The time of discovery of the Nag Hammadi library was very close to the time of the Dead Seal Scroll find. The stories are often intertwined to the point that is becomes hard to tell them apart. But perhaps the greatest part of the Nag Hammadi find is coming face to face with the Gnostic believers.
In a remote part of Upper Egypt in 1945, a cache of ancient Christian documents was found. Most people would say there was nothing Christian about them, but for our part, history tells us that the people that wrote these documents considered themselves Christian.
Many stories have circulated about the path leading up to this discovery and a tale of murder, blood revenge and stupidity that followed it. What we can count as reliable is that in December of 1945, which is about a year and a half ahead of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery several hundred miles away, there were seven Bedouins digging for a nitrate-rich fertilizer known as “sabahk”.
To help get our bearings, the area of the Nag Hammadi find is some 300 miles south of Cairo and 40 miles north of Luxor and the famous Valley of the Kings. The leader of the dig, which later became a find, was named Mohammed Ali. Mohammed’s younger brother struck something solid with his shovel, which turned out to be the remains of a human skeleton. A few feet away from the skeletal remains was an earthen pot, about two feet high and had a sealed lid.
Mohammed and crew were afraid to open the pot, fearing that an evil genie would come out. However, after discussing the possibility of there being gold inside, riches trumped evil genie and the pot was opened. What was discovered was a collection of old leather-bound books, hardly of any value to the group. Mohammed then ripped the cache of books into equal parts and handed them out. His partners wanted no part of the books, so he loaded them up and took them home. The story gets sadder as Mohammed later relates that he gave part of the books to his mom to kindle the evening fire that night.
Scholars have lost their minds imagining what writings were roasted in the flames that evening, or, what pages were lost when Mohammed decided to share the earnings. We will never know. The story takes several more turns, but for our part, we will jump forward to when competent scholars got a hold of the documents.
After an unsuccessful attempt by a local history teacher to sell the documents, which were then seized by local authorities, they found their new home in the Coptic Museum in Cairo. The director of the museum had a pretty good idea about the books and headed up a posse to round up the remaining pieces. Shortly after, an international team of scholars assembled by UNESCO began to photograph, study, translate and publish them books. Credit James Robinson, an American scholar in the field of New Testament and early Christianity, for heading up the surge to get these books out quickly.
Compared to the progress made by the Dead Sea Scrolls team, Robinson was light years faster.
What was the significance of this discovery for us today? What did the fertilizer diggers find that caused all this scholarly commotion? The quick version is they discovered the single most important discovery to turn up in modern times. The books contained stories and gospels about Jesus that had been known to exist in antiquity, but never had been seen by human eye in over 1500 years.
Inside was an enticing collection of books which included books by such people as Philip, the disciple of Jesus, secret revelations delivered to Jesus’ disciple, John and another to James. There are mystical interpretations about how the world got started, why we were created and the glories of salvation. They also included conversations about important Christian doctrines and had polemic attacks on other Christian for their wrong-headed and heretical views-which would be the same viewpoint held by their opponents.
We are going to take a look at a few quotations from these books and seek out some possible meanings. I must admit that some of the books are very difficult to decipher, because the reality of the situation is we have discovered many of the Gnostic writings and tractates, but no real supportive information about how they put their beliefs into practice. For example, baptism rituals are all throughout the writings, but no real definitions were given as to how baptism was performed.
Some Christians have suggested that the Nag Hammadi library is full of non-Christian garbage and does not deserve a serious read. I would argue that you should always look into matters yourself. I am going to list a series of 11 verses, the wording placed into my own translation, and I want you to determine if the sayings are Biblically authentic or are they Gnostic suppositions from the Nag Hammadi caches. At the very end of this learning guide you will find the answers. I know that God forgives, but no cheating. Use your mind and read the texts only with no other help (online guides, Bible, concordance) and see if you can resonate with the words. Which ones are Biblical quotes and which ones are not? If the Nag Hammadi documents are non-Christian diatribes this should take 35 seconds. You be the judge.
Nag Hammadi Texts VS. The Bible
1) For this reason, the faithful One, Jesus, was patient in accepting sufferings.
2) Jesus said, “You see the mote in your brothers eye, but you do not see the beam in your own eye. When you cast the beam out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to cast the mote from your brothers eye”.
3) Jesus said, “Among those born of women, from Adam until John the Baptist, there is no one superior to John the Baptist.
4) But to you it is given to know, and whoever is worthy of knowledge will receive it.
5) If you know the truth, the truth will make you free.
6) I am God and there is no other God besides Me.
7) And Noah preached piety for one hundred and twenty years, and no one listened to him.
8) Rather, they should submit to the Law of God, without having transgressed at all, but in purity asking God for wisdom and knowledge.
9) They were appointed for service in proclaiming the coming of the Savior who was to be and the revelation, which had come
10) Abolish every childish time of life, acquire for yourself strength of mind and soul, and intensify the struggle against every folly of the passions of love and base wickedness, the love of praise, the fondness of contention and tiresome jealousy and wrath.
11) Cast your anxiety upon God alone. Do not become desirous of gold and silver, which are profitless, but clothe yourself with wisdom like a robe, put on knowledge like a crown.
NAG HAMMADI BOOK DESCRIPTIONS
The Gospel of Truth. A Christian Gnostic text tied to the teachings of Valentine. It is mentioned is the heresy works of Irenaeus. A consummate literary artist composes it on Greek in an elaborate rhetorical style.
The Gospel of Thomas. This is a collection of the traditional sayings of Jesus. Minus any specific narratives or illustrations, these 114 sayings in forms of wisdom sayings, parables, prophesies and rules for the community. Perhaps one of the most hotly contested books for entry into the canon of Christian Scriptures.
The Sophia of Jesus Christ. A teacher wrote the letter, originally titled “Eugnostos the Blessed”, to his disciples with the qualities of a revelation discourse. In its original form, it was absent of Christian influence. It later appears as The Sophia of Jesus Christ, a letter recording post-resurrection dialogue between Jesus and His disciples. The letter is a direct attempt to breach philosophical religious beliefs into Christian thought.
The Gospel of Philip. A Gospel record that contains few direct words of Jesus. A major proponent of the esoteric lifestyle, the book states that only free men (ones without sin) and virgins (women not polluted by sexual intercourse or the defilement of marriage) can gain entrance into the Kingdom.
The Apocryphon of John. This writing uses the framework of a revelation delivered by the resurrected Christ to John the son of Zebedee. It offers a remarkably clear description of the creation, the fall and salvation of humanity-a rather mythical version of the Book of Genesis. It addresses two major themes: What is the origin of evil? How can we escape from this world to our heavenly home?
The Concept of Our Great Power. This document records the supreme power of God. Unlike most Gnostic documents, it does not hold to an apocalyptic message. It recounts the workings of God’s justice and mercy and the conflict of good versus evil.
The Discourse of the Eight and the Ninth. The eight and ninth indicate the eight and ninth spheres surrounding the earth. In ancient times it was believed that the first seven planes were the realms of the sun, moon, planets and stars, the lower powers whose control over human life was not necessarily benevolent. The realm of God would be in this eight and ninth realms, even though the writing hints at a tenth realm. Your soul must travel through the seven planes and based on the goodness and worthiness of your acts of loving-kindness, you could enter the eighth realm and live in eternal bliss (although there was not much conversation on what that meant).
The Tripartite Tractate. The most mystic and Kabalistic of the Tractates. Discuss Sophia, the lost son and the divine spark.
The Teachings of Silvanus. A late second century to early third century writing, this book attempts to embrace a Jewish perspective, a Christian understanding and an attack on heretical views and pagan influences. It clearly emphasizes the salvation of the soul is made possible through the Redeemer-Revealer Christ, Son of Almighty God.
We looked briefly here at the Nag Hammadi to familiarize ourselves with it. It pains me greatly to see most of Christian teachings spurning the sacred writings of our early brothers. While we may not agree or even be able to understand what these writers were trying to accomplish, there are two points worth mentioning here: the first being that not only does Christianity fight against outside influences, it also fights against itself and had become exclusive even to its own family.
Secondly, while these authors may have got a lot of their ideas wrong, they died in the same fires, were tortured on the same racks and were systematically hunted and destroyed just like the church fathers were, which we hold in high respect. But for all the church fathers that were killed, so were our Jewish spiritual parents and these Gnostic followers of the Way.
NAG HAMMADI TEXT NOTES
All 11 of the above listed quotations are from the Nag Hammadi caches. Many of them had material from various canonized books of the Bible. The point of the exercise is to remember not to believe everything you hear and to see how these writers must have been knowledgeable about the books included in the Biblical records.
1) The Gospel of Truth Tractate 20:10
2) The Gospel of Thomas vs. 26
3) The Gospel of Thomas vs. 46
4) The Sophia of Jesus Christ III, 3
5) The Gospel of Philip Tractate 84
6) The Apocryphon of John Bg. 8502, 2
7) The Concept of Our Great Power Tractate 4, vs. 25
8) The Discourse of the Eight and the Ninth 4.6 vs. 25
9) The Tripartite Tractate Section 14. 120, 9-10
10) The Teachings of Silvanus Section VII, Part 84
11) The Teachings of Silvanus Section VII, Part 4
David Fournier in the Senior Instructor at Restoring Grace. David teaches classes on Hebraic Perspectives, Early Christian Communities and New Testament Formations and Canon. David is available for your church, youth group, seminars and retreats. Email David at:dfour26@gmail.com
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