The apocryphon of john is an important work of mythological gnosticism. News for armchair and practicing metaphysical skeptics. That year, twelve leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local. The savior said, brother thomas while you have time in the world, listen to me, and i will reveal. 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. There are four separate surviving manuscripts of the secret book of john. The nag hammadi library the impious digest part 23. Three of these appear to be independently produced coptic translations of. Such private instruction to the apostles figures in the canonical gospels of the new testament and furnishes the material of the sayings gospel of thomas and part of the.
The secret book of john is considered by sholars to be the locus classicus for the gnostic mythological system and is the subject of logans book gnostic truth. The original title may have been the revelation of the mysteries hidden in silence which resonates with the magi, who are associated with silent prayer. There are four surviving coptic manuscripts of this text. 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. The nag hammadi library is a collection of manuscripts is believed to be from the 4th century, copies of documents written earlier. The nag hammadi codices contain numerous texts called revelations or secret books.
The apocryphon of john collection the gnostic society library. The prominence of james and peter suggest that the work. As the title secret book of john implies, this story was meant to serve as an addition to the gospel of john specifically, a prequel. Using the framework of a revelation delivered by the resurrected christ to john the son of zebedee, this tractate offers a remarkably clear description of the creation, fall, and salvation of humanity. A howtodo study applying the method of new philology on a 4th5th century codex.
Frederik wisse writes the nag hammadi library in english, p. The gnostic society library the nag hammadi library. Michael waldstein and frederik wisse, the apocryphon of john. 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. The riddles of the poem may presuppose a classical gnostic myth, such as the one found in the reality of the rulers, or in the secret book of john. The secret book of john gnostic text from the nag hammadi library.
Jan 02, 2020 the nag hammadi scrolls include works known as the gospel of truth, the gospel of philip, the apocryphon of john, the apocalypse of adam, and the acts of peter and the twelve apostles. The nag hammadi library the lost books of the bible. Written before 180, the secret book of john is the revelation of the ascended jesus. It describes jesus appearing and giving secret knowledge to john the apostle. Thirteen leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local farmer named muhammed alsamman. Its production, its structuring of inscribed text, and its overall content in relation to contemporary monasticism, where the codex is presented as an apocryphal book. Translated by michael waldstein and frederik wisse. The 52 books in the ancient nag hammadi library godwords. Narrative and cosmology in the apocryphon of john, nag hammadi. The nag hammadi library ancient library of wisdom and lore. The apocryphon of john secret book of john nag hammadi. The secret book of john the secret revelation of john long version. Part of the library of books found in nag hammadi, egypt. It contains nearly 1700 entries, from aachiaram, an angel in the secret book of john to zostrianos, a thirdcentury gnostic text, and is a reliable reference for the nag hammadi library and other gnostic texts.
Here, explore three such texts, the revelation of paul, the revelation of peter, and the secret book of james, as they propound theological views that challenged and in some cases sharply criticized the emerging orthodox church and its leaders. The apocryphon of john frederik wisse the nag hammadi. Oct 28, 2011 mystery and secrecy in the nag hammadi collection and other ancient literature. Nag hammadi scriptures, secret book of john youtube. The apocryphon of john the secret book of john the secret revelation of john. The secret book apocryphon of john gnostic text from the nag hammadi library full audio book. The secret book of johnand the secret revelation of john, each depending upon how the word apocryphon is translated. A good and clear scholarly discussion of the apocryphon of john by prof. Apr 20, 2009 the nag hammadi manuscripts of thomas copies, however, date far later, to ca. Studies for einar thomassen at sixty volume 76 of nag hammadi and manichaean studies. In 1945, two egyptian brothers found a large urn near nag hammadi, filled with ancient papyri. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the nag hammadi scriptures. The apocryphon of john marvin meyer the nag hammadi library. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of jo.
The secret book of john and the secret revelation of john, depending upon how the word apocryphon is translated. The secret of sion graham hancock official website. In 1896 a german egyptologist, alerted by the previous publications, bought in cairo a manuscript that, to his amazement, contained the gospel of mary magdalene and three other texts. A red earthenware jar was discovered by ali alsamman, an arab peasant, while he was digging for sabakh, a soft soil used for fertilizer. Muhammad ali later admitted that some of the texts were lostburned up or thrown away. The secret book of john apocryphon of john the gnosis archive.
Apocryphon secret writing, plural apocrypha, was a greek term for a genre of jewish and early christian writings that were meant to impart secret teachings or gnosis knowledge that could not be publicly taught. Anticosmicism gnostic dualism gnosticism explained. The apocryphon of john marvin meyer the nag hammadi library above image of the gospel of thomas courtesy of the. One set of levels is the evident addition of rather lengthy. I in ancient greek philosophy, the lion was frequently a symbol of irrational passions. Nag hammadi the secret book of john becoming borealis. This edition has been edited and formatted by lance owens and is based on the waldstein and wisse. What is gnosticism the study of nag hammadi the great. The message of the alien god and the beginnings of christianity. In 1945, in upper egypt near nag hammadi, an amazing discovery was made, a collection of ancient codices containing over 50 text, a virtual library of coptic text. It helps to remember that many things were going on during the rise of christianity in the 2 nd to 4 th centuries. The apocryphon of john secret book of john nag hammadi library. The apocryphon of john is commonly referenced by two other names.
The secret words that the savior spoke to judas thomas which i, even i, mathaias, wrote down, while i was walking, listening to them speak with one another. The secret book of john, also called the apocryphon of john or the secret revelation of john, is a 2ndcentury sethian gnostic christian text of secret teachings. 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. Part of the library of books found in nag hammadi, egypt, in 1945, this central myth of gnosticism tells. Three copies of one of them, the apocryphon secret book of john were also included among the gnostic library discovered at nag hammadi fifty years later. 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. One set of levels is the evident addition of rather lengthy texts a list of magical names, a dialogue on the soul, a providence hymn to an original version that lacked them. The secret book of john gnostic text from the nag hammadi. The prayer of the apostle paul the apocryphon of james. In terms of plot, it sets the stage, and in terms of theology, it provides a context for understanding john s gospel through a gnostic lens. The apocryphon of john collection the secret revelation of john the secret book.
The book is particularly relevant as french author doresse was literally one of the first westerners to actually see the original nag hammadi texts discovered in 1947. This ancient gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual questthe secret book of john is the most significant and influential text of the ancient gnostic religion. Most of the documents are indirectly related to early christianity, though the content varies. It was discovered in 1945 among the nag hammadi cache of codices. Drawing connections to christianity, buddhism, hinduism, kabbalistic judaism, and sufism, davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the. Aug 30, 2014 a good and clear scholarly discussion of the apocryphon of john by prof. The find included such works as the gospel of thomas, the gospel of the egyptians, the apocryphon secret book of john, the secret. The nag hammadi library is a collection of early christian scriptures and a few other miscellaneous texts discovered in the egyptian desert in the middle of the twentieth century that has forced us to reconsider much of what we thought we knew about early christianity, especially the type of early christianity known as gnosticism. In greek, apocryphon literally means hidden or secret, thus in recent popular literature the title is usually translated as either the secret book of john or the. This site includes the entire nag hammadi library, as well as a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. Since it was known to irenaeus, a church father, it must have been written before 180 ce. Corresponding closely to the myth that irenaeus ascribed to the sect called gnostike, the apocryphon purports to be a secret revelation from jesus that was. The most famous nag hammadi scroll is the only known complete copy of the gospel of thomas.
Buried in jars underground, the nag hammadi books were likely hidden for safekeeping sometime after a. Nag hammadi nag ham mah dih a town in upper egypt where an astonishing archaeological discovery of coptic translations of ancient gnostic writings was found in 1945. Secret book of john marvin meyer holy scriptures reading. 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. The author describes it having occurred after jesus has gone back to the place from which he came.
The apocryphon of john marvin meyer the nag hammadi. The nag hammadi library the nag hammadi library is a collection of early christian gnostic texts discovered near the egyptian town of nag hammadi, in 1945. The apocryphon of john was undoubtedly an important book amongst those of a gnostic persuasion, indicated by the fact that there are no less than four surviving manuscripts in various versions, three of these being in the nag hammadi library alone. The revised and updated translation of sacred gnostic texts complete in one volume ebook written by marvin w. Studies for einar thomassen at sixty nag hammadi and manichaean studies.
The secret book of john is the most significant and influential text of the ancient gnostic religion. The savior said, brother thomas while you have time in the world, listen to me, and i will reveal to you the things you have pondered in your mind. The secret book of john adds that he had the body of a snake and the head of a lion, with eyes like lightning bolts. One was purchased in egypt in 1896 the berlin codex. The book of thomas the contender the nag hammadi library. Nag hammadi the thunder perfect mind gnostic poem of sophia.
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