• Valentinus
• Gnosiso “knowledge;
insight”
• Gnostic Mytho Pleroma/Bythoso Aeons
Sophia
Valentinian Gnosticism
Gospel Of Truth
“Indeed their audacity has gone so far that they entitle their recent composition the Gospel of Truth, though it agrees in nothing with the Gospels of the
apostles, and so no Gospel of theirs is free from blasphemy.”
-Irenaeus
• Who: Valentinian Gnostics (maybe Valentinus himself)
• When: about 140-180 AD
• Where: found in Nag Hammi
Background
• Sermonic letter of exhortation
• Gnostic audience
• Underlying Gnostic theology
• The “Good News” of Jesus Christ
Intro
• Immense awe and respect for God the
Father
• Important work of Jesus Christ
• Saving Power of Knowledge(Gnosis)
• Personification of Error/Oblivion/Ignorance
• Reiteration of Gnostic Theology and Myth
General Themes
• Fall of Man and The Second Adamo Genesis 3,
Romans 5:12-21• Book of Life
o Philippians 4:3, Revelation
• Jars of Clayo 2 Corinthians 4:7
Biblical Allusions● Word as Double-
Edged Sword○ Hebrews 4:12
• Parable of the Lost Sheepo Luke 15:1-7
• Fragrance of the Knowledge of Godo 2 Corinthians 2:14
• Most like Book of Hebrewso Genreo Emphasiso Rhetorical
strategy
• Frequent allusion to the New Testament
Similarities Differences• Minimal dealing
with Judaism
• Western/Greco-Roman Philosophical thought
• Theologically antithetical to the New Testament
• Should not be canonical
o No apostolic tie to the text
o Valentinian Gnostic
o Declared heresy by Irenaeus
Canonicity?
Gospel Of Mary
Did you know?: The Gospel of Mary was found in the
manuscripts of Papyrus Oxyrhynchus L 3525, Papyrus
Rylands 463, Papyrus Berolinensis 8502
• Jesus on sin
• Jesus’ ascension
• Mary comforts/encourages troubled
disciples
• Jesus’ words to Mary
o Four levels to eternal rest
• Validity of Mary’s testimony?
Summary
• Blessing and Great Commision
• Status of Peter and Mary Magdalene
• Sin is from man, not from the worldo Jesus came to
reconcile this
Similarities Differences• Inner self• Four levels• Private
conversation/ revelation
• “the Good”• Written by a woman
• Who: Simon Peter
• When: 2nd Century AD
• Where: Unknown; found in Egypt
Background Basic Story• Passion
Coptic Apocalypse Of
PeterDid you know?: The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter is an entirely different text from The Apocalypse of Peter
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