Third Corinthians: Ancient Gnostics and the End of the World

by Ken Johnson

This little known, 2,000-year old Greek manuscript was used in the first two centuries to combat Gnostic cults. Whether or not it is an authentic copy of the original epistle written by the apostle Paul or not is gives an incredible look into the cults that arise in the last days. It contains a prophecy that the same heresies that pervaded the first century church would return before the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Genres: Christian, Theology

Audible Audio

First published November 7, 2008

About the author

Ken Johnson was born in 1965 and became a Christian at the age of 12. He quickly realized there were differences in doctrine in various denominations and sought out to prove to himself the correct interpretation of these issues that divide Christians. After an intensive study of the first century church he sought to bring back the teaching of the disciples of the 12 apostles. He has authored numerous books and made ancient Jewish scrolls available to the English speaking world.

He currently travels to churches inside the USA, speaking on these and other topics. He currently attends Calvary Chapel of Johnson County, located in Olathe Kansas.

Reviews

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall good work on the analysts of 3 Corinthians, but the later part of the book, on cults and heresies, while interesting, lacks in substance and references.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

…I have quite a few of Ken Johnson’s books, and they are all worthwhile. Each one has material relevant to a modern Christian that isn’t often found in “mainstream” books.

Third Corinthians is no different.

First, I would recommend downloading these books on Kindle…210 Book Holy Bible Apocrypha and Ancient History Master Collection, The Complete Ante-Nicene Collection by Phillip Schaff. The first book is primarily OT Apocrypha with some NT Apocrypha. The 2nd is all NT extra-biblical literature. There is some overlap. (Nothing Gnostic in either book)

Much of what Johnson references is in these books.

The epistle of 3rd Corinthians is an interesting artifact. There’s nothing in it that’s heretical, or that would profit a forger. This lends it some credibility. Johnson digs into it quite a bit, showing how it exposes Gnostic heresies, doing so with fervor.

Most of these heresies should be exposed. (variations being promoted today by JWs, Mormons, and nutty, jacked-up Pentecostals)

There is one belief Johnson calls a “heresy” in this book, with specious evidence. Some groups (Dubious though they may be) question the co-equal, co-eternal Triune Godhead dogma, claiming it wasn’t taught by ancient Jews OR Christians. That there’s no explicit mention of it in the NT, or 1st/2nd century Christian literature.

What “orthodox” Christians fail to admit is that “cults”, while 95% whacked out, often are correct 5% of the time. And it’s that 5% that gives them continued credibility in the eyes of their members.

The Trinity dogma is part of that 5%.

Johnson doesn’t really go into the Trinity in this book, but he claims a “heresy” of modern cults is denying Jesus was Almighty God incarnate. John 1:1-3 should be debated elsewhere. BUT, those vss only mention TWO Persons, not three. And the reader should scare up copies of An American Translation by Smith and Goodspeed, as well as Moffatt’s translation.

For our purposes, Johnson also quotes early church Father Ignatius as saying Jesus was God. He also similarly quotes Mathetes.

Problem.

It’s well known there are long and short versions of Ignatius’ epistles. This is interesting because most of the time Ignatius refers to Jesus as “God”, it’s in one or the other versions, long or short. RARELY in both. This shows Ignatius’ epistles were tampered with, either for or against the Trinity dogma, and are not a reliable source of doctrine on the subject.

Any honest expositor should have mentioned this. Trinitarian interpolations are not unheard of, even in the Bible. (see 1st John 5:7 in the KJV)

As far as Mathetes, the scholarly intro to his epistle in the Ante-Nicene Writings says no one knows who he was (regardless of the epistle’s claims), and that the text is unreliable, though the epistle is beautiful to read. True.

Johnson’s misleading quotes are EXACTLY the kind of thing that’s kept me a Trinity skeptic for decades, along with vss such as John 14:28, 1st Corinthians 8:6, 11: 3, 15:24-28, Revelation 1:1. (and many others). I believe Jesus is the SON of God. (John 20:31)

One other thing that doesn’t really pertain to this book, but to some of his others. It’s a small matter, not worthy of its own review.

Johnson doesn’t like JWs, and doesn’t hesitate to call them a cult. Fine.

But, he believes Daniel chapter 4 foretold the exact day of the State of Israel’s birth in 1948. He says this in several of his other books. However, his method of calculating the date is the SAME as what JW founder C.T. Russell used to arrive at his failed 1914 date. They just use different starting points, then count 2520 years.

To me, this is akin to saying Neil Diamond is a corny songwriter, then using one of his hooks for your own song.

Hey…just sayin’…


Otherwise an intriguing book, with info on Simon Magus, the Gnostics, etc.

[Steve Croft · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little reading and study of third Corinthians, including what the early church fathers etc thought of it. The main premise was to fight off the gnostic cults of the day.