What's your favourite Gnostic Gospel and why?

Question

Mine has to be the Gospel of Thomas, followed by The Gospel of Truth.

Online at "The Gnostic Society", they have all the Gnostic Gospels and use to have free recordings of some of the sermons, I don't care much for sermons but those are really great. There's also a very good talk on "the Story of the Pearl" if they still have it.

Jack P: Thanks!

Answer 1

Styme,

Negative. Styme you do realize what is in the bible was handpicked by a Emperor (ruler) and bishops from the west who adopted St. Augustine's original sin doctrine. You most realize that Orthodoxy was not the belief that everyone held, on the scale of things Orthodoxy was entry level doctrine for those whom were still "carnal" and needed to be transitioned to a degree that they would go on to live better lives, so literal application and etc was acceptable, until they reached the level in which they had progressed under the symbols enough to come into the reality of what these symbols esoterically represented within themselves, that's when they moved onto the gnostic phase or mystic phase. Historically all movements have always been set up in a manner where it meets the needs of the seeker and where they were at, it was designed after our own nature, 3 fold nature; physical, mental, spiritual.

And the scriptures in the Old Testament are the most faulty of any scripture in the world. Via years of translation error, documented proof of corruption (trinity parts being put in, parts being removed, words being changed like the baptism narrative which is supposed to be "Thou art my son to day have I begotten thee," not, "Thou art my son, in whom I am well pleased," which are completely different and convey something entirely different, yet no translation of the bible has ever changed it back to its original, because they know what it means). Most of the scriptures in the Nag Hammadi shouldn't be in the bible, why should they? What's the bible if not some book? The Thomas Gospel to date is the most PURE source of the sayings TODAY and it is kept in the manner that they kept sayings and writings back then. If you are looking for a purer source of sayings, of which is less corrupted and contains sayings from the oldest strata of traditions, Thomas gospel is your answer. The Greek version of Thomas dates back to 70 AD - +1st century, so it would be way more purer then anything in the bible. And Paul talks about Gnostic stuff, he talks about the Plemora of the Godhead, god of this world, and many other references. In all honesty much of what Valentinus spoke of was via a disciple of Paul named Theudas, who told him the secrets and then he had his own experiences (remember Paul said he gave them milk not meat, because they were carnal, only Jesus Christ and him crucified was enough for them)

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Sorry BACK TO THE QUESTION! Since I am a Gnostic's Gnostics I'd have to say either Phillip Gospel or Gospel of truth. I like many of them, to be honest, like Origins of the World, Authoritative teachings, Dialog of the savior (almost choose this one) and etc. It's been about 3 or 4 years since I got my Nag Hammadi Library, best thing ever. True story, the first scripture I ever read ever was the Thomas Gospel.

Answer 2

Definitely the Gospel of Thomas, because it's not only a good gnostic gospel, it's really the only good "sayings" gospel. Gnosticism aside, there's so many good sayings in there that HAVE to go back to Christ in one way or another (maybe not all of them, but certainly a lot of them). Studied critically it really gives you another layer of Jesus' teachings.

Aside from that one though it's hard to answer because so many are fragmentary to start with. Then gnosticism itself is so esoteric you're never quite sure if you're getting the POINT or not. My opinion.

Peace to you.

Answer 3

Mine is also Thomas the Gospel of Truth, because they are by far the least Gnostic (both were accepted as Orthodox and cited as Scripture by ancient theologians at one time or another). Neither contains more than a hint of the doctrines that actually constituted ancient Gnosticism.

Answer 4

i started looking at all this some years ago, if you believe in this that is fine, but the true answers are found once you go beyond this to true spiritulism which if you have delved deep enough into gnostic culture and belief will lead you to spiritulism anyway. ie christ taught that we will all be reincarnated at some stage,why otherwise does a child have to christened to clear away its sins, what sins?

Answer 5

I agree with you, but do not consider GoT 'gnostic' in the accepted sense. It is pure psychological mysticism.

Answer 6

I agree 100%

edited in: cosmic c - the Nag Hammadi Library has them

Answer 7

I wish I knew more gospels than I do...
Where can I find these gospels?

Answer 8

Why they were excluded from the other books is an interesting question none can answer truthfully. Such is cencorship!

Answer 9

the one that's in the KJV


there is a reason why they are not in the KJV mostly because of there lack of credibility