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. The gospel of john and the gnostic myth of redemption. At that time, the only books in english were made on copy machines, were terribly expensive, and most of the translations were filled with errors, omissions, and confusion. The apocryphon of john in multiple translations, along with extensive materials about the. The gnostic gospelannotated and explained both skylight paths and the revolt of the widows.
John is an allegorical name given to cerinthus in the bible and this same man from crete is also the author of the book of revelation. A landmark work of scholarship and literary translation, the gnostic bible presents the most significant and beautiful sacred texts of gnostic mysticism. According to the book of 1st john, no light no christ. This summary of the book of 1 john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 john. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. New light on the ancient tradition of inner knowing quest books, 2002 buy the book there has long been need for a comprehensive introductory guide. Apocryphon secret book of john as ammunition for his own attack on such heresy. Modern novels and movies claim the church suppressed secret writings about christ and his apostles for centuries. The gnostics were religious thinkers who believed that salvation is found through mystical knowledge and personal religious experience. The author is the apostle john, the disciple whom jesus loved. Translations of the acts of john in modern languages. Apocryphon secret book of johnas ammunition for his own attack on such heresy. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a.
Fifty years later hippolytus, a teacher in rome, wrote another massive refutation of all heresies to expose and refute. It is very difficult to outline 1 john because of john s recurrent use of themes. Its symbolic teachings were transmitted in secret and by a. Introduction to gnosticism nicola denzey lewis oxford. A journal of gnosticism, western esotericism and spirituality by smith, andrew phillip isbn. Seen in this context, johns warning in 2 john 10 takes on great significance. Although 1 john does not exhibit some of the general. The mysteries of john the baptist his legacy in gnosticism.
Discovered in egypt in 1945, the fascinating and challenging nag hammadi writings forever changed our understanding of early christianity. In 1 john, the prophet explains how important is to believe in god. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. And it is on knowledge not an faith or belief that the gnostics rely in order to construct. Hebrews 10 describes that one sacrifice of christ is sufficient. The apocryphon of john is commonly referenced by two other names. Unveiling the hidden truth about the oldest manuscript in the world and its divine authors sacred wisdom zinovia dushkova 4. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle. Gnosticism is the collective spiritual teachings based on gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of. Drawing connections to christianity, buddhism, hinduism, kabbalistic judaism, and sufism, davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the. The secret book of john and the secret revelation of john, depending upon how the word apocryphon is translated. Online audio lectures about the secret book of john. The real book of enoch, which is a set of almost 100 mystical tables, was given again to humankind in the 1580s, when it was conveyed directly by angels to dr. 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 secret book of john is a complex developmental mythology that has been made. While christians stressed that only jesus, the son of god, was simultaneously human and divine, the gnostics. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. Bible verses related to gnosticism from the king james version kjv by book order sort by relevance 1 corinthians 1. The book of 1 john may be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to. Mentioned only briefly, it comes with infinite knowledge and reflection. Sophia of jesus christ the dialogue of the savior codex iv. Jesus perfected for all time those who are sanctified by his one offering hebrews. Forbidden faith is the first comprehensive popular history of gnosticism, a secretive tradition that has survived for centuries in many forms and under many names. The secret book of john is the most significant and influential text of the ancient gnostic religion. Called the most important book ever given to man by god by dees angelic.
Gnosticism international standard bible encyclopedia. These various groups, labeled gnostics by their opponents, emphasised personal spiritual knowledge over orthodox teachings, traditions, and. The word gnosticism comes from the greek word gnosis which means knowledge. It has no traditional introduction from whom, to whom. He includes his latest translations of not only the gospel of thomas, the gospel of philip, the gospel of mary, but other texts such as the secret book of john. Richard smoley, an expert in esoteric christianity, traces the gnostic legacy from its ancient roots in the gospel of thomas, discovered in egypt. The secret book of john apocryphon of john the gnosis archive. 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. Secret of the vine is a representation of a gnostic collection of works. The secret book of john the secret revelation of john. And what do you get if you follow his son, jesus christ. Books samael aun weor gnostic sacred spiritual esoteric.
According a 3rd century author and historian, caius, the apocalypse of john was a work of the gnostic kerinthus. 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. Fifty years later hippolytus, a teacher in rome, wrote another massive refutation of all heresies to expose and refute the wicked blasphemy of the heretics. This summary of the gospel of john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the gospel of john.
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. The apocryphon of john, female voice, audio book youtube. Complete list of codices found in nag hammadi apocalypse of peter codex i also known as the. Its symbolic teachings were transmitted in secret and by a method of initiation and allegory which was directly copied from the.
Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it. 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. Books books of samael aun weor, gnostic, esoteric, spiritual and sacred ebooks pdf samael aun weor books and lectures on gnosis. This central myth of gnosticism tells a story of god falling from perfect oneness to imprisonment in the material world, and how by knowing ones divine origins, gods descent can be reversed. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a second. The title acts of john is used to refer to a set of stories about john the apostle that began circulating in written form as early as the second century ad. These texts were suppressed in their time and were permanently omitted from the new testament when it was fixed at the council of carthage in 397 ce. John would represent the new universal religion known today as the catholic church backed by the roman army, and cerinthus kerinthus would represent the old ancient religion of gnosticism backed. Part of the library of books found in nag hammadi, egypt, in 1945, this central myth of gnosticism tells the.
The book is like a tapestry of truths woven together in repeated patterns cf. 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. Gnosticism is the collective spiritual teachings based on gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior, intuitive means. If such teachers were allowed to deliver their heretical message to a housechurch, all the members of that church might become doctrinally confused, and this confusion might then spread to other neighboring housechurches like a disease. The secret book of john and the secret revelation of john, depending upon how the word apocryphon is. But upon the eradication of the lifestrangling and deathadvancing sin by repentance and faith in the gospel, which is light the man can be.
This central myth of gnosticism tells a story of god falling from perfect oneness to imprisonment in the material world, and how by knowing ones divine origins, gods. State of the art and the only volume of its kind, introduction to gnosticism. Ancient voices, christian worlds guides students through the most significant of the nag hammadi texts. John was careful to point out that jesus was a real person, for they had seen and touched him and had close contact and association with him 1. Gnosticism in 1 john and 2 john gnosticism in the bible. The apocryphon of john, translated by marvin meyer. As believers in christ, god has taken away all our sins, condemning them in the flesh romans 8. The apostle john says, jesus christ is that eternal life which was with the father, and was manifested unto us 1 jn. There was also an overemphasis on the importance of secret knowledge passwords or secret codes which allow a soul to pass through the. There were many groups that were gnostic and it isnt possible to easily describe the nuances of each variant of gnostic. Gnostic goddess, female power, and the fallen sophia. In the secret teachings of jesus, marvin meyer, a scholar of coptic and.
Jul 20, 2017 the secret book of john, gnostic texts. Along the way, we have sought to raise the quality of the books, increase their availability, and reduce their cost. The gnostic goddess, female power, and the fallen sophia 2010 max dashu 2 the gnostic approach to christianity had a strong pagan tinge. Introduction to gnosticism and the nag hammadi library. 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.
This is different from the gospel of john, which employs a vertical dualism jesus from above versus all humans from below. Stateoftheart and the only volume of its kind, introduction to. However, generally speaking, gnosticism taught that salvation is achieved through special knowledge gnosis. The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society library. Bill hendricks, tapestries of truth, the letters of john. Just wait to you see how it addresses meditation, contemplation, and a wide host of gnostic spiritual. Jun 11, 2009 seen in this context, johns warning in 2 john 10 takes on great significance. There are four surviving coptic manuscripts of this text. Apocryphon comes from, apokryphos, hidden, obscure, from apo away and kryptein to hide. There were many groups that were gnostic and it isnt possible to easily describe the nuances of each variant of gnostic doctrines. 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 frederik wisse the nag hammadi. John dee, a 16thcentury mathematician, scientist, occultist, and the astrologer of queen elizabeth i.
The search for the real historical person known as john the baptist and the traditions that began with him explores why john the baptist is so crucially important to the freemasons, who were originally known as st. Stevan davies is professor of religious studies at misericordia university and has studied the noncanonical gospels and acts for over thirty years. Dec 24, 2017 john packs the birth of jesus in a single verse, which has become famous john 1. Gnosticism in 1 john and 2 john most of the christians already know the famous passage talking about the false teachers and deceivers. But upon the eradication of the lifestrangling and deathadvancing sin by repentance and faith in the gospel, which is light the man can be restored and soundly positioned within the light of christs presence, the place where the blood of jesus christ his son cleanseth us from all sin 1 john 1. Nov 19, 2014 the gnostic mythos in the secret book of john describes life, the universe, and everything. It has always seemed to me that the secret book of john evolved to be more difficult to read. The apocryphon of john frederik wisse the nag hammadi library. Just wait to you see how it addresses meditation, contemplation, and a wide host of. 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. Mar 14, 2008 john was careful to point out that jesus was a real person, for they had seen and touched him and had close contact and association with him 1. It has always seemed to me that the secret book of john evolved to be more difficult to read than it originally was. If such teachers were allowed to deliver their heretical message to a housechurch, all the members of that. The secret the book that changed the world, by rhonda byrne.
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