Why did the church desire to destroy the Gnostic Gospels?

Question

The Gospel of Thomas actually predates the writings of Paul.

The Nag Hammadi discoveries have shed light on the true teachings of Jesus. Included in these discoveries are several gospels of Jesus's life that never made it into the modern Christian Bible as well as a treasury of lost, esoteric wisdom that portrays a side of Christianity suppressed by the institutionalized church.

From the book: Gnostic Discoveries
The Impact Of The Nag Hammadi Library

BY MARVIN MEYER

I just finished reading that book yesterday. I am even more convinced now that the bible is pure fictionalized evil.

No! Due to events mentioned in the Gospel of Thomas, it is believed to have been written no later that 50AD!

Answer 1

Yes. You have to remember that a Pagan Emperor had a problem. Christians were killing each other, and this would have been all right as Christianity was considered a Pagan and illegal religion, but there were several problems. Christians made up a large portion of the poor, and their fights had a tendency to spread out and cause great disruption. Legal religions were being hurt. There were lots of problems.

So Emperor Constantine decided to correct the situation. He got together most of the Christian leaders, in the council of Nicea I think it was. He got them to give him copies of all their Gospels and religious texts. He then personally decided which ones would cause the least problem, put them together into a new testament, and said that all Christians had to accept this as their Holy text. Anyone who didn't accept it were put to death as heretics.

So it was decided by a Pagan Emperor as to what Christians would believe, in order to bring peace to his Empire.

Of course, he was said to have converted to Christianity on his deathbed, but according to his personal manservant who never left his side, and several of his sons, he didn't. Only his eldest son said he did, because that eldest son had converted to Christianity.

Of course, the Gnostic's texts were much the same as the dead sea scrolls, which seem to be the people who actually taught the man now called Jesus what he taught. The Gnostic tradition is much older than Jesus, even though most Christians try to say otherwise.

Of course, many people will suggest that Gnostic texts were written centuries after the death of Jesus, ignoring completely that the dead sea scrolls, which were written before Jesus' birth are basically Gnostic texts. Also Christians ignore the fact that all of their New Testament texts were written between 100 and 200 years after Jesus' death.

Ignore them. They know nothing of history, and are therefore doomed to repeat the problems of the past.

Answer 2

Mark was the first gospel written. it was written no earlier than 70 CE, and most scholars put it at around 90 CE. The other gospels were based on Mark, and were written in the second century. John was the last gospel written. The earliest Christian writings in the New Testament were the epistles of Paul, starting with Corinthians and 1 Galatians. They were written around 40 CE. The remarkable thing about the earliest writings is that they do not mention an Earthly life for Jesus. The only actual events ascribed to him are a crucifiction, death, and resurrection, but those are never placed in any Earthly location. The Gospel of Truth was written somewhere in the mid second century, probably between 140 and 180 CE. I don't know when the others were written. Adam, you are repeating the church line, but those dates are not supported by research and evidence. Matthew, Luke, and John are obviously based on Mark. Mark mentions the destruction of the temple, so could not have been written before 70 CE.

Answer 3

As most persons having an above entry level i.q. realize, the church is run by very ordinary patriarcho-fascists who are focussed mainly on greed and narcissism. Whatever threatens their monopoly then and now is always "the work of the devil, etc." It's laughable , and a huge disservice to their flock. Unquestionably, one of the best books i've read on gnostic christianity is *Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ* by Tau Malachi from Llewellyn. A masterpiece, worth checking out!! ;-)

Answer 4

Whoa, slow that pony down, this is about shareing the good of our perceptions isn't it? The Gnostic beliefs followed too closely to the India uptake, that we can all be Gods here on earth, in this lifetime. While this is a beautiful teaching, even Jesus died.

Answer 5

The real problem is a spiritual one. If someone is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit or at least being guided in their understanding by it (or Him), which is to say, if someone is not "in Christ," they live, as it were, on one side of the looking glass apart from those who are in Christ. It is not the scriptures but God Himself that imparts spiritual truth. Once a person is in Christ and is taught by the Spirit of God, it is plainly seen that the gnostic gospels are not of the same spirit as the canon of scripture. As in the creationism v evolution impasse, here again we have darkness trying to persuade light. It will not come to pass. There are truths in evolution, there are truths in the gnostic gospels, but they do not, can not and will not ever displace the truth of God or His Son Jesus Christ and one day every tongue will proclaim Him Lord.

Answer 6

Check your facts. The Gospel of Thomas, according to Eubius, who was living at the time it was written, was not produced until the late second century. He includes it in his list of gospels that had just been written in the last couple years. That is why there are no early copies of the gospel.

However we do have copies of the writings of Paul from as early as 70-100AD, and quotes from his writings that are early then that.

If you have read the gospel of Thomas, I can see why you would be convinced that it is pure fictionalized evil. It is....

Answer 7

The gnostic scriptures reference using one's own mind to help discern things about right vs. wrong, and a different approach to the divine... the Catholic Church couldn't very well have monetary and spiritual control over the masses if everybody's thinking for themselves. 'Tis much easier to edit scripture, chain the Bibles and tell people what to think, then you have control.

edit: this isn't just my opinion either, while I have no intent to offend those who support the Church, history is history and fact is fact, and unfortunately, after studying religious history and the history of the Catholic Church with a harsh analytical approach, dems are da facts.

_()_

Answer 8

I have so much to say and little time to say it. Please do more research than just opening a book and reading the biased findings of a single author. Be wise, and with all your getting, get an understanding.

Answer 9

wow you must have read my mind becuase i was actually wondering about that myself what the hell happened to the gnostic scriptures as well as why the hell did gnosticism die down

Answer 10

EXCELLENT question... considering that the gnostics started this whole thing, you'd think they'd want to get to know their roots, eh?
I wish I could give you 10pts for this question!