Part of the library of books found in nag hammadi, egypt, in 1945, this central myth of gnosticism tells the story of how god fell from perfect oneness to imprisonment in the material world, and how this ancient gnostic text can be a companion. Gnostic revisions of genesis stories and early jesus. In december of that year, two egyptian brothers found several papyri in a large earthenware vessel while digging for fertilizer around the jabal al. Apjohn, the gnostic bible as it is sometimes called in scholarly literature. The history of the church includes wellmeaning scholars who introduce ideas that undermine biblical authority. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. We at the gnostic apostolic church have felt for many years that there is a great need for a study of the principles on which the gnostic tradition is built.
Adam in the following manner, as stated by the gnostic apocryphon of john. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society library. It has no traditional introduction from whom, to whom. As for the tree called the knowledge of good and evil it is the epinoia of the light. Explore the gnostic conception of god in this book, as a complex intellect consisting of numerous aspects called aeons. This course will help you enter into the real meanings of genesis. Included are translations of the short and long version of the text based on the waldsein and wisse edition, an indepth analysis.
It helps to remember that many things were going on during the rise of christianity in the 2 nd to 4 th centuries. Jul 04, 2016 among them was a gnostic retelling of the first 6 chapters of the book of genesis. The second recommended book is karen kings the secret revelation of john. Gnostic interpreters the apocryphon of john in the. It describes jesus appearing and giving secret knowledge gnosis to john the. The authors opponents and their teaching in 1 john says the epistle provides good reason for thinking that a split has taken place in the johannine community and the authors opponents now constitute a community of their own. Aug 02, 2018 gnostic cosmology and the apocryphon of john lecture. Further, from 230 passages of this kind, almost 200 are linked with genesis 111 filoramo and gianotto 1984, 55. Dunderberg, thomas isayings and the gospel of john, in. Jack zavada is a writer who covers the bible, theology, and other christianity topics. Bound together with these gospels is the apocryphon literally, secret book of john, which opens with an offer to reveal the mysteries and the things hidden in silence which jesus. Walton creates a gnostic separation between real history and theology.
The first two chapters are actual gospels, the middle third of the book is mostly sethian literature with variations of the story of creation genesis. The creation stories of the valentinians, the other early christian sect or school that can be considered gnostic, still adhere to this same basic model, although many of the details differ. The gnostic world of john walton to change the churchs view of god making all things in the space of six days, theistic evolution must first change the churchs understanding of genesis. A major question in scholarly research is the qualification of gnosticism as either an interreligious phenomenon or as an. This is the case with the gifted old testament professor dr. The author describes this having occurred after jesus has gone back to the place from which he.
The secret book according to john is the most important surviving gnostic text. Gnostic exegesis on book of genesis 122 50 % refer to historical books, 25 % to prophets and 25 % to sapiential books. Gnostic revisions of genesis stories and early jesus traditions. Mar 17, 2015 in 1896 a german egyptologist, alerted by the previous publications, bought in cairo a manuscript that, to his amazement, contained the gospel of mary magdalene and three other texts. Gnosticism, a highly intellectual secondcentury movement the word gnostic comes from the greek word for knowledge that was later declared heretical, didnt help. Secret book of john, yaldabaoth, archons, gnostic genesis. The seventh chapter is a revelation of gnostic cosmology, attributed by the author. The secret book of john includes a retelling of the genesis myth in which the true god is not the creator. The retelling below follows the version in the secret book of john, which is quite representative of the perspective of the classic gnostic school of thought. The book of 1 john is not a personal letter nor a letter written to one church as much as it is an impassioned office memo from headquarters corporate letter. Since it was known to the church father irenaeus, it must have been written before around ad 180. In sethian gnostic theology, as its well known jesus was the serpent in the garden.
The gnostic influences and writings were cut out of official church doctrines as heresy. Gnostic genesis account by justin taylor genesology. The most important gnostic scripture is the pistis sophia, about which samael aun weor wrote several hundred pages of commentary. It describes jesus appearing and giving secret knowledge gnosis to john the apostle. Who are the deceivers 1 john is written against, mentioned in. This too is the vision of the gnosis, the arabic meaning of algebraic is. The apocryphon of john in multiple translations, along with extensive materials about the gnostic traditions of john. The tower of babel part 1 download the audio lectures. Apr 12, 2017 vatican suppressed scriptures secret book of john yaldabaoth, chief archon, gnostic genesis leak project.
The apostle uses the weight of his personal experience witnessing this life to combat the heresies of the gnostics. It describes jesus christ appearing and giving secret knowledge gnosis to the apostle john. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret. The secret book of john is considered by sholars to be the locus classicus for the gnostic mythological system and is the subject of logans book gnostic truth and christian heresy. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway. The gnostic heresy of the first century forms the background for both books. Jun 21, 2018 the gnostic world of john walton to change the churchs view of god making all things in the space of six days, theistic evolution must first change the churchs understanding of genesis. This is an extensive and scholarly but still very readable study of the text and the cultural milieu that both influenced, and in turn was influenced by, the apocryphon iohannis.
Nevertheless, the organized church succeeded in hiding its christian gnostic doctrines. In this document secret book of john too there is reference to the coming into being of three men. Reconstructing the event is not the pathway to truth because the target truth is not inherent in the event but in the interpretation of the event. So, genesis is 100% gnostic, whose myths hide a lot of knowledge.
John shows no knowledge of such a myth unless john 1. In the first group, almost 70 % are references to genesis. One set of levels is the evident addition of rather lengthy texts a list of magical names, a dialogue on the soul. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society. Learn how the god of genesis, viewed by the gnostics as a lesser, imperfect divinity, came into being. All he says is that the revealer has appeared in the world on behalf of his own, not why they are his own and others are not. Many gnostic texts claim to be eyewitness accounts of the apostles or secret divine messages which expand on christs public revelation. Gnostic cosmology and the apocryphon of john lecture. Mentioned only briefly, it comes with infinite knowledge and reflection. Since it was known to the church father irenaeus, it must have been written before around 180 ce. We should note that john s method of countering it is highly subjective, that is, the epistle has many references to the firstperson pronouns i and we.
There are four surviving coptic manuscripts of this text. When john wrote this epistle, the gnostic heresy was rising in the church. Dec 24, 2017 john packs the birth of jesus in a single verse, which has become famous john 1. It is possible that 1 john was meant to be a cover letter for the gospel of john. In 1945, a cache of apocrypha noncanonical religious texts written by gnostic christians was discovered near nag hammadi in southern egypt. The secret book of john is a complex developmental mythology that has been made more complicated because, over the years, versions of it have been improved by several levels of scribal alteration. Gnostic genesis account by justin taylor genesology werdsmith.
The story is loosely based on genesis chapters 1 through as a timeline. The gospel of john, written before the major gnostic writings recovered so far, clearly refutes the dualistic teachings that were giving strength to the gnostic philosophies of the time by pointing to jesus being human and yet god, thereby arguing against the spiritualism and the perverted symbology promoted by gnostics at that time. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. The seventh chapter is a revelation of gnostic cosmology, attributed by the author to the angel eleleth sagacity of god. My personal favorites were the gospel of thomas and the gospel of john which were the first two chapters of the book, and the islaamic texts at the back of the book.
The story of the discovery of the nag hammadi library in 1945 has been described as as exciting as the contents of the find itself. There was a renewed interest in gnosticism after the 1945 discovery of egypts nag hammadi library, a collection of rare early christian and gnostic texts, including the gospel of thomas and the apocryphon of john. Vatican suppressed scriptures secret book of john yaldabaoth, chief archon, gnostic genesis leak project. Three copies of one of them, the apocryphon secret book of john were also included among the gnostic library discovered at nag hammadi fifty years later. The secret book of john tells the story of the devolution of god from perfect.
The apocryphon of john was still used in the eighth century by the audians of mesopotamia. The gospel of john and the gnostic myth of redemption. The gnostic world of john walton is genesis history. Many gnostic texts claim to be eyewitness accounts. The gnostic reading of the biblical book of genesis, contrasted to orthodox. The story is loosely based on genesis chapters one through as a timeline. The apocryphon of john, female voice, audio book duration. Mar 09, 2015 the first two pages of the of the apocryphon of john from a book found in nag hammadi. The message of the alien god and the beginnings of christianity. Who are the deceivers 1 john is written against, mentioned. The apocryphon of john frederik wisse the nag hammadi. The writings in these codices comprise 52 mostly gnostic.
The critical rewriting of genesis in the apocryphon of john 2003. The basic text of the apocryphon of john existed in some form before 185 c. This table of contents is linked to each chapter, just click a heading and go. Secret book of john, yaldabaoth, archons, gnostic genesis, vatican suppressed. Genesis narratives are interested in a deep reality that transcends events and history. The book opens with john, the son of zebedee, being questioned by a pharisee. The secret book of john and the secret revelation of john, depending upon how the word apocryphon is translated. Jesus himself speaks in the secret book of john as being the serpent in which he says.
What is gnosticism the study of nag hammadi the great. The creation stories of the valentinians, the other early christian sect or school that can be considered gnostic, still adhere to this same basic model, although many of the. The secret book of john apocryphon of john is a 2ndcentury ad sethian gnostic text of secret teachings. Gnostic texts claim to contain mysterious, secret truths that christians did not possess. Kabbalah of genesis reveals many of the mysteries of the book of genesis. All of the gnostic texts contain elements of heresy. Popular gnosticism books meet your next favorite book. The nag hammadi library also known as the chenoboskion manuscripts and the gnostic gospels is a collection of early christian and gnostic texts discovered near the upper egyptian town of nag hammadi in 1945 thirteen leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local farmer named muhammed alsamman. The first two pages of the of the apocryphon of john from a book found in nag hammadi. Jul, 2017 john shows no knowledge of such a myth unless john 1. Kabbalah of genesis, a free online course gnostic teachings.
This version of genesis is a criticism of the jewish scripture. The gnostic handbook page 6 of the real nature of the equation, to find the essential form through the many shards or forms. Explain fundamentals of gnosticism, moses talked with lesser god, existence. Adam and eve in ancient gnostic literature cf 1 tim. The holy bible book 01 genesis kjv dramatized audio duration. In contrast to these gnostic claimsfor those who made them were no other than the early gnosticsjohn shows how the christ of history is the christ of experience, for those to whom he is writing know christ, who is from the beginning, and they know the father. Pagels, the scholar who has contributed more than any other to the popular interest in gnosticism, found herself in the capital city of sudan holding a discussion with the foreign minister of that country.
The true god, having pity on man, sneaks a divine spark into adam, the first man. We should note that johns method of countering it is highly subjective, that is, the epistle has many references to the firstperson pronouns i and we. Relying upon the early chapters of genesis, the author developed his mythology. The apocryphon of john is commonly referenced by two other names. The creation stories of the valentinians, the other early christian sect or school that can be. This book argues that the intellectuals behind early gnostic revisions of genesis stories were secondcentury christians with an ideological background in greekhellenistic philosophy, who adopted and reinterpreted biblical narrative materials with a view to exposing the inferiority of the creatorgod of genesis and the ignorance of those christians who continued to worship this god. Because of their suspected christian gnostic origins, the gospel of john and the book of revelation was almost rejected from the new testament. The book of genesis is a gnostic book written by gnostics. Jewish, pagan, and gnostic readers of genesis whatever we mean by gnos. Among them was a gnostic retelling of the first 6 chapters of the book of genesis. The gnostic writings were circulated by pseudochristian sects who had broken communion with the church. And the word logos became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have looked at his glory, a glory as a native of the father, full of grace and truth.
Excerpt from the introduction the secret book of john, by stevan. The gnostic world of john walton the aquila report. Gnostic gospels, bible preservation, and the canon of. The nongnostic, or orthodox, view in early christendom regarded most of the bible, particularly genesis, as history with a moral. An inferior god is the creator of the material world. Gnosticism pronounced nos tuh siz um was a secondcentury religious movement claiming that salvation could be gained. It includes several passages about adam and eve including the following where adam acknowledges that eve has given him life. Pdf the critical rewriting of genesis in the apocryphon of john. The first two chapters are actual gospels, the middle third of the book is mostly sethian literature with variations of.
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