Gnosis, Faith, Or ‘Faith & Gnosis?’

Both if possible

It has been implied that “Gnosis” (or Salvation) is more than coming to Faith (or belief and or trust in God, the ‘One,’ the ‘Most High or Yeshua”) in Gnostic Churches or Ecclesia. Past Gnostics have claimed that one must find or experience ‘Gnosis’ or an experiential encounter with God (or Yeshua) or ‘That Which Is,’ this being much more like a Near Death Experience (or NDE). And that this ‘more real than real experience’ is needed for salvation (instead of the standard explanation) found in Christianity for obtaining and maintaining ‘faith’ such as described in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

But some writing about “Gnosis” claim it is more than this: Some weighting about ‘Gnosis’ as the basis for ‘Salvation’ claim an experiential meeting with a “light-being” or (like an NDE) an experiential being or living among or within ‘heaven or, in experiencing Beings of Light or ‘Gnowing all’ momentarily, such that it removes all doubts as to an after-life existence or the reality of God and that there is a ‘life to come’ in some other “eon of heaven or ‘existence’ in an ‘afterlife.'”

Gnosis often refers to knowledge based on personal experience or perception. In a religious context, gnosis (salvation) is mystical or esoteric knowledge based on direct participation with the divine. In most Gnostic systems, the sufficient cause of salvation is this “knowledge of” (“acquaintance with”) the divine. The Divine within (and without)

Gnostic (Christian) Salvation or Gnosis (a feminine Greek noun) means “knowledge” (but as used in Gnosis it is divine experiential) or “awareness” described or compared to attaining an ‘in the-flesh’ evidential knowledge [εἴδειν eídein] and understanding of a person (such as meeting them, talking to them face to face and jointly doing things together). This is compared to ‘knowing them solely’ in such a manner as just phone conversations or email communication. Consequentially, Gnosis has historically referred to gaining “experiential divine knowledge perceiving ‘God or the Devine’ in a face to face “like” manner and through this carrying out or doing ‘good or godly things’ together. This active experiential ‘work with the Devine’ brings to mind the second half of orthodox practice described by the Brother of Jesus, “James the Just” who notes ‘while having faith is good,’ also makes the statement that, ‘Faith Without Works Is Dead.’ Higher Gnosis also demands such effort; “the one who listens (or reads) learns, and listening (or reading) they can learn and learning turn, and turning hear, and hearing (‘Gnosis’) be saved. But one must seek and keep seeking. He said it (Gnosis), together, with the wisdom of Yeshua, (and with Wisdom or Sophia) brings and teaches this ‘sacred salvational knowledge.’ And to all (who seek it) for if you seek it (to know youself, and to know the reality of “the One Within‘ or ‘That Which Is, The Devine Within‘ (God above God,’ which is above every human conception of any God or ‘gods’). This is to know ‘The Most High‘ is that which is beyond human comprehension, understanding, and expression).” For (the Divine says) you will find me when you seek me with all your mind, your heart, and soul.” Today this teaching (Gnosis) must include the OT, NT, and broadly ‘the Gnostic’ scriptures.

Many if they have a Gnostic church nearby can receive guidance. But a practical way of adding Gnostic practice and at least minimal faith is to read some core ‘Gnostic’ texts (the use and application of the term ‘Gnostic’ even by ‘practicing Gnostic’s and especially scholars is heavily debated – and not all that was found, for example in the Nag Hammadi ‘Library’ of books is now deemed to be “Gnostic.” In fact the most famous and most debated, studied, utilized, and publically purchased Gnostic text ever found “The Gospel of Thomas” does not have or contain the Gnostic Myth or its full Gnostic beliefs and Cosmogony!” However labeling independently each text and its suggested ideas, beliefs, and or practice suggestions can be ferreted out for example by purchasing the Nag Hammadi Scriptures (Robinson, James M. Ed. 2000; Meyer, Marvin W., Robinson, James M. 2007) but mostly it means the ‘books’ found in 1945 and after and which are ‘associated texts like the ‘Hermetica’ or ‘the Gospel of Mary.’ Most of these texts are still (generally and) commonly referred to as “Gnostic” (but this can be seen as a ‘label for this group of texts and associated texts or books’ even if they do not contain the ‘so-called Gnostic Myth’ (the story of Wisdom or Sophia and her creation of the Archon or demiurge, the lesser ‘god’ (Yh•tzevaot) or Yaltabaoth (Samael who is HaSatan in Enoch) the ‘molder’ over the aeon of the earth and its (local) cosmos in ‘Gnostic Mythology’ and so on.

One can start (as an example) by reading the most well-known and popular gnostic texts like ‘The Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Secret Revelation of John (all considered heretical by mainstream Christianity). Meditate on a ‘Gnostic’ verse (or at first – on a verse from the canonical or orthodox OT or NT (or what I call the full covenantal scriptures thus including Gnostic scriptures too). However, meditation does not have to be religious and it can be (and remain) secular but most Gnostic “Ecclesia or Churches” today recommend ‘Meditation’ as good (Dienstmann, Giovanni. 2018). Then begin to contemplate the different scriptures including what is different about them than that found in the OT or NT. There are a few verses for example in the Gospel of Thomas (and the Gospel of Philip) that can be construed as pointing toward Reincarnation. But this is a complex topic and Stephan A. Hoeller discusses this issue well regarding ‘Gnosticism’ (2002; 2010). It is not ‘used or understood’ by Hoeller (and I believe most Gnostics) to do or actually to be about the same outcomes found in Buddhism or Hinduism (though no insult is meant here toward those faiths definitions and ‘use’ or beliefs about Reincarnation. There are some ‘Gnostic’ ecclesia that do define it similarly, but generally, it holds a different meaning in Gnosticism, especially today. People practicing Gnosticism (or Gnostic Christianity) want to attain mystical or esoteric insight that leads to Salvation or Gnosis). Many (maybe most) are helped greatly by attending Gnostic meetings, churches, or ecclesia.

In the many dualist ideologies found in various Gnostic systems, the material universe is evil, while the non-material world is good. But this can be reasonably softened to suggest that: all actions based upon the material world alone may not be healthy or right and that there is meaning, purpose, and joy to be found in non-material actions or even beliefs which should not all be automatically delegated to superstition alone. Gnosticism has taught a cosmological dualism with a lesser god even the devil (or negative ideologies or wrong philosophies) can be the cause of much unnecessary suffering. And unlike. what is often said about Gnosticism being ‘libertine and promiscuous – historically it was just the opposite and about two thousand years ago often pushed a very strict asceticism (do not drink alcohol, do not have sex or in some cases (very long ago) – do not even have sex with your spouse! It repudiated material creation as evil but today this can be seen as a recognition that living in the world can be (and simply is at times) difficult even painful (but there is help).

Anciently many today believe that Yeshua was divine only after his baptism by John (and before that was only human but a devout Jew nevertheless) and that after he was crucified and resurrected (as a palpable body but not of flesh and blood) or resurrected only in exaltation either way this has been called docetism, meaning he only ‘appeared to be a man’ (but was fully divine). Nevertheless, in the NT and all full covenantal scriptures, he tried hard to help all people see and know the existence of the divine spark (or God) within every human being.

In a religious context, gnosis is mystical and esoteric knowledge based on experiential direct participation with the divine. But my scientific training makes me desire data to demonstrate that gaining ‘Gnosis‘ is more than “coming to faith or being born again and finding Salvation” to much of the rest of Christianity and compare the outcomes of those who attained “Salvation and Faith through Gnosis” with outcome measures over 5 or 10 years. And thus to study those who claim this type of Salvation against those who “come to faith or are born again” in non-gnostic Christian churches (see: Litma, M. David. 2022). Both mainstream and evangelical and other non-mainstream Christian Churches (and Salvation or Enlightenment, etc., as in Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Science, Unitarian Christianity, or ‘Unitarian Universalists,’ etc.) fare on the same scientific outcome measures (that have been developed and used now for many years) over these periods. Many of the same (or slightly modified outcome measures) used scientifically in studying NDEs could be utilized to compare (‘salvational, ethical and belief’) claims or changes seen in those who underwent an NDE. This could be interesting Sociological research. I am sure that such NDE experiences occur in and out of every institutional church and faith (Greyson, Bruce. 2021).

But whether or not such research (on Gnosis) is carried out, the Johannite Gnostic Church defines ‘Gnosis’ that almost all are capable of (Johannite Church. 2023):

“Statement of the modern Johannite Church’s Principles (regarding Gnosis)“:

Attainment or the Practice of Gnosis

“We affirm that one Great, Unknowable, and Ineffable Godhead made manifest the Universe through Emanation and that while the Universe is contained within this Divine Godhead, the Godhead transcends it.

We affirm that every Being contains the ‘Sacred Flame,’ a Spark of the Divine and that Awareness of the Sacred Flame within constitutes the highest level of Self-Knowledge and the Experience of God simultaneously. This act of Awareness liberating, transcendent, and experiential, is called Gnosis.

We affirm that there are many ways in which Gnosis may be experienced. Thus, we promote freedom of thought in pursuit of one’s inward Path toward the Divine, whether that pursuit is modern or ancient in origin or individual or communal in experience.

We affirm that the Godhead is composed of three Persons, one in substance – God, the Father Almighty; the Son, the Logos or Christos Soter and the Holy Spirit or Pneuma Hagion.“

But there are other Gnostic churches or ecclesia that define Gnosis or Salvation in different ways, as there is variation in orthodox and closely aligned heterodox Christian Churches (Silvia, Anthony. 2013)

Reading these books has led me to believe that the way forward to a fuller understanding of ‘Gnosis‘ is in understanding what so many authors before me (have already) made clear in their translations, such as those by Meyer, Scopello, and van Roland. For (hiding in plain sight) is found within these (particular) ‘Gnostic’ translations, a ‘theology‘ of the orthodox included alongside ‘Gnostic or Esoteric’ theology as in Exegesis of the Soul and in Authoritative Discourse, that is, i.e., Salvation through the Grace of God (and Gnosis):

In Exegesis on the Soul, the prophet(s) such as [David, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah] say in Psalm 102 or 103:1–5 (in the Septuagint)… and out of Authoritative Discourse also one is,

Saved by the Grace of God and Gnosis (but Not by Works… alone; very slightly paraphrased)

Slightly paraphrased from Exegesis on the Soul and Authoritative Discourse, it is written, “This is the resurrection (or life after death) from the dead… the righteous soul ascending to heaven or …to the Father (into heaven-mine). For the Father… freed you your life – from death. …[In] this way, rebirth will save your soul. This is not because of practical lessons, technical skills, or learned books (‘or works’). Instead, the righteous soul is found (established) through the grace of the [Spirit]… …the gift of a merciful [God]… Therefore a soul reading and meditating on these scriptures recognizes ‘her’ true family is from above (from the Pleroma – of the Father – or Heaven; of the Father – mine). (Meyer, Marvin W., Robinson, James M. 2007).

This is where the soul descends and ascends after embodiment in this material, materialistic, and fleshly world. These texts (also) teach one to “let go of worldly desires, bodily desires, lust, hatred, envy, and all forms of materialism.” If the soul chooses indulgence, ‘she’ loses touch with her true (spiritual) family. In ignorance, the body can exhibit animalistic (even evil) behavior…

The world and all its attractions are a competition that each soul must struggle with. In overcoming these temptations, it achieves a spiritual or pneumatic state. Thus, reading ‘Exegesis on the Soul,’ ‘Authoritative Discourse or Logos’ ⲁⲩⲑⲉⲛⲧⲓⲕⲟⲥ, and other similar books (along with the New Testament) teaches the soul to realize the fleeting nature of these passions and reject them as temporary trials and tribulations. So it is written by ‘the Apostle’ (in the Gospel of Thomas): “Amēn, amēn, whoever finds the (Savior’s) wisdom within these ‘words’ (and through effort [begins] to put them into practice) shall (find Salvation) and never taste death (Brantingham, James. 2021)!

Proverbs 9:10 KJV 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. NET Proverbs 9:10 The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.

In (non-Gnostic early Western and Eastern) Christology

The identification of Christ with God’s Wisdom is ancient and was explicitly stated by the early Church Fathers, including Justin Martyr and Origen. The clearest form of the identification of Divine Wisdom with Christ comes in 1 Corinthians 1:17–2:13.

But, there was a minor position among the Church Fathers which held that Wisdom is identical not to Christ but to the Holy Spirit.

The first of the early Church Fathers to be recorded using the word “Trinity” was Theophilus of Antioch writing in the late 2nd century. And he defined “the Trinity” as God, his Word (Logos), and his Wisdom (Sophia) so… (Trinity 2023).

Has the Orthodox Church Father’ Theophilus of Antioch’s second-century definition of the Trinity: “God, his Word (Logos), and his Wisdom (Sophia)…” been officially rejected by any Church Council or Body (particularly the Catholic Church)? The answer is No!

Theophilus of Antioch (d. 180) was indeed among the earliest Christian writers who used the term “Trinity” (Greek: Τριάς, Trias) about God. In his work “Ad Autolycum” (Book II, Chapter 15), Theophilus referred to the “Trinity of God, His Word, and His Wisdom” (Τριάδα θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ λόγου αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς σοφίας αὐτοῦ). This is one of the earliest known usages of the term “Trinity” in a Christian theological context.

So in fact we see an early use of Wisdom to denote the “Holy Spirit” or feminine gendered Spirit of Holiness (which then in the first two centuries of early Christianity both “Sophia” (Widom in Greek means: Sofia) and for the term ‘Holy Mother’ since the Jewish Spirit of Holiness was feminine gendered as was ‘Sofia.’ This is a few hundred years before Yeshua’s mother Mariamme is finally also labeled the ‘Holy Mother of Yeshua’ (and her designation and holy title or name as the Mother of Yeshua who is Holy) is completely separate from this earlier language. Both definitions existed at the same time for hundreds and hundreds of years (possibly over a thousand years in some places) and had to be differentiated. But this was not difficult to clarify and never turned into a seriouss “theological battle.”

The Summa Apologia

The SVMMA APOLOGIA (Latin for Highest Apology or Apologetic) is a Catholic apologetic website created to defend the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the true Church founded by Christ upon Peter (cf. Matthew 16:18), using educating both the non-believers and the baptized in the light of Faith and History. This Catholic Apologetic Website upholds Theophilus of Antioch’s second-century definition (above) to this day (in 2024) as the First, Holy and Blessed use of the “Trinity!” And, it is here clear that: Wisdom (Sophia) is to be known in later definitions as “The Holy Spirit!” (see references below).

Holy Wisdom as the Holy Spirit was advanced by Theophilus of Antioch (d. 180) and by Irenaeus of Lyons (d. 202/3). And, the Emperor Constantine set a pattern for Eastern Christians by dedicating a church to Christ as the personification of “Divine Wisdom” (but it was also commonly known as the Church of the Holy Spirit. In Constantinople, under Emperor Justinian, the Church called Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) …the Hagia Sophia was also commonly referred to as the “Church of the Holy Spirit“…

For those “on the path to salvation” Christ represents the wisdom of God. Wisdom is considered one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom. 2024)

The ancient (and currently but not well-known position about Holy Wisdom and the Holy Spirit) on this theologically for the orthodox and canonical is well described by Theophilus of Antioch and Irenæus of Gaul nearly two thousand years ago (though it is not commonly used in the 20th and 21st centuries outside of Gnosticism or Gnostic churches today:

Theophilus of Antioch, who sometimes gives to the Holy Ghost, as to the Son, the name of Wisdom (sophia), mentions besides (To Autolycus I.7 and II.18) the three terms theos, logos, sophia and, being the first to apply the characteristic word that was afterward adopted, says expressly (II.15) that they formed “a trinity (trias).”

Irenæus looks upon the Holy Ghost as eternal (Against Heresies V.12.2), existing in God ante omnem constitutionem, and produced by him at the beginning of His ways. Considered the Father, the Holy Ghost is his wisdom; the Son and He are the “two hands” by which God created man. Considered concerning the Church, the same Spirit is truth, grace, a pledge of immortality, a principle of union with God; intimately united to the Church, He gives the sacraments their efficacy and virtue (Forget, J. 1910)

However, there was not yet a formal “Trinitarian theology” developed, for that would only come later after the Council of Nicaea in 325. So these terms: Father (God), the Word or Logos (finally identified as the teaching of Yeshua), and Wisdom (the Holy Spirit or Mother) did not yet represent Nicene theology and were not yet seen as constituting ‘One God’ existing as three equally divine “Persons,” the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit..” However, their and other ‘trinitarian-like and even quadratic ideas’ were around and found in some Gnostic texts long before the council of Nicea. However, these texts and the above terms did not assert this theology. A ‘shorthand’ for many of these terms or concepts has been suggested as simply falling under ‘the Divine Logos’ (Puritanboard 2024).

The Council of Nicaea met from May until the end of July 325

The original Nicene Creed read as follows (paraphrased – yet the line on the Holy Spirit was all that existed in it at that time so this is here emphasized – see the full Nicean Creed at the reference below):

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
maker of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God
begotten from the Father…
…Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down,
and became incarnate and became man, and suffered,
and rose again on the third day, …will come to judge the living and dead,

And in the Holy Spirit.

But as for those who say, there was when He was not,
and…

who assert that the Son of God is…
…created…
– these ‘the Catholic and Apostolic Church’ anathematizes. (First Council of Nicaea.)

The First Council of Constantinople held in that Byzantine city was a council of Christian bishops in AD 381 by the Roman Emperor Theodosius. Among many other things discussed at the “First Constantinopolian Council” was the first definition and the beginning of a developing of and a fuller clarification of “The Holy Spirit.” (it ruled):

“We shall believe in the Single Deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, under the concept of equal majesty and of the Holy Trinity.”

And one year later, Theodosius issued a second Pro-Nicene decree in January 381, also before the Council of Constantinople, saying:

“Almighty God and Christ the Son of God are one in name … (we should) not violate by denial the Holy Spirit … the undivided substance of the incorrupt Trinity.”

Valentinian Trinitarian-like theology

Valentinus may have come close to using these terms in a “Trinitarian-like theology” but does not assert it as “the Trinity” so outlined by the Niceno-Constantinopolitan (c. 381) creed, way, or definition. Indeed, He names the Father, Son, and Wisdom. Wisdom was identified as the ‘Holy Spirit.’ But the ‘Holy Mother’ is Sophia (in Gnostic theology), is or becomes at first the ‘”fallen” (wishing to create divinities like-to or similar to divinities of the Most-High illicitly). Thus she devastatingly brings about the ’emanation of the daemonae’ of earth and its “lesser god” Yaltabaoth possibly derived from YHWH Sabaoth, Yh•tzevaot or similar terminology combined with Sophia’s terrified cry of ‘Yaldā Bāhūthā’ (child of chaos and of the void). Along with other termss such as ‘Samael or Saklas’ per Enoch’ and other texts.

Geoffrey S. Smith (2020) gives excerpts from statements quoted by Valentinus quotes Valentinus commenting on the Father and the Son (‘the Savior’):

“…And if the Perfect God is good according to his nature, as indeed he is, for our Savior professed that there is only one good God, his Father, whom he made known, and if the one with the opposite nature is evil and wicked and characteristically unjust, then the one between these two is not good, evil, or unjust, but might uniquely be called just, since he administers the justice that is his.”

It seems here (regarding Valentinian Christianity) that the ‘demiurge’ or ‘lesser god’ of the aeon of the earth (the Son of Sophia) is or can be called ‘Just.’ And though capable of evil (and who is and was at times evil), appears capable of being ‘just’ and at times manipulated (by either the One True Father, God Most High) or Sophia (the Holy Spirit or ‘Mother’ who has the ‘spark of the life-giving spirit’ from the Father within) into ‘similarly’ doing ‘justice’ – like the true good Father – ( Smith, Geoffrey S. 2020; but slightly paraphrased).

We find it anciently in the “title” of the text ‘Pistis Sophia.’ The term ‘Pistis Sophia’ comes from a note within the text: “The Second Book of the Pistis Sophia” (Book II, Chapter 63). Many English translations vary, giving a translation of the title as: “The Wisdom of Faith,” “Faith and Wisdom,” or “Faith in Wisdom.” Wisdom (or in Greek: Sofia) anciently was also defined by the Gnostics as meaning the “Holy Spirit.”

Gnosis may be much more approachable and better understood as ‘Faith and Divine Knowledge,’ or better yet, Faith and the Holy Spirit or simply ‘Faith and Gnosis.’

As the Gnostic (Christianity) Fr. Anthony Silvia (Silvia, Anthony. 2013) writes…

Some Protestant Christian denominations teach that it is faith alone that will “save your soul from damnation.” Not so in Gnosticism. Faith opens the door, but it is Gnosis that opens your eyes. Only through Gnosis will we be able to find salvation and Theosis. Think carefully about these words from the Excerpta Ex Theodoto:

What makes us free is the Gnosis of who we were,
of what we have become;
of where we were,

of wherein we have been cast; of whereto we speed,
of wherefrom we are redeemed; of what birth truly is,
and of what rebirth truly is.

Anthony writes…

Gnosis, then, in the spiritual sense is an experiential insight into the truth of Divinity, an intimacy with the Divine.

“Indeed, through Gnosis you can know the true reality of God. To get there, however, one must have the faith that such knowledge is possible.”

The aim of practicing “Gnostic Spirituality” is:

To have the Knowledge (and to not be ignorant) of who we were (we are from the aeon and pleroma of the good, Most High God or heaven”) and come to know that our true being and home are from the divine within, (‘and without’) but also His aeon of heaven above. Knowing this (having this Gnosis) we see that we must try constantly to swim against this stream of the selfish worldly and earthly goals set into motion by the ignorant Rulers and Archons (ignorant and cruel humanity and the lesser ‘god’ Yh•tzevaot also known as Samael [Yaltabaoth, or HaSatan] of this world (and this material life) and seek our true home and source in living as we would in the abode of God. We do this by setting aside time to train our minds to stop reacting to the outside world alone and to listen for the voice of Holy Wisdom (or Sophia, the Greek word for wisdom and an important figure in Gnostic mythology), whose sole purpose is to lead us back to the Fullness (Silvia, Anthony. 2013).

To know that the Divine

We have many accounts of Gnosis from both ancient and modern sources, but when one encounters Gnosticism for the first time, a (as Father Anthony Silvia, a Johannite priest essentially says), “a little faith is required to begin down the path (‘toward Gnosis’.”)

Reincarnation or Transmigration and Christianity

Many ancient Gnostics believed (but not all) in ‘Reincarnation or Transmigration.’ This was a common belief in the second century (and in many non-Gnostic Christian bodies) for the first 500 years, especially in the second-century pre-Nicene Gnostic Christianity (Litma, M. David. 2022.) Many different Christianities held various views on this and had nuanced beliefs about Reincarnation in Gnostic (and other second-century Christianities). Origen believed in the pre-existence of souls (a requirement for a belief in the transmigration or reincarnation of souls. So Origen believed, and Clement of Alexandria, though somewhat ambiguous about his views, also appeared to believe in metempsychosis (transmigration) or reincarnation; even Jerome agreed that it was a commonly accepted Christian belief in his day. So, it was not formally dealt with until the Second Council of Constantinople (see below). None of these early intellectual and scholarly Christian authors attempted to firmly remove this belief from the faith. This would come from later Christians and others, later.

Many who first approach Gnostic Christian texts or their congregations in the past (and today) are shocked that reincarnation was a pretty regular practice in Christianity for hundreds of years. Because they have been taught that it was Pagan and even demonic (and), which other religions wrongly believed. However, only in 553 AD did Emperor Justinian I summon a Council of prominent religious leaders known as the Fifth Ecumenical Council or the Second Council of Constantinople. Reincarnation was (ordered by Justinian) to be finally ruled out for ‘Christian orthodoxy’ (Beischel, Julie. 2019; Ebah, Emmanuel. 2021).

The Gnostic Priest and Scholar Steven Hoeller (2002) say that (or suggests) most in Gnosticism see “Reincarnation” as a failure to reach experiential ‘Gnosis‘ or (the Highest or most full) Salvation’ and that it exists to give those unable to attain “these higher levels before death another chance to gain this ‘higher or highest experiential Gnosis‘ goal. Hoeller points out that Gnosticism as a whole (Transmigration or Reincarnation) is not understood to be the same as the “Transmigration or Reincarnation” as understood by Buddhism or Hinduism. There are various opinions about the role reincarnation plays within different Gnostic groups. So, some hold more robust views than Hoeller (such as Emmanuel Ebah. 2021) and probably (as an example) the Gnostic Group Ecclesia Pistis Sophia members. (Ecclesia Pistis Sophia 2019). That said, Hoeller is right, and it is simply an extra tool for Gnostic Salvation and not the point of Gnosticism.

Interestingly, modern Western research finds most evidence for Reincarnation in Children (and not just children in the East) but in the West too, such as in the United States (Stevenson, Ian. 2006; Matlock, James G. 2019; Tucker JB. 2016). But it is one small part of Gnosticism.

But there is a growing body of ‘scientific evidence’ about an “after-life” from the “transcendence in Near Death Experiences and Out of Body Experiences.” Using evidence-based scientific research methodology on communication with the deceased (through mediums), a large body of… research on these areas has been conducted strongly now – in this period – for over fifty years (Radin, Dean. 2019)! Carried out by and under rigorous scientific controls (and using… rigorous, precise, and stringently accurate scientific methodology – it is evidence that cannot be denied). Yet other figures do unscientifically deny it despite the growing extraordinary evidence found through valid research (Beischel, Julie. 2007;2019; Hoeller, Stephan A. 2002; 2010; Stevenson, I., Keil. H J. 2005; Stevenson, I. 2006; Tucker JB. 2016; Matlock, James G. 2019; Schwartz, Gary E. 2010; 2021; Brown, Candy Gunther., C Mory, Stephen., Williams, Rebecca., and McClymond, Michael J. 2010., Greyson, Bruce F. 2021; Schwartz, Gary E., Woollacott Marjorie H., eds. 2019; Radin, Dean. 2019; Ebah, Emmanuel. 2021).

It is clearer now that “Second Century Christianity” (including Gnostic Christianity) used Christian texts, such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Philip, along with other texts like the Apocalypse of James, that refers to a pre-existing soul and (especially Thomas and Philip) infer reincarnation (Meyer, Marvin W., Robinson JM. 2007; Brantingham, James. 2021.) These were not books just studied by one group but in the Second Century by the many and various sects or different types of Christianity (not yet the orthodox of Constantine).

I hope to make an argument for these pillars of Christianity:

The Ten Commandments and a Look at the First 3 from a ‘Gnostic Perspective’

Did (or does) Gnosticism and Gnostic practice include the 10 commandments and the Sermon on the Mount?

Gnosticism is a diverse and complex set of religious beliefs and practices that emerged in the early centuries of the Common Era. It is characterized by the belief in a hidden, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) that offers spiritual enlightenment and salvation. Gnosticism includes various sects and interpretations, some of which are influenced by Christian, Jewish, and other (like Buddhist) religious traditions.

10 Commandments in Gnosticism

The 10 Commandments, originating from the Hebrew Bible, are central to Jewish and Christian ethical teachings. While some Ancient Gnostic groups may have acknowledged the 10 Commandments, they often reinterpreted traditional Jewish and Christian scriptures to fit their own theological framework.

For example the Orthodox commandments,

1 You shall have no other gods before Me.

Who says this in Gnostic texts?

Is in the Secret Revelation of John: ‘Yave’ (Yaltabaoth) cries out:

After …creation, and in a ‘demented and crazed-like’ ‘mania’ he cried out, ’it is written that…, I am a jealous God, and there is no God but me!

2. You shall not make idols.

2 (GThom 3) Yeshua says,

If your leaders say look, Heaven is in the sky or lo, it is in the sea, then birds and fish will arrive there before you. But Heaven is within you and all about you (though you see it not). Now many who do not know themselves, think they are close to Me. But, this is ignorance… in Truth, they are far from Me. First, know thyself then you will understand. For thout art made in the image of the Living One and art the sons and daughters of God Most High. But if thou do not know thyself, thou cannot know the Truth. Then thou liveth in ignorance and in poverty; know thee thy Truth for that will set you free.”

This saying emphasizes the inner spiritual journey and the importance of finding the divine within oneself, rather than through external things such as birds (for food or as pets) and fish (for food). Nor are these worshipped or made into the most important things (food or a pet and foods). Although it does not explicitly state “You shall not make idols,” the focus on inner discovery implies a rejection of external, material worship. … But Heaven is within you all about you (though you see it not)…

2. Secret Revelation of John (The Apocryphon of John)

Jesus teaches on the One

The One

God is One but many (i.e. as in the Divine Council – mine 2024).

Creator of the cosmos born from Light;

Profoundly complex yet absolutely simple.

Perfect yet without us, incomplete.

Uncreated yet By Its Own Nature, Self-Generated.

And first Begetter and Womb of the All.

The Primal Ineffable Father and Mother; though not just a ‘Father’ nor just a ‘Mother’ (nor just a man nor just a woman).

Greater than the greatest and Less than the least.

He is the Imageless Image.

The Monad emanates Diversity in Unity.

Nothing has authority over it, nor does anything rule it. For nothing is superior to it.

2.GPhil 72 Truth did not come into the world naked and understandable. But through types and images, allegory, and symbols. The world cannot receive it any other way.

There is rebirth and an image of rebirth. Rebirth through image alone is not enough. Without trusting in His divine salvational knowledge, attaining Spirit, and undergoing rebirth, literally being born again, no one will enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but only the Spirit gives birth to a being with spirit; flesh with spirit. Through this, the bridegroom enters the Bridal Chamber and becomes the image of Truth.

2 GPhil 92 In the beginning, God created man. Then, men created gods. This is the world’s way; humans create and worship gods. These gods, idols made of gold, silver, and precious stones; are but merely images of men. They should worship the humans that made them (Brantingham, James. © 2017; 2021).

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

In Gnostic texts, some themes and instructions resonate with reverence for the divine and caution against the misuse of sacred names or concepts.

3. GPhil 72 above… Rebirth through image alone is not enough. Without trusting in His divine salvational knowledge, attaining Spirit, and undergoing rebirth, literally being born again, no one will enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but only the Spirit gives birth to a being with spirit…

3. SRevJohn The Seer understands then that this world and ‘reality’ is not the ‘true reality’ but merely a semblance, and an invention of our minds; an illusion. For Matter, Materiality, and Flesh are merely the emergence of forms from what is behind the ‘true reality’. For, Behold! concealed, underneath and deeply below this phenomenal, ‘fathomless’ world, is that which supports this reality above (and there… there is no differentiating ‘before from after’.) Nor do they see that from there (comes the ‘fundamental, primary, primordial’ creations and emanations, out of Fathers’ being and substantiality). This ‘space’ is a three-dimensional ersatz, apocryphal expanse made up of, ‘quasi, virtual lines’! Behold, one stroke ‘attaching to another; and that line attaching to a third…’ This creates the dimensions or the worldly ‘emergence of space’. Lo, ‘matter ‘can build and make things’ and when used as objects, clothes, tools, or weapons even kill, maim, and crush. But ‘Matter (from which flesh comes too)’ is an illusion.

This is the ‘emergence’ of the properties underlying this indispensable yet truest actuality that makes up the real but hidden reality. That Truth is (in fact) that all of ‘beingness’ is made up of an ever-moving (non-stationary, wave-like, quivering) knowledge or ‘particle-like’ forms. These tools and instruments of information and knowledge are mere ‘minims and motes’ so small they are (veridically but) largely, (and) substantially nothing… all matter being mostly ’space’ so empty it is rightly compared to ‘a particle of sand’ measured against ‘the space of the earth!’ Yet misleadingly understood as ‘things’ utilized by humanity, animals, and the world as… ‘something… rather than nothing…

…His Image and Likeness

Yet, ‘the One Who Is’ contemplates His Image and likeness (being of inestimable majesty, being, and spirit); for it is in ‘the Image of God’s Likeness,’ that ‘the One’ created them… male and female God created them!

He is the light and, the One who created light!

Light!

He is the blissful One and gives blessedness

The Knowledgeable One who gives knowledge.

The Merciful One, who gives Mercy

The Chief of all Aeons and Pleromas, Heavenly Beings and Dimensions in every and all the Realms of Fullness

And the Begetter of all Aeons, of Everything; and the All in All

For, the Sage said it… with a single word He said, ‘be’ and it was!

And the Sage said it… with a single word He said, ‘light,’ and there was ‘light!”

Light

The Secret Revelation (Apocryphon or Book) of John is a text describing a creation myth where the names of things and reality (including lesser divine beings) have significant power and meaning. But the SRevJohn implies a reverence for these names and the concepts they embody.

But not just any light; it is the quintessentially necessary, infinitely creative, illuminating luminescence; being from His Purity and Holiness the Uncaused Cause; becoming the very cause of the All and All and all that is, and the creator (in Truth) of everything: that being, the entire cosmos! For He God: (the Father, Holy Mother, and, the Logos) by the Spirit are the very ground of being in which we, this cosmos and this world live and move and have its being. For, They existed before all things, and it is Through Them that, all things were made, and without Them, nothing was made that has been made.

And, They are before all things, and by Them, all things hold together! The Universe and the All in All; existing into the Ages and Ages, unto the Ages to Come; World Without End!

Indestructible

Silent in Repose

Peaceful

References:

Bedard, Moe. The Gnostic Warrior http//gnosticwarrior.com/yaldabaoth.htlm (Accessed 3 18 2019)

Beischel J, Schwartz GE. (2007) Anomalous information reception by research mediums demonstrated using a novel triple-blind protocol. Explore (NY). 2007 Jan-Feb;3(1):23-7. Doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2006.10.004. PMID: 17234565.

Beischel, Julie. (2019) Windbridge Research Center. https://www.windbridge.org/ A List of Completed Research https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rNejlNcAAAAJ&hl=en (Accessed 12 30 2019)

Brantingham, James. © (2021) Holy Wisdom and the Logos of God. The Four Lost Apocryphal Christian Gospels: The Gospel of Truth. The Gospel of Philip. The Gospel of Thomas & The Gospel of Mary With the Secret Revelation of John. Pub. Ind. Apple Books

Brantingham, James. © (2023) A Gospel of the Hebrews: The Untold Gospel: Matthew’s Lost Hebrew Manuscript and Its Legacy. Kindle Edition. ISBN 9798865345121 ASIN: B0CGYCSHP9

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, May 2). Gnosticism summary. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/gnosticism

Brown, Candy Gunther., C Mory, Stephen., Williams, Rebecca., and McClymond, Michael J. (2010). Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Proximal Intercessory Prayer (STEPP) on Auditory and Visual Impairments in Rural Mozambique,” Southern Medical Journal 103 (2010) 864-69

Crossan, John-Dominic (1995) Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography (Harper One. 1995), 145.

Johannite Church, The Apostolic. (2019) Johannite Beliefs. https://www.johannite.org/

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Hoeller, Stephan A. (2002.) Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing. Publisher: Quest Books Wheaton, IL.

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Meyer, Marvin W., Robinson, James M. (2007) The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume. HarperCollins. 10 East 53rd St., New York, NY

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Vliet, Roland van. (11 2019), Holmsen, Carol (Translator). Manichaeism as the Wellspring of a Future Christianity. Netherlands (November 15, 2019)

Vliet, Roland van. (6 2021). Holmsen, Carol. (Editor), Sheehan, David. (Translator). Manichaeism: Mani’s Early Christian Church. Pub. (June 8, 2021). Manisola, Kampen, the Netherlands.

Waldstein M., Wisse, FW. (1995.) In Robinson, JM., Klimkeit HJ. Eds. The Apocryphon of John. The Nag Hammadi and Manichaen Studies. EJ Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. In: the Gnostic Society Library. http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/apocjn.html (Accessed 2/17/2016)

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As of (Nov 19, 2023) my paperback for the Gospel of the Hebrews is now published at Amazon.com.

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Faith, Trust or Belief and Knowledge (Hidden Salvational Knowledge). Achieving Gnosis can (also) lead to a greater faith in salvation or the Afterlife, or, even a ‘higher’ ‘aeonal or heavenly salvation‘

Some examples of trust, faith, or belief in ‘Gnostic Scriptures’

Believe in Jesus or Yeshua (that is: Believe, or have Trust or Faith in Yeshua). It is included along with attaining: Hidden Salvational Knowledge in the overall general Nag Hammadi Library

Most examples:

(Meyer, Marvin W., Robinson, James M. (2007) The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume. HarperCollins. 10 East 53rd St., New York, NY)

Does Jesus (Yeshua) ask for his disciples to believe? To believe is synonymous with (having Trust or Faith) in him in the Nag Hammadi literature. The

The Secret Book of James (or The Letter of James):

Yeshua (Jesus says) … “I tell you the truth, none will be saved unless they believe in my cross, for God’s kingdom belongs to those who have believed… “Be eager to be saved without being urged. Rather, be sincere on your own and, if possible, outdo even me, for this is how the Father will love you. “Come to hate hypocrisy and evil intention…

“Trust in me (Yeshua) brothers…. …pay attention to me and trust in me…”

“Blessed will they be who have known me. “Woe to those who have heard and have not believed.”

The Treatise on Resurrection

“If some do not believe, they cannot be persuaded. My son, the affirmation that the dead will arise belongs to the realm of faith…”

We know the Son of Humanity (Man) and we believe that he arose from the dead.

The object of belief is great and the believers are also great. ….believers will not perish and… those who know (have Knowledge or Gnosis – mine) will not perish. We are chosen for salvation and redemption…”

Exegesis on the Soul

Thus says the Lord, the holy one of Israel, “If you return and sigh (with “…a holy desire, the utterance of a heart-breathed prayer; and with trust”), you will be saved and know where you were when you trusted in vain.

“Sigh” defined above is commonly used and so means (from above) in Isaiah 30:15 (NET) being a reference used by Meyer et al 2007 to explain this verse and this word.

The Second Revelation of James

Bring me from the tomb alive… Save me from sinful flesh, …because I have trusted in you with all my strength,

“In the Revelation of Peter, (and similarly found) in the Second Discourse of Great Seth:

“…the Savior has strong words about some in the Christian church who claim to follow Christ but fall into error. In contrast to “the little ones who are the true believers (“little ones” refers to true believers), and the authentic Christians…”

However, this verse does go on to say to “not hang on to a dead man” (so the crucifixion and the death of Christ are also interpreted differently by many – not all – in Gnostic Christianity)

The Letter of Peter to Philip

Peter opened his mouth and said to his disciples, …He was filled with the holy spirit and spoke as follows:

“…Our luminary Jesus [came] down and was crucified. He wore a crown of thorns, put on a purple robe, was hanged on wood, was buried in a tomb, and he rose from the dead…”

…Then Peter and the other apostles …were filled with holy spirit. Each one performed healings, and they left to preach to the Lord Jesus. They gathered with their companions… Then Jesus appeared and said to them…

“Peace be with [all] of you and everyone who believes in my name (emphasis mine). When you go, you will have joy, grace, and power. Don’t be afraid. Look, I am with you forever.”

Leloup, Jean-Yves. (2005) The Gospel of Thomas. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions.

Yeshua said (106):

When you make the two into One, you will be a Son of Man. And when you say: Mountain, move! It will move.

Leloup notes that here Yeshua is speaking about all dualities so: dualities: matter and spirit, male and female, created and uncreated, and mentions faith and teaching (or ‘knowledge’- mine) in discussing these words in this verse…”When you make the two into One, and so forth.”

From the Acts of Thomas,

For this is the Lord and God of all, even Jesus Christ whom I preach, and he is the father of truth, in whom I have taught you to believe…

MR. James (2024). The Acts of Thomas in, TheGnostic Society Library. gnosis.org (Accessed Feb 2024) From “The Apocryphal New Testament” Oxford: Clarendon Press (1924).

Note: there is some controversy about this being part of the library of Gnostic-Christian texts but it was attested and used by the Manichaeans, and there are allusions to it found in the Manichaean Psalms. So it is reasonable to include it within the fullest library (and hidden knowledge of Gnosticism).

Gospel of Philip

Faith receives, love gives.

No one receives without faith.

No one gives without love.

To receive, believe; to love, give.

If you give without love,

no one derives a thing from what is given…

Blessings on one who never harms a soul.

That person is Jesus Christ.

He came to the whole earth and distressed no one.

Blessings on one like him, the perfect person.

This is the word.

Tell us about the word, since it is hard to define.

How shall we be able to accomplish such a feat?

How will he comfort everyone?

Especially, it is improper to cause anyone distress,

whether that person be great or small,

infidel or believer.

Barnstone, William., Meyer, Marvin. Gospel of Philip (2011) The Gnostic Bible: Revised and Expanded 1st ed. Boston, Massachusetts, New Seeds Books

This is the book that no one found possible to take since it was reserved for him who will take it and be slain. No one could appear among those who believed in salvation as long as that book had not appeared. For this reason, the compassionate, faithful Jesus was patient in his sufferings until he took that book since he knew that his death meant life for many.

“The name of the father is the son… …Jesus of utmost sweetness… …For the father is sweet and his will is good… …For this reason, faith came and destroyed division and brought the warm fullness of love, so that the cold may not return, but the unity of perfect thought may prevail.”

Barnstone, William., Meyer, Marvin. Gospel of Truth (2011) The Gnostic Bible: Revised and Expanded 1st ed. Boston, Massachusetts, New Seeds Books

“Gnosticism”

There is no longer a consensus as to how to define “Gnosticism” and all of its former categories are contested by modern authors. Some think this term should be restricted and applied to a few groups and not to others. Groups conventionally classified as gnostic did not constitute a singular movement nor did they represent a homogeneous community, organization, teachings, and rituals. But there were a few common teachings. So most of the texts commented upon here are from the ‘Nag Hammadi Library of texts’ and its’ associated books such as the Gospel of Mary, Pistis-Sophia, or Gospel of Judas.

Many so-called gnostic groups were characterized by a mythology that distinguishes between an inferior creator ‘lesser god‘ of the world (a demiurge who is a ‘helper,’ and neutral, benign, just even good as in Valentinianism, or even evil and ultimately Satan himself in Sethianism or for the Cathars). In Canonical texts such as the Old Testament, she is “Sophia” [or Wisdom – also identified as the Holy Spirit or Holy Mother] who is seen in Proverbs 8:22-31. Sophia as a helper in the Old Testament was with the transcendent ‘Most High’ One, Good God before creation, and as a master worker helped God create through her – the Cosmos (see Proverbs and the Secret Revelation [or Book] of John).

A frequently encountered theme is special classes or “denominations” or ‘race’ of humans (‘race here’ only means people who hold the same ideas not ethnicity and that descended from the transcendent realm and are destined to achieve salvation or ‘Gnosis’ and to return to its spiritual origins and the Heavenly Aeons above. Salvation in these ‘gnostic’ groups comes through revelation(s) that reawaken divine salvational knowledge (or gnosis) and their true divine identity (knowing themselves and knowing the Divine – including Yeshua Hamaschiach, is within); in contrast, to the traditional Christian emphasis on redemption through the death and the resurrection of Moshiach Yeshua or Jesus Christ. I believe it is time to use elements of and within ‘Orthodox’ and ‘Gnostic’ Christianity

The myth of a demiurge (and the theme of a reawakened awareness of divine origins have parallels in Platonic and Neo-Pythagorean philosophy —and are partly derived from these Greek or ‘Hellenic’ traditions. But it does appear that the gnostic myths and theologies often have a far sharper dualism than in Platonism, with a very negative and even hostile attitude toward the inferior creator god (usually called Yaltabaoth; a name which no one knows for sure how or from what it was derived. There are many different concepts (see Yaldabaoth in Wikipedia) but one which is striking to me is from ‘Yh•tzevaot.’ This allowed for the name of the gnostic lesser god of the OT (YHWH) to be (for some Jews early in these movements) to be left unpronounced. Other names and divinities such as Samael (as found in 1 Enoch) Saklas and later even HaSatan (‘the devil’ – as found in the text Pistis-Sophia).

Gnostics considered material existence flawed or evil and held the principal element of salvation to be: direct knowledge of the hidden divinity, attained via mystical or esoteric insight.

Many Gnostic texts deal not with concepts of sin and repentance but with illusion and enlightenment

“Gnosticism” is derived from the Greek term gnosis, meaning ‘knowledge.’ At the core of almost all versions of Gnosticism is the idea that only through attaining secret, or hidden (divine) experiential knowledge (or ‘knowing’ that there is the divinity or God within) can people find their salvation and overcome the material world.

Please see (and buy) my books at Amazom.com for many details about “Gnostic Christianity” and Gnosticism:

Brantingham, James. (2017) The Gospel of Philip. Amazon Digital Services LLC. Seattle, WA. Paperback and Kindle. ASIN: B06XY2J951 ISBN 9781985166325

Brantingham, James. © (2023) A Gospel of the Hebrews: The Untold Gospel: Matthew’s Lost Hebrew Manuscript and Its Legacy. Paperback and Kindle Editions. ISBN: 9798865345121 ASIN: B0CGYCSHP9

Where do we find the Hidden (and Devine Knowledge) and Scripture?

The Gospel of Thomas:

These are the hidden (emphasis – mine) sayings that the living Jesus spoke and that Didymus Judas Thomas wrote down.

^1.And he said, “Whoever finds the correct interpretation of these sayings will never die.” (Davies, Steven. 2002)

^5. Jesus said, “Recognize what is right in front of you, and that which is hidden from you will be revealed to you. Nothing hidden will fail to be displayed. [And there is nothing that is buried that will not be raised.] (Davies, Steven. 2002)

¹Didymus Judas Thomas writes,

“I, Thomas, inquired after the Living One, Jesus the Anointed. And he spoke to me and, I wrote down the words of our Rabbi; his hidden sayings and the Word. Amēn, amēn, I say, whoever finds His Wisdom within these words shall never taste death.”

⁴Peter said, ‘Please, Mary, tell us the hidden words that the Savior spoke to you and that you alone heard. 5 Tell us that which we have not heard so we too can learn all the Savior’s Words and Wisdom. 6 And, even what you heard ‘in secret.’ 7 In response, Mary said, 8 ‘If you wish, I will tell you what I heard Him say 9 that, otherwise would not be known.’ Here are the ‘Saviors Words’ that you have never before heard. 10 So Mary related her Vision of the Savior… …

“¹⁷ Then I said to him, 18 ‘Lord, how does one who sees You, ¹⁹ in a Vision, perceive You?’ ²⁰ She further asked, ²¹ ‘Is it by the Soul or, is it by the Spirit?’ ²² In response, the Savior said, ²³ ‘You do not see it by the Spirit nor by the Soul.’ ²⁴ ’But in that place…”

^“10 Words and names are a source of confusion. They turn us from the Real to the Unreal. He who hears the word God does not perceive what exists but, only an image or shadow of what does not exist. So too for other words. Like: the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Life, Light, Resurrection, and the Church.

These words are masks, simulations, facades of their true reality, and veracity in Eternity. And so death comes to us all. Then we will know their meanings. But for now, words and names, here, and in the world — deceive us: coming from the realm of the Spirit, the wholly Other, words attempt to express the inexpressible. Not understood here they will be there. Their purpose and meaning lie in eternity. Beyond, they will be clear, and understood completely in the Heaven above Heaven.”

Gospel of Philip (Thomas Patterson Brown 2014)

^9. No one of those who trusted in salvation could have become manifest unless this book had come to the midst. This is why the merciful and faithful One —YESHUA!–patiently endured the sufferings to take this book since he knew that his death would become life for many. Just as the fortune of the deceased master of the estate remains secret until his bequest is opened, so also the totality remained hidden so long as the Father of the totality was invisible–this–One thur whom all dimensions originate. This is why YESHUA appeared, clothed in that book. (Rev 5:1-5)

¹⁰⁸ … “Israelites descend through Abraham. But Messianics are adopted as the children of Abraham, yet ancient Gnostic revelations say, the chosen also descend through Seth. Thus the seed of Adam’s third son was chosen too. Like Abraham and his family, Sethians were an earlier community of the elect. Noah gave birth to Seth and through him to Shem, Shem to Arpachshad, Arpachshad to Abraham, Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to all of Israel, and all Israelites through Jacob. Through them both (Seth and Abraham)”

…Seth too was anciently a God Fearer, before Abraham and from the beginning. They too, Sethians, strove with God and men and prevailed. They were called by God and the Holy Spirit to worship and worship in spirit and Truth. They came forth by the Wisdom of the Sacred Spirit and were anciently the Chosen Ones. Called the Unshakable People, and the true and Faithful, later, Sethians became Christians; and, as with Jews, a part of Israel. Sethians are sons and daughters of the Perfect Man (God); and (as Christics) through Yeshua… sons and daughters of the Son of Man. They came from the First and the Last Adam; and through an Immortal Perfect Man. All from God; and all, like Yeshua called to love.”

²⁴ Some fear death, being revived without a body. As incorporeal spirits without flesh. Then they will be seen for what they are. And to be fully revealed is to be terrified. They know they are neither pure, simple, holy, nor good. Neither are all sure they are truly spirit or light. They do not remember they have become spirits and when brought to Heaven, will be welcomed in; welcomed as spirits and as light. They are no longer ignorant and are therefore forgiven. Thus in their garment of light, they will enter the Kingdom of God.

²⁵ I pity and rebuke those who deny the resurrection of the flesh. Who claims no flesh can inherit eternal life? Neither human flesh nor blood can inherit the Kingdom; the Life to Come. Then what is unable? Yeshua said it: he who eats not my flesh and drinks not my blood has no eternal life within him.

What is his flesh? It is the Bread of Being (the Logos, Torah, and Gnosis). And what is his blood? (the wine) the Holy Spirit and Life. Those who have this, have spirit and life now and, in the Life to Come.

Whoever welcomes these have received real food, real drink, and a garment. But remember…

What you are — you are in a body;

What you do — you do in a body.

Arise thou now — in this body, in this life!

For everything exists in it.

Death awaits us, but God will remember.

Remember your body, soul, and spirit.

And the Breath of the Blessed One will knit you back together.

His divine gnosis and power will bring us back.

And the Logos resurrect and animate us and we will become light.”

The Gospel of Truth (Brown, T. Patterson. 2014)

^9.No one of those who trusted in salvation could have become manifest unless this book had come to the midst. This is why the merciful and faithful one—Yeshua!—patiently endured the sufferings to take this book since he knew that his death was life for many.¹ Just as the fortune of the deceased master of the estate remains secret until his bequest is opened, so also the totality remained hidden (emphasis- mine) so long as the Father of the totality was invisible—this one thru whom all dimensions originate. This is why Yeshua appeared, clothed in that book. (Rev/Ap 5:1-5 anti-Gnostic)

A new translation of the Gospel of Truth coming soon (hopefully in 2024) and has previously been placed on this website (Brantingham, James. 2024)

¹The Good News, the ‘Gospel of Truth’ is a joy for those who seek it and an unmerited gift freely given by God (the Father). It is a revelation of Saving Knowledge from the Pleroma (heaven) above. Look, from Paradise comes the Word, his Son (and Soter) Moshiach Yeshua. The Logos teaches a-Gnostics that divine Knowledge, God, is within. With this Experiential encounter, we, the redeemed, know immediately (beyond question) that there is life (and love) after death.

‘a-Gnostic‘ (unknowing; ignorant; without Knowledge or Gnosis)

And there was the liturgical practice of performing the (apparently baptismal) “5 Seals” to achieve Gnosis and Salvation (clearly an important sacrament) but there is to this day still no academic consensus as to just what these terms meant or how the “Five Seals” were carried out. Here are suggestions about its meaning and practice (Brantingham, James 2021; 2023:

“The Five Seals or Sacraments ”

Gnostics believed some are virtually born in a highly spiritual state as “Pneumatics” and thus already with Hidden, Sacred Salvational Knowledge’ or ‘Gnosis.’ Anciently they believed these blissful souls did not need to perform the liturgical sacraments or the Five Seals. But most did. What were the Five Seals or Sacraments? Modern Gnostic Christians and Scholars feel that they probably know but are not one hundred percent sure. In the Gospel of Philip Verse 73 they are outlined:

“The Lord [did] everything sacramentally: a Baptism with a Chrism with a Eucharist with an Atonement with a [Holy] Bridal-Chamber (Brown, TP. 2014). Or: The Lord performed each sacrament as a mystery: Baptism, then Chrism, Redemption through remembrance, and the Eucharist with Atonement in, the Holy Bridal Chamber (Brantingham, James 2021). In Holy Wisdom and The Logos of God, it is translated as,

“So I raised (resurrected – italics added) them, giving them a precious rebirth… and I sealed them up in the light and water of the five seals, giving them their ‘robes and garments of light,’ and (1) ‘baptized them’ through living water and (2) anointed them by fire (or Chrism)… (3)…giving secret, sacred, salvational knowledge unveiling ‘the Way’ to Redemption… (4) (with)… Atonement, and prayerful thanksgiving (the Eucharist) … the Holiest of sacraments… (5) carried out in the Bridal Chamber, the Holy of Holies!” (Brantingham, James. 2021).

Stevan Davies (2005) wrote basically regarding the five seals …” I raised him, I sealed him with the light/water of the five seals. So Death has no power over him (Yeshua and those in Hell – italics mine) ever again.”

Saying 19 (by Yeshua) in the Gospel of Thomas may refer to the ‘Five Seals,’ but it is not certain.

The Gospel of Thomas.

“For there are five trees in paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death (see verse 73 above).

And in ‘Zostrianos’In this text the protagonist Zostrianos is baptized five times in the name of Autogenes the Divine Self-Generated One. (The Autogenes and the divine Self-Generated-One is) the Savior, Messiah Yeshua. (Brantingham, James. 2021;2023)

References

Brantingham, James. © (2023) A Gospel of the Hebrews: The Untold Gospel: Matthew’s Lost Hebrew Manuscript and Its Legacy. Kindle Edition. ISBN 9798865345121 ASIN: B0CGYCSHP9

Brown, T. Patterson. (2014) The Gospels of Thomas, Philip and Truth. Available from http://www.freelyreceive.net/metalogos/files/intro.html (Accessed 5 25 2014; but appears to have been published in 1995). But today in 2024 at: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3426288/metalogos-the-gospels-of-thomas-philip-truth

Davies, Stevan. (2002) The Gospel of Thomas. The Gnostic Gospel Annotated & Explained. Skylight Paths Publishing. Woodstock, Vermont

Davies, Stevan. (2005) The Secret Book of John. The Gnostic Gospel Annotated & Explained. Skylight Paths Publishing. Woodstock, Vermont

Gnosticism. (2024, Feb 24). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

Mead, G. R. S. (1921) Pistis Sophia. A Gnostic Gospel. A Gnostic Miscellany: Being for the most part extracts from the Books of the Savior, to which are added excerpts from a Cognate literature; (English). JM Watkins London. Kindle Edition.

Williams, M. (2024, March 8). Gnosticism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/gnosticisms

Yaldabaoth. (2023). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaldabaoth (2023, February 21).

James Brantingham PhD

3 13 2024

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The Ten Commandments and a Look at the First 3 from a ‘Gnostic Perspective’

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