Stuart Woodward reviewed Gnosticism by Charles River Editors
Review of 'Gnosticism' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
This is another good short introduction to Gnosticism.
The interesting thing is that books of the New Testament that are considered valid are those which were determined not to be influenced by Gnosticism which has a totally different theology. However, in the early church many of those books were read and know and alluded to in other writings including those by Christian theologians. After the New Testament was decided upon, the books which didn't make the Canon were destroyed and largely forgotten about until 1945 when copies of some of the forgotten books were unearthed in Egypt. Most of these priceless documents were saved, except for the ones that were burnt in a fire to cook the evening meal by the finder's mother.
These text really change the perception of the first 4 centuries of Christianity and the ideas they contain come back again and again in modern forms. I …
This is another good short introduction to Gnosticism.
The interesting thing is that books of the New Testament that are considered valid are those which were determined not to be influenced by Gnosticism which has a totally different theology. However, in the early church many of those books were read and know and alluded to in other writings including those by Christian theologians. After the New Testament was decided upon, the books which didn't make the Canon were destroyed and largely forgotten about until 1945 when copies of some of the forgotten books were unearthed in Egypt. Most of these priceless documents were saved, except for the ones that were burnt in a fire to cook the evening meal by the finder's mother.
These text really change the perception of the first 4 centuries of Christianity and the ideas they contain come back again and again in modern forms. I recognised some 'kooky' ideas that I had heard a modern theologian talk about that I now realise had come from Gnosticism but I don't remember him mentioning that that was their origin.
I feel that this is going to be the start of another rabbit hole..