Perkins situates the synoptics within the wider world of ancient oral storytelling and literary production of the first and. She is the author of the gnostic gospels 1979, which won the national book award religion 1980 and the national book critics circle award criticism 1979. She brings her considerable competence to bear on the subject without overwhelming the reader with. Along the way, we have sought to raise the quality of the books, increase their availability, and reduce their cost. The gnostic society bookstore, offering a carefully selected collection of recent books on the subject of gnosis and gnosticism. A complete guide to the secret gospels by meera lester 2007, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. After the first century of christianity, two primary divisions developed the orthodox and the gnostics. Reconstructions were attempted from the records of the heresiologists, but these were necessarily.
The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels paperback 1989. Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. Raised in an intellectually atheist household, she came to christ at a billy. This too is the vision of the gnosis, the arabic meaning of algebraic is. The pistis sophia unveiledis a message for all humankind, in every corner of the world. She is the author of the gnostic gospels 1979, which won the national book award religion 1980 and the national book. The book, the gnostic gospels, by elaine pagels presents an easyreading historical document that reveals the fundamental and theoretical similarities and differences of gnostic and orthodox christians of the early christian movement. The secret gospel of thomas, is just out in paperback. The gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. A provocative study of the gnostic gospels and the world of early christianity as revealed through the nag hammadi texts. Buy the paperback book the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels at indigo. This book had been conserved in secret for many centuries.
Nov 12, 1979 the gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. Pagels graduated from stanford university receiving a b. The gnostic gospels are writings by early christian gnostics. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, paperback barnes. 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 gnostic handbook page 6 of the real nature of the equation, to find the essential form through the many shards or forms. 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. 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. Now the one criticism i have of this particular book is that the commentary provided is somewhat cryptic and ambiguous. The gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar elaine pagels elucidates. In this book aptly titled, introduction to the synoptic gospels new testament scholar pheme perkins delivers a clear, fresh and informed introduction to the earliest written accounts of jesus life, ministry, and resurrection as they are told in matthew, mark, and luke.
Jul 09, 2004 elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book, beyond belief. The popular classic, introducing the nag hammadi scriptures and gnosticism within a useful historical context. The gnostic gospels of thomas, mary, and john paperback. The first major and eminently readable book on gnosticism benefiting from the discovery in 1945 of a collection of gnostic christian texts at. This landmark study, a winner of both the national book award and the national book critics circle award, draws on those texts to illuminate the world of the first christians and to examine the different ways in which both gnostics and the orthodox constructed. The strangest book of the new testament, filled with visions of the rapture, the whore of babylon, and apocalyptic writing of the end of times, the book of revelation has fascinated readers for more than two thousand years, but where did it come from. This table of contents is linked to each chapter, just click a heading and go. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels 1989, paperback for.
Pagels teaches the history of religion at barnard, and she has spent practically all of her young academic life working with the nag hammadi manuscripts in one way or another. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels paperback january 1, 1965 4. The site includes the gnostic society library with the complete nag hammadi library, and a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. Synopsis in 1945 fiftytwo papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the egyptian desert. The discovery of books containing 52 texts in the nile river valley of egypt in 1945 called nag hammadi opened the door for the history of early christianism and the teachings of four gnostic gospels called. Perhaps the first major book to be free of the antignostic heresiological bias. Buy the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels from waterstones today. Long buried and suppressed, the gnostic gospels contain the secret writings attributed to the followers of jesus. It makes very clear that early christianity had 2 teachings one for common people, another esoteric for the narrow circle of initiated disciples.
The gnostic gospels were more aimed at finding god within, and not by pointing some compass outward to the sky. A fine thematic introduction to gnosticism, concentrating on the texts discovered at nag hammadi upper egypt in 1945. The gnostic gospels, book by elaine pagels paperback. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades.
Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time the gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. Thirteen leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local farmer named muhammed alsamman. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has. Its about a religious text that is little known the secret. The gnostic gospels central thesisthat political factors shaped the form of orthodox christianityseems well established. The only bizarre and sickly disconcerting aspect of the book comes near the end, and serves to in a way undo pagels entire project.
Too often we assume that the history of ideas is a debate between differing ideas, and that the strongest most valid idea necessarily survives. The gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roo. 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. Apr 06, 2006 buy the gnostic gospels new ed by pagels, elaine isbn. In 1945 an egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the gnostic gospels, the sacred books of one of the earliest christian sects. Elaine pagels the gnostic gospels, winner of the 1980 american book award for religious history, is a penetrating study of the theological significance of the nag hammadi texts. In this book, the adorable one left an extraordinary, formidable body of doctrine. Reconstructions were attempted from the records of the heresiologists, but these were necessarily coloured by the motivation behind the source accounts. Why religion a personal story by elaine pagels, paperback. The gnostic gospels dont need my praise, this is a timeless classic, and a very valuable addition to the new testament. These socalled gnostic writings were coptic translations from the original greek dating from. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Review the first major and eminently readable book on gnosticism benefiting from the discovery in 1945 of a collection of gnostic christian texts at nag hammadi in egypt. The gnostic gospels and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle.
A profound exploration of the bibles most controversial book from the author of beyond belief and the gnostic gospels. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Prior to the discovery at nag hammadi, only the following texts were available to students of gnosticism. More information about this seller contact this seller 23. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. The writings in these codices comprise 52 mostly gnostic. The gnostic christians, if they can truly be described. The gnostic gospels and millions of other books are available for instant.
Buy the gnostic gospels of thomas, mary, and john paperback at. These socalled gnostic writings were coptic translations from the original greek dating from the time of the new testament. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. The gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award.
The gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction books. The orthodox christians held to books we now have in the bible and to what is today considered orthodox theology. 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 to the gnostic tradition. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two. In 1945 fiftytwo papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the egyptian desert. This is an excellent introduction to the gnostic gospels.
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