The Gnostic Scriptures

Description

A collection of extra-biblical scriptures written by the gnostics, updated with three ancient texts including the recently discovered Gospel of Judas This definitive introduction to the gnostic scriptures provides a crucial look at the theology, religious atmosphere, and literary traditions of ancient Christianity and Hellenistic Judaism. It provides authoritative translations of ancient texts from Greek, Latin, and Coptic, with introductions, bibliographies, and annotations. The texts are organized to reflect the history of gnosticism in the second through fourth centuries CE. This second edition provides updates throughout and adds three new ancient texts, including the recently discovered Gospel of Judas. The Gnostic Scriptures, 2nd Edition Contents Preface to the First Edition Preface to the Second Edition General Introduction The Contents of This Collection Gnostic Scripture and the Christian Bible Scripture, Canon, and Diversity Gnostic Scripture Valentinian Writings Conclusions The Nature of the Primary Sources Sources in Greek Sources in Other Languages Irenaeus Ancient Translations of Scripture Manuscripts Select Bibliography Editorial Method Explanation of Typographical and Reference Systems Other Accepted Names for the Works in This Collection Ancient Sources and Manuscripts of Works in This Collection List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations Gnostic Scriptures Part I: Classic Gnostic Scripture Historical Introduction The Secret Book According to John The Gospel of Judas The Revelation of Adam The Reality of the Rulers The Thunder—Perfect Intellect First Thought in Three Forms The Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit; or, The Egyptian Gospel Zōstrianos (excerpts) The Foreigner (excerpts) The Three Tablets of Seth Satorninos (according to St. Irenaeus) The Gnostics (according to St. Irenaeus) “Other” Gnostic Teachings (according to St. Irenaeus) The Gnostics (according to Porphyry) The Sethians (according to St. Epiphanius) The Archontics (according to St. Epiphanius) The Gnostics (according to St. Epiphanius) Part II: The Writings of Valentinus Historical Introduction Valentinus’s Myth (according to St. Irenaeus) Fragments of Lost Works The Divine Word Present in the Infant (Fragment A) On the Three Natures (Fragment B) Adam’s Faculty of Speech (Fragment C) Adam’s Name (Fragment D) Jesus’ Digestive System: Epistle to Agathopous (Fragment E) Annihilation of the Realm of Death (Fragment F) The Source of Common Wisdom: On Friends (Fragment G) The Vision of God: Epistle on Attachments (Fragment H) Summer Harvest Appendix: A Later Allegorical Interpretation The Gospel of Truth Part III: The School of Valentinus Historical Introduction Ptolemy’s Version of the Gnostic Myth (according to St. Irenaeus) A Prayer of Paul the Apostle The Tripartite Tractate Ptolemy’s Epistle to Flora Treatise on Resurrection (Epistle to Rheginus) The Gospel According to Philip: A Valentinian Anthology Clement of Alexandria’s Excerpts from Theodotus Related Writings Part IV: The School of St. Thomas Historical Introduction The Hymn of the Pearl; or, The Hymn of Jude Thomas the Apostle in the Country of the Indians The Gospel According to Thomas The Book of Thomas: The Contender Writing to the Perfect Part V: Other Early Currents Historical Introduction The Writings of Basilides Historical Introduction Basilides’ Myth (according to St. Irenaeus) Fragments of Lost Works The Cosmological Fragments The Octet of Subsistent Entities (Fragment A) The Uniqueness of the World (Fragment B) The Ethical Fragments Election Naturally Entails Faith and Virtue (Fragment C) The State of Virtue (Fragment D) The Elect Transcend the World (Fragment E) Reincarnation (Fragment F) Human Suffering and the Goodness of Providence (Commentaries, 23) (Fragment G) Forgivable Sins (Fragment H) The Hermetic Corpus (excerpts) Historical Introduction Tractate 1: Poimandrēs Tractate 7: That the Greatest Human Evil Is Unacquaintance with God Index of Names and Subjects Index of Scripture References