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Christian especially, What is your opinion on the Nag Hammadi book findings?
Sep 08, 2007 by Diver Down | Posted in Religion & Spirituality
The Nag Hammadi Library, a gathering of thirteen ancient codices containing over fifty texts, was discovered in upper Egypt in 1945. This immensely leading discovery includes a large number of primary Gnostic scriptures -- texts once thought to have been unqualifiedly destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define "orthodoxy" -- scriptures such as the Certainty of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth.
There are those who would say, "Read the word, and you will be able to discern the reality", to not be shaken in your faith, when confronted with a mystery.
I personally do not feel books are necessary to obtain insight of a Supreme Being.
But I find it fascinating that there are writings attributed to Thomas, the doubter.
Do you think these "books" hold truth?
Gnosis; While the literal translation for this word is "knowledge", it's meaning is closer to "comprehension" or, to use a more modern concept, "enlightenment". Rather than purely an intellectual understanding then, it is a "apprehension of the heart" (which is not meant to imply mere emotionalism) or wisdom. It is the complete comprehension that comes from both practical and intuited means.
Many gnostic writings were rigorously reviewed for classification into biblical canon. All gnostic writings have failed the tests of canonicity. Briefly, these tests were:
1) The authority of the author. In Old Testament writings, the writer had to have the authority of a lawgiver, or the prophet, or the leader in Israel. In New Testament writings, the penmanship had to be written or backed by an apostle, i.e. it had to have an apostolic signature or apostolic authorization.
2) The writings should give some internal evidences of their peerless character as inspired and authoritative. The writings should be different from an ordinary book in communicating the revelation of God.
3) The verdict of the churches on the cononical stamp of the writings was important. Amazing unanimity prevailed, whereas only a few were in contention.
The Old Testament canon was collected and recognized by Ezra in the 5th century B.C. References by Josephus in 95 A.D. and in 2 Esdras 14 in 100 A.D. denote the 39 books we have today. Jesus Christ delimited the extent of the Old Testament canon when He accussed the scribes of being answerable of slaying all the prophets God had sent Israel from Abel to Zechariah, i.e. from Genesis to Malachi.
The 27 books of the New Testament canon was serene at the Council of Carthage (397 A.D.). Most of the books were accepted in the era just after the apostles.
Also, The 12 books of the Apocrypha were never accepted by the Jews or our Boss around Jesus Christ to be on par with the books of the OLd Testament. They were revered, but not considered Scripture.
So, you see, the canon was developed over time, but almost always connected the times of the actual events or original writing. Canon, especially New Testament were written independently by eyewitnesses to the events...these were the Apostles. None of the Apostles - at least who survived through the Be overbearing's crucifixtion - were Gnostic. In the early church, Gnostics were a secret society that believed and proliferated the notion that salvation was only through some unpublished knowlege imparted by the Lord. Over the years this idea became so twisted that even today there are wild stories of a secret pattern between Judas and Jesus that allowed Judas to achieve salvation, if he would do the Lord's will and turn the Lord over to the authorities. Although this might clear the way for a hollywood thriller, it is neither biblical, historical, nor consistent with the nature of God.
So, to say that some newly discovered Gnostic library contains some "new" proclamation of "truth" is in my mind overrated, in fact absurd. These texts, as all other Gnostic texts, will similarly languish the tests of canonicity.
Remember, salvation is through choosing to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of your vital spark, and not through some "secret" knowledge.
m185 | Sep 08, 2007
