Posted: August 14th, 2022

The link between gnostic literature and the English Bible

The link between gnostic literature and the English Bible

Gnosticism is a term that refers to a diverse and complex movement of religious ideas that emerged in the second and third centuries CE, mostly in the eastern Mediterranean region. Gnostics claimed to possess a special kind of knowledge (gnosis) that revealed the true nature of reality and the way to salvation. They often expressed their views in writings that adopted and reinterpreted biblical narratives, themes, and symbols.

Gnostic literature is not a unified or homogeneous corpus, but rather a collection of texts that reflect different theological perspectives, cosmological visions, ethical orientations, and literary genres. Some of these texts are presented as gospels, acts, apocalypses, dialogues, letters, or treatises. Some claim to be written by apostles or other prominent figures of early Christianity, such as Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, or John. Some are attributed to pagan philosophers or sages, such as Plato, Hermes Trismegistus, or Zoroaster.

The relationship between gnostic literature and the English Bible is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, gnostic texts often draw on biblical sources, especially from the Old and New Testaments, but also from apocryphal and pseudepigraphical writings that are not part of the canonical scriptures. On the other hand, gnostic texts often challenge or subvert the biblical authority, interpretation, and message. They offer alternative accounts of creation, fall, redemption, and eschatology. They reinterpret the roles and identities of biblical characters, such as God, Christ, Sophia (Wisdom), Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Judas Iscariot, and others. They also propose different ways of understanding and practicing faith, ethics, ritual, and community.

Some examples of gnostic texts that engage with biblical sources are:

– The Apocryphon of John: A revelation dialogue between Jesus and John the son of Zebedee that retells the story of creation and fall from a gnostic perspective. It depicts the creator God of the Old Testament as an ignorant and arrogant ruler (Yaldabaoth) who emanated from a lower aspect of Sophia without the consent of the transcendent God. It also portrays Adam and Eve as divine sparks trapped in material bodies by Yaldabaoth and his angels. It explains how Christ came to awaken them and their descendants from their ignorance and bondage.
– The Gospel of Thomas: A collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus that emphasize the importance of gnosis for attaining the kingdom of God. It contains some parallels with the canonical gospels, but also some distinctive and cryptic sayings that reflect a gnostic worldview. It rejects the notions of resurrection, judgment, and salvation by faith. It also advocates for a radical detachment from the world and its conventions.
– The Gospel of Philip: A treatise that discusses various topics related to gnostic theology, cosmology, anthropology,
soteriology (the study of salvation), ecclesiology (the study of church), and sacramentology (the study of sacred rites). It uses allegorical interpretations of biblical passages and symbols to convey its message. It also contains some controversial statements about Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene and the nature of his incarnation.
– The Gospel of Judas: A dialogue between Jesus and Judas Iscariot that presents Judas as the only disciple who understood Jesus’ true mission and identity. It portrays Jesus as a revealer of secret knowledge who came to liberate humanity from the tyranny of the creator God and his angels. It also depicts Judas as a hero who betrayed Jesus at his request in order to fulfill his destiny.

The discovery of gnostic literature in modern times has sparked a lot of interest and debate among scholars and laypeople alike. Some have seen gnostic texts as valuable sources for understanding the diversity and development of early Christianity. Others have viewed them as heretical distortions or corruptions of the original Christian faith. Some have even suggested that gnostic texts offer a more authentic or appealing version of Christianity than the orthodox one. However, such claims are often based on selective or biased readings of both gnostic and biblical texts.

A more balanced and nuanced approach would recognize that gnostic literature and the English Bible represent different expressions of religious imagination that emerged from different historical contexts,
cultural influences,
and theological agendas.
They both reflect human attempts to make sense
of their experience
of God,
the world,
and themselves.
They both invite us
to engage
with their questions,
challenges,
and insights,
but also
to critically examine
their assumptions,
implications,
and limitations.

References:

– Brakke D., The Gnostics: Myth Ritual And Diversity In Early Christianity (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010).
– King K.L., What Is Gnosticism? (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003).
– Meyer M.W. (ed.), The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised And Updated Translation Of Sacred Gnostic Texts (New York: HarperOne, 2007).
– Plese Z., “Gnostic Literature and the Bible”, in The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology, ed. S.E. Balentine (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), vol. 2, pp. 77-84.

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