The Apocryphon of John (gospel, gnostic, scriptures, bible, Christianity)

[PetShopBoy88]

I'm taking this history of christianity class and we read the apocryphon of John, which the teacher said was a classic gnostic text, and then he offered a gnostic interpretation of it. His interpretation lead me to become very interested in this religion that I know very little about, and I would love to learn more. Does anybody know a good place to start? I will say, so you can guage my lever, that I had no idea what the apocryphon of JOhn was talking about until my teacher explained it, so maybe if there are easier texts start with those.

[angellous_evangellous]

Bart Ehrman's books Lost Christianities and Lost Scriptures will do fine. The Apocryphon appears with a breif comentary in Lost Scriptures, along with the text of several other Gnostic texts. Both are introductory and very easy to read.

Then graduate to The Nag Hammadhi Library in English.

[astarath]

There is a book called "the other bible" that is actually a collection of scriptures that are excluded from the canon of Pauline Christianity. Among them are the apocryphon of John, as well as the more well know 5th gospel...the Gospel of Thomas.

[PetShopBoy88]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Bart Ehrman's books Lost Christianities and Lost Scriptures will do fine. The Apocryphon appears with a breif comentary in Lost Scriptures, along with the text of several other Gnostic texts. Both are introductory and very easy to read.

Thank you. I will start with those.

Then graduate to The Nag Hammadhi Library in English.

I remember my professor mentioning that. Thanks for the reminder

[PetShopBoy88]

Originally Posted by astarath

There is a book called "the other bible" that is actually a collection of scriptures that are excluded from the canon of Pauline Christianity. Among them are the apocryphon of John, as well as the more well know 5th gospel...the Gospel of Thomas.

Thanks, I will look for that.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by PetShopBoy88

Thanks, I will look for that.

Also, if your library has it, look for "The Gnostic Bible", it has a good introduction to the texts and frames it with reference to other related texts contained within the same volume.

And if you have any specific questions, post them here and i'll most likely be able to answer them.

[PetShopBoy88]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Also, if your library has it, look for "The Gnostic Bible", it has a good introduction to the texts and frames it with reference to other related texts contained within the same volume.

Great, I'll definitely keep my eye out for that one, too.

And if you have any specific questions, post them here and i'll most likely be able to answer them.

Will do.