what do you guys think about the Gnostic Gospels?

Question

Fact or Crap?

Answer 1

Well, you can read them -- get Bentley Layton's collection called "Gnostic Scriptures." It has materials from Nag Hammadi as well as a lot of other sources.

Gnosticism was a non-Christian syncretistic religious movement in late antiquity with many forms. It interacted with early Christianity to produce many forms of Christian Gnosticism. These "alternate Christianities" (and there were many others besides Gnosticism, see Bart Ehrman's work) were eradicated by the official church and the Roman state which sponsored it. Now through the recovery of ancient texts, we have a window into Gnostic belief besides the writings of the heretic-hunters of the ancient church (such as Irenaeus of Lyons). It's interesting stuff. Primarily it's interesting to see that our present Christian "orthodoxy" was simply one voice in a cacophony of competing voices in the first few centuries of Christianity's existence.

However, neither the Gnostic scriptures nor the orthodox scriptures are "the real truth." They are human documents, human responses to reality. Read them both, winnow the wheat from the chaff. FWIW, in my opinion, there's more real wheat in the canonical Gospels than in the Gnostic scriptures. The Gospels are quite serious, and are much more likely to be close historical representations of Jesus of Nazareth and his preaching. If we're interested in the historical Jesus, we should turn to the canonical Gospels. If we're interested in far-out philosophical speculation, the Gnostic scriptures are a gold-mine. But for me, it's the earthly Jesus, the revolutionary rabbi executed by the Roman state, who preached universal love -- he's the most interesting thing. All the Gnostic aeons and emanations -- eh, it's cool to read about, but that's about it.

Answer 2

I think the same about them as the early historians and scholars did. When you read through the contemporary records of the second through fifth century when they appeared, you will see people discussing them and dismissing them as fakes.

If you look at the over 5,300 early manuscripts of the New Testament, not a single one includes any of the gnostic gospels. They are not quoted by any of the early Christian writers, included in any of the list of accepted scripture, or used as part of any of the prayers, rituals, or hymns of the early church.

Before someone claims that the Catholics censored them all, note that the majority of the early manuscripts, letters, list, paryer books, etc., do not come from the Catholic church. Many come for the Copts, a group of Jewish Christians who fleed Israel in 70 AD when Jerusalem was destroyed and went to Egypt. They established a Christian community there that still exist today. But because they were - gasp and horror!! - Jews, the Catholic church have no interaction with them at all. Yet the preserve the 27 NT books, word for word indentical, to what the Catholics had. And rejected all the gnostic gospels - even when there was material in them that would have been very fairable to them.

Same with the Bryzantine church, the Armenian church, the Asian church, and more. All groups that were not connected to the Roman church - in fact often bitter rivals to the them - yet the recognize and presevere the indentical 27 books as the Roman church and reject all the others.

Maybe, living at the time when the gnostic gospels were being written, they knew something about them that two thousand years later we might have a harder time proving. Namely that they were fakes and fiction.

Answer 3

I think you need to keep in mind that the Christian Churh around the year 300 C.E. got together to determine what would make up the "Holy Canon." THese men set out to make Christ look really good. There are Gnostic stories that show a youthful Jesus as mischieivou. It's kinda hard to keep kids in line if the Messiah wasn't always a good boy. THe books hold just as much scholarly credence and should have the same religious credednce. Gnostics were/are only trying to get closer to god by becoming one with him, much like Sufi in Islam.

Yes, I feel that these books are as much fact as the books included in the canon.

Answer 4

Gnosticism is also based on works, being good enouph or earning heaven.

True salvation is by Grace. Jesus Christ true church is founded on Grace.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through faith.

Answer 5

Crap

Answer 6

I think they are beautiful poetic and perfect as many christian scriptures are. I wish people weren't so blind to the glory that all mankind is all one to God, and maybe all the good parts of every religion are the true path to God.
God bless.
But I know I like religions that don't knock other people down and don't say "you will burn in hell if you don't do it this way!" I think God is more glorious and wise than that :o]

Answer 7

You mean the Gospels from the Catholic Bible?
They are excellent for reference and I think they have truths for today...but are not the inspired word of God.
Just My Opinion.

Answer 8

I only know of the gospels in the KJV bible. Those are the ones I trust.

Answer 9

From what I've read of published fragments, I don't believe them.

Answer 10

I have yet to hear a good reason why they aren't as valid as any other scriptures.