The Everything Gnostic Gospels Book by Lester, Meera -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page THE EVERYTHING® Saints Book, 2nd Edition Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Top Ten Interesting Facts You'll Learn about the Gnostics Introduction Early Christianity in Conflict

Radical Primitive Christianity Influences of Other Cultures Palestinian Jews A Plethora of Ideas The Practices of Early Christians Differing Interpretations of Jesus' Teachings

Who Were the Gnostics?

Roots of Gnosticism Plato's Influence The Book of Genesis Sethian Mythology Tenets of Gnosticism Five Sacred Rites of Gnosticism Gnostic Sacramental Rituals How Gnostic Christians Became Heretics

How the Canonical Christian Texts Were Chosen

Gnostic Beliefs in Scripture Three Views of Salvation: Gnostic, Jewish Christian, Pauline Christian What's in a Gospel? The Gospels Fight It Out The Council at Nicaea Establishment of the Canon

Who Were the Authors of the Gnostic Gospels?

Gnostic View of Gender Equality Who Wrote the Gospels? Differences Between the Gnostic and the Canonical Gospels Detractors, Redactors, and Scribes Textual Inferiority or Just a Different Lens? Jesus in the Canon and in Gnostic Belief

Gnostic Versus Christian Orthodox Views

Diversity and Intolerance Compilations from Oral Traditions Defining Heresy Within Christianity The Canonical Standard Polemics Against Gnosticism God's Special Revelation or Man's?

The Divine Feminine Ideal

Sophia, the Spirit of Wisdom Sophia's Fall Salvation Through Gnosis Sophia in the Secret Book of John Sophia as a Message of Hope The Pistis Sophia

The Role of Women in Gnosticism

A Challenge to the Patriarchy Jesus' Teaching on Gender Equality Mary Magdalene as Sophia Mary Magdalene as Female Counterpart to Jesus Female Officeholders and Bishops Paul's Revelations about Early Christian Women Legacy of Mary Magdalene

Four Gnostic Schools of Thought

Different Sects Appear Syrian Discipline Greek Discipline The Dualistic Discipline The Antinomian Discipline

Consequences of Heresy

Challenge to Church Doctrine The Church Deals with Gnostic Heretics Destruction of Writings by Fire and Water Excommunication The Tragic Fate of the Cathars The Crusades and Inquisition

The Nag Hammadi Treasures

Strange Story of Discovery The Contents of an Ancient Jar Translation from the Greek into Coptic Why Bury the Texts in a Jar? The Obscure Texts Scrutinized New Source Material for Scholars

The Gospel of Mary

No Complete Copy Mary's Special Revelation Importance of Mary's Secret Vision Why Peter Disbelieves Peter's Bullying Articulating Jesus' Ideas and Words Elevated Status of Mary

The Gospel of Thomas

Wisdom Interpretation of Jesus' Sayings Myriad Literary Forms Who Was the Source for the Gospel of Thomas? Was Didymos Judas Thomas Jesus' Twin? The Gospel's Parallels in the New Testament Jesus Responds to Peter Making Mary Male

The Gospel of Philip

What Is Found in This Gospel? Who Was Valentinus? Shades of Valentinian Ideas Revealing Statements Much Ado about a Kiss Was Jesus Married to Mary Magdalene? Handbook of Gnostic Sacramental Rites?

The Gospel of the Egyptians

The Unknowable Divine Being Divine Characteristics Five Seals and Gnostic Rituals Gnosis Through Baptism Magical Incantations, Gnostic Ritual, and Censure

The Gospel of Judas

A Divergent View of Jesus' Betrayer Jesus Reveals Wisdom, Makes a Request Sethian Gnostic Teaching What Jesus Saw in the Stars Gnosis Is the Point A Brief History of This Gospel Radical Departure from Orthodox Christianity's Judas

The Gospel of Truth

Could Valentinus Have Written This Text? Central Ideas and Concepts of the Gospel of Truth Admonitions to Share Knowledge of Salvation Ptolemy's Letter to Flora

A Sampling of Other Gnostic Literature

The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles The Secret Book of John The Dialogue of the Savior The Sophia of Jesus Christ The Apocalypse of Peter

Gnostic Texts and Early Christianity

A Complex, Vibrant Movement Conflict, Misunderstanding, and Rising Tensions Spreading the Good News The Gnostic Variants The Gnostics Speak Through Their Writings The Orthodoxy's Fear of Gnostic Views

Modern Scholars Examine Ancient Texts

The Original Sacred Documents Manipulation of the Copies and Translations Why Mary Magdalene Is Missing Redaction of the Gospel of John Forgeries and Falsifications Exposed

Gnostic Themes and Images in Pop Culture

Gnosticism in Books Gnostic Elements in Film and Television Gnostic Influence on Music Gnostic Imagery in Art Gnostic Games

Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Web Site Resources Appendix C: Text Resources

Scriptural Texts Other Texts

THE SERIES