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. The apocryphon of john might be dismissed as simply one more gnostic text. Narrative and cosmology in the apocryphon of john, nag. Muhammad ali later admitted that some of the texts were lostburned up or thrown away. Srj is one of those stories that challenges many standard characterizations of gnostic thought, whether as nihilistic and antinomian or protofeminist and liberative.
Stevan davies is professor of religious studies at misericordia university and has studied the noncanonical gospels and acts for over thirty years. This site includes the entire nag hammadi library, as well as a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. The material is largely from the discovery at nag hammadi, freshly translated and introduced, but also includes texts found elsewhere. Because of their suspected christian gnostic origins, the gospel of john and the book of revelation was almost rejected from the new testament. While christians stressed that only jesus, the son of god, was simultaneously human and divine, the gnostics. Included are translations of the short and long version of the text based on the waldsein and wisse edition, an indepth analysis. All about gnosticism and gnostic mythology nirvanic insights. Secret of the vine is a representation of a gnostic collection of works. It, along with many other gnostic texts, were excluded from the formal list of the books of the bible called the canon of scripture by the council of carthage in 419 a. The second recommended book is karen kings the secret revelation of john. The prominence of james and peter suggest that the work. Retelling the story jesus tells john the secret truth about the creation of the world. This site includes the entire hammadi library, as well as a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents.
The apocryphon of james, also known by the translation of its title the secret book of james, is a pseudonymous text amongst the new testament apocrypha. Reading sex and gender in the secret revelation of john. The gnostic gospels of jesus ebook 9780061965937 by marvin meyer. The gnostic gospelannotated and explained both skylight paths and the revolt of the widows. It is god and father of all, the invisible one that is over all, that is incorruptible, that is pure light at which no eye can gaze. The text in question is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. It describes jesus appearing and giving secret knowledge gnosis to john the apostle. One set of levels is the evident addition of rather lengthy texts a list of magical names, a dialogue on the soul. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john, is a secondcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. The apocryphon of john was still used in the eighth century by the audians of mesopotamia. It was known to the church father irenaeus, so it must.
The text explains differences in fate as the effects of pastlife actions. The gnostic goddess, female power, and the fallen sophia 2010 max dashu 2 the gnostic approach to christianity had a strong pagan tinge. The secret book of john the secret revelation of john aeon a divine power or nature emanating from the supreme being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe ineffable defying expression barbelo the first emanation something that is emitted or radiated of god autogenes self generated pleroma the totality of divine powers. 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 by knowing our divine. The gnostic writings were circulated by pseudochristian sects who had broken communion with the church. Gnosticism is the collective spiritual teachings based on gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior, intuitive means. The five most dangerous archons in the gnostic gospels aeon. The secret book of john the secret revelation of john aeon a divine power or nature emanating from the supreme being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe ineffable defying expression barbelo the first emanation something that is emitted or radiated of god autogenes self generated pleroma of, and. All of the gnostic texts contain elements of heresy.
Welcome to rgnostic, a community for all gnostics out there. Since you asked me to send you a secret book which was revealed to me and peter that is, the jews and the. Thanks to samael aun weor and the support of students around the world, our translator and team have spent decades correcting, refining, and publishing all the books by samael aun weor. In terms of plot, it sets the stage, and in terms of theology, it provides a context for understanding johns gospel through a gnostic lens. Jul 20, 2017 the secret book of john, gnostic texts. Long buried and suppressed, the gnostic gospels contain the secret writings attributed to the followers of jesus. Jul 20, 2017 the secret book of john, gnostic texts duration. 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 the secret revelation of john.
It describes the secret teachings of jesus to peter and james, given after the resurrection but before the ascension a major theme is that one must accept suffering as inevitable. The five most dangerous archons in the gnostic gospels. The title of this scripture in greek is apocryphon ioannis. In this document secret book of john too there is reference to the coming into being of three men. This book, which is also called the apocryphon of john, was probably written in the second century. The apocryphon of john is commonly referenced by two other names. Jan 19, 2010 the secret book of john, the apocryphon of john, or the secret revelation of john all have accuracy, but knowing the roots of the name leads to a clearer understanding. Includes bibliographical references page 164 the secret book of john. Wisse for the gnostic coptic library project uses all four. Gnostic goddess, female power, and the fallen sophia. Feb 21, 2015 this gospel holds similarities to the gospel of john in that it presents jesus as an allpowerful being without form, which is a gnostic idea.
Apocryphon comes from, apokryphos, hidden, obscure, from apo away and kryptein to hide. Pdf the gnostic gospels of jesus download full pdf. Drawing connections to christianity, buddhism, hinduism, kabbalistic judaism, and sufism, davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the gnostic religious quest. Secret book of john another gnostic text, pistis sophia, outlines an elaborate system of reward and punishment that includes reincarnation. It is god and father of all, the invisible one that. Peace be with you from peace, love from love, grace from grace, faith from faith, life from holy life. Since you asked me to send you a secret book which was revealed to me and peter that is. 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 apocryphon of john frederik wisse the nag hammadi. 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.
The secret book of john, the apocryphon of john, or the secret revelation of john all have accuracy, but knowing the roots of the name leads to a clearer understanding. Along the way, we have sought to raise the quality of the books, increase their availability, and reduce their cost. She is created when each of yaldaboths archons fornicates with sophia a metaphor for usurping her power. The gnostic influences and writings were cut out of official church doctrines as heresy. The secret revelation of john harvard dash harvard university. Its symbolic teachings were transmitted in secret and by a method of initiation and allegory which was directly copied from the. This ancient gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual quest the secret book of john is the most significant and influential text of the ancient gnostic religion. The comments i wrote to this text show us the commonalities between this ancient jewishgnostic sect and modern day thelema. The opening lines say that jesus gave some secret teachings to john after his resurrection. Feb 07, 2017 in the secret book of john, fate is portrayed as an archon mysteriously called fate. In the secret book of john, fate is portrayed as an archon mysteriously called fate. He mentions numerous names, most notably valentinus, ptolemy, and marcus. As the title secret book of john implies, this story was meant to serve as a prequel to the gospel of john.
This idea was not found in any of the other synoptic gospels. I asked if i might understand this, and it said to me, the one is a sovereign that has nothing over it. Modern novels and movies claim the church suppressed secret writings about christ and his apostles for centuries. Irenaeus wrote a whole book against gnosticism in the 180s. It helps to remember that many things were going on during the rise of christianity in the 2 nd to 4 th centuries. 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. However, there are some major differences in the apocryphon of john that was not present in the synoptic gospels, including the gospel of john. In 1945 fiftytwo papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the egyptian desert. The main tenets of the gnostic worldview was derived out of the belief that all matter was the creation of an ignorant and imperfect deity, called ialdaboath, which in turn was made out of a gargantuan cosmic mistake, as is so fascinatingly told in some gnostic myths.
There are four surviving coptic manuscripts of this text. This too is the vision of the gnosis, the arabic meaning of algebraic is. It describes the secret teachings of jesus to peter and james, given after the resurrection but before the ascension. Drawing connections to christianity, buddhism, hinduism, kabbalistic judaism, and sufism, davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the. The hymn of jesus and the mystery of the cross from the acts of john.
The basic text of the apocryphon of john existed in some form before 185 c. Apocryphon literally, secret book of john, which opens with an offer to reveal the mysteries and the things hidden in silence which jesus taught to his disciple john. This edition presents the complete text in a new translation with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary, drawing connections to christianity, buddhism, hinduism, kabbalistic judaism and sufism. She is created when each of yaldaboths archons fornicates. Explain fundamentals of gnosticism, moses talked with lesser god, existence of. Pdf the gnostic gospels of jesus download full pdf book. The secret book of john and the secret revelation of john, depending upon how the word apocryphon is translated. She is the youngest but perhaps most powerful archon. Annotated and explained both skylight paths and the revolt of the widows. The secret book of john is one evidence of this suppressed gnostic view and veneration of john. In complement to the secret book of john, another remarkable voice of john has survived within a text known as the acts of john. This gospel holds similarities to the gospel of john in that it presents jesus as an allpowerful being without form, which is a gnostic idea.
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. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society. Many experts claim this text is the complete gnostic gospel since it covers so many doctrines and myths from the precreation story to the fallredemption of sophia. Its unknown author claimed to be john the son of zebedee, one of the original twelve disciples. The apocryphon of john is a sethian document that echoes the gospels of philip and thomas. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society library. The gnostic handbook page 6 of the real nature of the equation, to find the essential form through the many shards or forms. Many gnostic texts claim to be eyewitness accounts of the apostles or secret divine messages which expand on christs public revelation. Giving voice to the wisdom of the ages 170,527 views.
Since it was known to the church father irenaeus, it must have been written before around 180 ce. While christians stressed that only jesus, the son of god, was simultaneously human and divine, the gnostics proposed that ordinary people could be connected to god. Reading sex and gender in the secret revelation of. Written in greek during the early second century ad by an unknown author and found as part of the nag hammadi library in 1945, it became the source of a host of. Here well address some of the gnostic or secret gospels and writings, the supposed lost books of the bible. Written in greek during the early second century ad by an unknown author and found as part of the nag hammadi library in 1945, it became the source of a host of other gnostic texts, myths and cosmic systems. Sophia of jesus christ the dialogue of the savior codex iv. The secret book of john is the most significant and influential text of the ancient gnostic religion. The apocryphon of john marvin meyer the nag hammadi.
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