Gnosticism is a mystical, esoteric religious movement that existed during the very early phase of Christianism. The discovery of 13 books containing 52 texts in the Nile River valley of Egypt in 1945 called Nag Hammadi opened the door for the history of early Christianism and the teachings of four Gnostic gospels called; the secret book of James, the gospel of Thomas, the book of Thomas and secret book of John. Biblical scholars estimate that these books belong to second century C.E, and the followers of this abstract faith were Gnostics and they were comprised of various groups. Some fostered spiritual values, others lead very ascetic life in solitude in wilderness, and most Gnostics followed traditional life engaging in an inner spiritual quest for God. They advocated a faith different from the early Christian church. They believed in a direct approach to finding God rather than believing in the concept of "Son of God" or a prophet or a spiritual healer. The conservative Christian leaders dismissed them as heretics and most of their books were either destroyed or modified or suppressed.
In this book, the author, who is actively involved in the academic research of the history of Gnosticism, and the translation Nag Hammadi texts provide us with an English translation of the four Coptic texts; the secret book of James, the gospel of Thomas, the book of Thomas and secret book of John. The sayings of Jesus in these books are discussed, interpreted, and revised within the contexts of the history, culture and religion of that time. Many sayings were similar to kingdom sayings, proverbial utterances and parables of the New Testament. The author compares several parables from Gnostic gospels with those found in the canonical gospels. Examples include; the "parable of Palm shoot" (secret book of James 4:10-12), the "parable of the head of grain" (secret book of James 8:2), the "parable of wise fisher" (gospel of Thomas 8), etc. It is interesting to read as how these parables evolved over the years into the current King James Version of Bible. The fourth gospel, the secret book of John says very little about Jesus. This text appears to be of early Jewish literature that includes some basic concepts Christianism.
The parable of the Jar of Flour (Gospel of Thomas 95) and the parable of Assassin (Gospel of Thomas 95) refer to the kingdom of God that is not found in New Testament or any other early Christian literature. Verse 103 makes a controversial statement about the parents of Jesus, and makes references to another name of Jesus in some Jewish traditions as Yeshu ben Pantera. In the book of Thomas, chapter 9, verse 1-7 that deals with conclusion of revelation, "one must escape the grim realities of incarnation and reincarnation" is related to the Upanishadic thought (Hindu scriptures). The secret book of John, chapter 2, verses 1-22 is related to the revelation of One; we find a classic statement of divine transcendence, formulated with terms of negation is in close agreement with the Upanishadic insistence of the Ultimate as "neti neti," not this, not that. It is the invisible spirit, it is beyond deity, beyond perfection, beyond being, as the ground of all being, and it is wholly other or any other finite category. These factual statements reverberates the influence of Upanishads on early Jewish and Christian literature.
In the secret book of James chapter 1, verses 7-14, Gnostic texts suggest various periods of time for resurrection and reappearance of Jesus as 545 days (ascension of Isaiah), and 12 years (Pistis Sophia, Book of Jeu). In the last chapter 16, verses 19-21 of the secret book of James, Jesus make an unorthodox request; "The Savior communicated these things to John for him to record and safeguard. He said to him, "Cursed is everyone who will trade these things for a present, for food, drink, clothes, or anyone else" (verse 19). "These things were communicated to John as a mystery and afterword the savior disappeared at once" (verse 20). "Then John went to other disciples and reported what the savior had told him." (Verse 21)
This is an excellent book for undergraduate students majoring in early Christian literature and the history of New Testament.
In this book, the author, who is actively involved in the academic research of the history of Gnosticism, and the translation Nag Hammadi texts provide us with an English translation of the four Coptic texts; the secret book of James, the gospel of Thomas, the book of Thomas and secret book of John. The sayings of Jesus in these books are discussed, interpreted, and revised within the contexts of the history, culture and religion of that time. Many sayings were similar to kingdom sayings, proverbial utterances and parables of the New Testament. The author compares several parables from Gnostic gospels with those found in the canonical gospels. Examples include; the "parable of Palm shoot" (secret book of James 4:10-12), the "parable of the head of grain" (secret book of James 8:2), the "parable of wise fisher" (gospel of Thomas 8), etc. It is interesting to read as how these parables evolved over the years into the current King James Version of Bible. The fourth gospel, the secret book of John says very little about Jesus. This text appears to be of early Jewish literature that includes some basic concepts Christianism.
The parable of the Jar of Flour (Gospel of Thomas 95) and the parable of Assassin (Gospel of Thomas 95) refer to the kingdom of God that is not found in New Testament or any other early Christian literature. Verse 103 makes a controversial statement about the parents of Jesus, and makes references to another name of Jesus in some Jewish traditions as Yeshu ben Pantera. In the book of Thomas, chapter 9, verse 1-7 that deals with conclusion of revelation, "one must escape the grim realities of incarnation and reincarnation" is related to the Upanishadic thought (Hindu scriptures). The secret book of John, chapter 2, verses 1-22 is related to the revelation of One; we find a classic statement of divine transcendence, formulated with terms of negation is in close agreement with the Upanishadic insistence of the Ultimate as "neti neti," not this, not that. It is the invisible spirit, it is beyond deity, beyond perfection, beyond being, as the ground of all being, and it is wholly other or any other finite category. These factual statements reverberates the influence of Upanishads on early Jewish and Christian literature.
In the secret book of James chapter 1, verses 7-14, Gnostic texts suggest various periods of time for resurrection and reappearance of Jesus as 545 days (ascension of Isaiah), and 12 years (Pistis Sophia, Book of Jeu). In the last chapter 16, verses 19-21 of the secret book of James, Jesus make an unorthodox request; "The Savior communicated these things to John for him to record and safeguard. He said to him, "Cursed is everyone who will trade these things for a present, for food, drink, clothes, or anyone else" (verse 19). "These things were communicated to John as a mystery and afterword the savior disappeared at once" (verse 20). "Then John went to other disciples and reported what the savior had told him." (Verse 21)
This is an excellent book for undergraduate students majoring in early Christian literature and the history of New Testament.
Reference: The Secret Teachings of Jesus: Four Gnostic Gospels by Marvin Meyer
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