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Pre-Christian Gnosticism: A Survey of the Proposed Evidences
Was there a pre-Christian Gnosticism? How fully developed was Gnosticism in the first century? Did Gnosticism directly or indirectly influence nascent Christianity? How have new texts and new studies affected the situation today? What methodological assumptions undergird the work of scholars who accept a pre-Christian Gnosticism? The author attempts to answer these questions and more in this comprehensive study.
278 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 22, 2020
An excellent review, albeit a bit dated at this point, of the scholarly opinions regarding the existence of an organized gnostic belief pre-dating Christianity. The debate revolves around the argument as to whether a pre-existing Gnostic believe was prevalent, and if so, whether it significantly influenced the development of early Christianity.
The survey is well organized starting with the challenge of defining what Gnosticism is in this arguments context. From there it reviews the literary evidence and arguments on both sides starting with the New Testament and running through many of the common texts used to form the opinions of scholars. These texts include writings of the early Church fathers, Jewish 2nd Temple Period texts, Iranian evidence (including Manichaeism), Syraic, Mandaic, Hermetic, and Nag Hammadi (Coptic) texts. There is also a chapter reviewing the idea of the pre-Christian Redeemer Myth, followed by a chapter that critically examines the methodology used to support the existence of a pre-Christian Gnosticism. The final chapter has been added to the most recent publication reviewing the evidences over the last decade since the first publication.
For the reader this is a fairly scholarly work. An assumption is made that the reader is relatively familiar with the texts and traditions being reviewed in the survey. If you have no understanding of the religious milieu during the 1st thru 3rd centuries AD there maybe some challenges understanding what is being discussed. As a secondary study there is some good material here to understand the Gnostic heresy within the early Church.
The survey is well organized starting with the challenge of defining what Gnosticism is in this arguments context. From there it reviews the literary evidence and arguments on both sides starting with the New Testament and running through many of the common texts used to form the opinions of scholars. These texts include writings of the early Church fathers, Jewish 2nd Temple Period texts, Iranian evidence (including Manichaeism), Syraic, Mandaic, Hermetic, and Nag Hammadi (Coptic) texts. There is also a chapter reviewing the idea of the pre-Christian Redeemer Myth, followed by a chapter that critically examines the methodology used to support the existence of a pre-Christian Gnosticism. The final chapter has been added to the most recent publication reviewing the evidences over the last decade since the first publication.
For the reader this is a fairly scholarly work. An assumption is made that the reader is relatively familiar with the texts and traditions being reviewed in the survey. If you have no understanding of the religious milieu during the 1st thru 3rd centuries AD there maybe some challenges understanding what is being discussed. As a secondary study there is some good material here to understand the Gnostic heresy within the early Church.
May 29, 2025
This is a criticial review of the main arguments for the genesis of gnosticism. I am glad I made this my first read into this topic. It cleared up so much!
When I read another it will have to have a publication after this book (1983).
When I read another it will have to have a publication after this book (1983).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews