is identified with words from its opening (“the gospel of truth is a joy for those ...
CHAPTER 20 JOHN’S GOSPEL, THE GNOSTICS AND
JOHN’S GOSPEL, THE GNOSTICS AND SUPPLIMENTING THE SYNOPTICS The History and the Dating of John’s Gospel The records of the historians are consistent with one another. According to the Old Latin Prologue to John, Bishop Papias of Hierapollis (60-138) related that he had written the Gospel as John had dictated it to him (RO 150). This claim
THE JEWISH BACKGROUND OF THE SO-CALLED 'GOSPEL' …
broadly speaking, a Gnostic writing, even though it is difficult to define the concept of 'Gnosticism'. It commences by outlining the intricate history of the find, moves on to the transmission history of this Coptic writing. It focuses on the composition of the 'Gospel' and demonstrates that it was fundamentally influenced by Jewish
THE GOSPEL - gnosis.study
The Gospel of Judas may be classified as what is often called a gnostic gospel. Probably composed around the middle of the second century, most likely on the basis of earlier ideas and sources, the Gospel of Judas represents an early form of spirituality that emphasizes gnosis, or "knowledge"—mystical knowledge, knowledge of God
The Gospel of Judas from Codex Tchacos - Internet Archive
The Gospel of Judas may be classified as what is often called a gnostic gospel. Probably composed around the middle of the second century, most likely on the basis of earlier ideas and sources, the Gospel of Judas represents an early form of spirituality that emphasizes gnosis, or "knowledge"—mystical knowledge, knowledge of God
Non-Gnostic Sayings in the Gospel of Thomas - JSTOR
NON-GNOSTIC SAYINGS IN THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS BY A. J. B. HIGGINS io Westville Avenue, Ikley (Yorkshire), England The appearance of the Fontana edition of the Gospel of Thomas in the early part of I960 1) was an event of considerable importance, for although it has a popular appeal, it is at the same time a work of sound scholarship.
“Hidden in What Is Visible” - JSTOR
Apr 4, 2010 · Gospel in which Jesus explicitly acknowledges his divinity. In the Gnostic Gospel of Judas, by contrast, Jesus denies any connection to the disciples’ god, a tyrannical, sleep-inducing Demiurge in charge of this troubled world here below. (Some scholars have argued that Jesus was a Gnostic. His dancing and laughter and wisdom in Gnostic writ-
PayPal https://paypal.me/robbradshaw - BiblicalStudies.org.uk
various later amplifications of an original Greek gospel of B. which first saw the light 'vers le 1ve siecle, dans quelque secte chretienne en marge de l'Eglise d' Alexandrie ', R. B., 1913, pp. 161-190, 321-368, where a full account is given ... reminiscence of those Gnostic schemes of redemption in which the gateways leading to the spheres of ...
Gospel Of Judas Full Text [PDF] - Southern West Virginia …
Gospel Of Judas Full Text The Gospel of Judas Free Download Borrow and Streaming Dec 10 2020 Provides the complete text of the long lost Gospel of Judas found nearly ... attributed to the apostle Judas Iscariot The gospel advances a Gnostic cosmology and portrays Judas in a positive light as the only apostle who fully
Facsimile of the original Title page THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS
4. The Gospel of Jesus 5. How the Gospel of Barnabas Appendix I 274 Survived 6. Unitarianism in the Bible II 275 7. Mohammad in the Bible III 278 8. Jesus in the Bible IV 283 9. Facts About Other Gospels Veracity in the Gospel V 286 10. The Holy Prophet Mohammad Foretold in Ancient Scriptures. VI 28728 287
Basilides's Gospel and 'Exegetica (Treatises)' - JSTOR
gospel materials on the part of Basilides can be demonstrated from the surviv-ing portions of his Exegetica (Treatises). Moreover, if Basilides did indeed write a gospel, it was not a narrative or sayings gospel concerned primarily with the life or the teachings ofJesus. Finally, prior to Origen in the mid-third century
The Hymn of the Pearl - Marquette University
Unto me I took it and kissed it; I loosed its seal and I read it. As it stood in my heart writ, The words of my Letter were written. XII. I remembered that I was a King’s son,
Orthodoxy vs. Heterodoxy: The Suppression of Gnosticism I)
a) The Central Role of Mary Magdalene in “The Gospel of Mary” i) Key spiritual leader immediately after the death of Jesus (1) Levi: “For he knew her completely [and] loved her devotedly” (“Gospel of Mary” #10, 365) ii) Mary’s superior spiritual understanding (1) “For where the mind is, there is the treasure” (#7, 363)
Download Bookey App
Chapter 2:The Gnostic Bible presents ancient texts that offer a unique perspective on spirituality, knowledge, and the divine. Check more about The Gnostic Bible Summary The Gospel of Philip is another significant text within The Gnostic Bible that sheds light on the Gnostic perspective on spirituality and the divine.
A New Papyrus Manuscript of the Gospel of John - JSTOR
The Gnostic Gospel of Truth, by Floyd V. Filson ..... 77 Two New Books, by F. M. C. and G. El. W. ..... 79 . 1957,3) THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST 55 ... Gospel of John these earliest papyrus manuscripts now contain. This emphasizes the significance of …
Gnostic gospel of mary pdf - fumifopimon.weebly.com
the origin of its portrayal. It proposes a new perspective on matter and nature in the Gospel of Mary, suggesting that it is not to be categorized as a gnostic writing. Furthermore, the study argues that Mary's teaching in the Gospel of Mary is more closely related to the writings of Philo, the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John than to the Nag
A Cult-Mystery in 'The Gospel of Philip' - JSTOR
A CULT-MYSTERY IN THE GOSPEL OF PHILIP JORUNN JACOBSEN BUCKLEY EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138 I. Introduction to the Problem HE Nag-Hammadi Scriptures, now fully translated and available, afford fertile material for research on the interfaces of Gnosticism and mystery religions. One of these writings, Gos. Phil., poses a
TERMINOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE GOSPEL …
Gnostic influence" on the Gospel of John. Although there were a few early voices of moderation (e.g. Teeple 1960), many scholars . TERMINOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS 397 rushed to embrace this hypothesis, which conveniently replaced the even more tenuous Gnostic theories. According to a great many
The Parable of the Lost Sheep in the Gospel of Thomas and …
the Gospel of Luke. In response to the "gnostic" thesis, I would begin with the source critical observation that the parable, both in the synoptics and in Thomas, is based on Ezekiel xxxiv 16 17). In v. ii, this chapter Theology of Jewish Christianity (London, 1964), lists features of Thomas.
LCMS Evaluation: Gnosticism
Interest in Gnostic thought was renewed when, in 1945, a collection of over fifty Gnostic texts, Coptic translations of Greek originals, was discovered in Nag Hammadi in Egypt. The Gnostic text, The Gospel of Judas (likely written between 130 and 170 A. D.), was found on the antiquities market in 1983 and published in 2006.
The Gospel According to Thomas - Archive.org
form the Gnostic library found, about 1945, in the neighborhood of Nag-Hamadi (Upper Egypt); this volume is Codex III of our classification. The Codex must probably be dated either in the second half of the Fourth Century A.D. or in the beginning of the Fifth Century A.D. But the original of The Gospel
The Gospel Of Philip Jean Yves Leloup (PDF)
Gospel of Thomas Jean-Yves Leloup,2005-02-16 A new translation and analysis of the gospel that records the actual words of Jesus Explores the gnostic significance of Jesus s teachings recorded in this gospel Explains the true nature of the new man
On the Theology of the Canonical "Gospel" - JSTOR
dramatically (16). Tractates within the gnostic library which bear the title "gospel" more closely resemble the Apocalypse of the New Tes-tament than they do the four canonical gospels. In fact, there ap-pears to be little difference in form. Whether the gnostic tractate is entitled "apocalypse", "apocryphon", or "gospel" it is usually noth-
The Gospel of Mary Coptic-English Interlinear
Gospel for us today, see my book The Gospel of Mary: A Fresh Translation and Holistic Approach, available from Amazon.com. Notes 1Cf. Esther De Boer, Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Trinity Press International), 1997, pp. 75,76,79; Karen L. King, The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle (Polebridge Press), 2003, pp. 7-12.
THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS - Emory University
THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS English Translation by April D. DeConick Opening Salutation 33.1 The secret revelatory discourse 2in which Jesus spoke with Judas 3Iscariot, for 4eight days, three 5days before he celebrated 6Passover. 33.6 When he appeared 7on earth, he did 8miracles and great signs 9for the salvation of humanity. 10And some [walked] 11in the way of righteousness, …
{TEXTBOOK} Pistis Sophia : A Gnostic Gospel
Pistis Sophia : A Gnostic Gospel PDF Book America is the fascinating true story of Bernarr Macfadden, a self-made millionaire and founding father of bodybuilding, alternative medicine, and tabloid culture. They are the powerful means which this vast country furnishes for the cure of disease. A multitude of exercises including medical record, image
GNOSTIC SOURCES AND THE PREHISTORY OF THE …
the Descensus ad Inferos in some Gnostic sources, direct or indirect, (among them, Trimorphic Protennoia [NHC XIII,1], Teachings of Silvanus [NHC VII,4] and Irenaeus’Adversus Haereses), in order to evaluate their relationship to the “classical” witnesses of the Descensus, including the so-called Gospel of Nicodemus (or Acta
Gnostic S Of The Bible Copy - content.healthmarkets.com
Adam Eve and the Serpent and the best selling Beyond Belief The Secret Gospel of Thomas The Gnostic Gospels Elaine Pagels,2004-06-29 Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Gnostic Gospels is
Where Does It Fit? The Unknown Parables in the Gospel of …
3 W.R. Schoedel, "Parables in the Gospel of Thomas: Oral Tradition or Gnostic Exegesis?" CTM 43 (1972) 548-560. 4 C.L. Blomberg, "Tradition and Redaction in the Parables of the Gospel of Thomas", Gospel Perspectives. The Jesus Tradition Outside the Gospels (ed. D. Wenham) (Sheffield 1985) 177-205. 5 S. J. Patterson, The Gospel of Thomas and Jesus.
Gnostic Empire-Study Guide - PCA Bookstore
people outside the influence of the gospel and to confront them with the love of Christ. Our hearts lifted in prayer for our son, who is faced with the fruit of the sixties revolution in his generation. Is the presence of "the naked man" (finally expelled for sexual harassment) the equivalent of the sixties "streakers?"
Gospel Tradition and Salvation in Justin the Gnostic - JSTOR
GOSPEL TRADITION AND SALVATION IN JUSTIN THE GNOSTIC 367 the consequences of their deeds. The ultimate goal of the Gnostic believer is the ascent to the Good One, who apparently is identical with the unknown supreme God of all Gnostic systems. Elohim is called "The Father of all things created" or simply "the Father". He is said to be unknown and
