The Gnostic scriptures : a new translation with annotations and introductions

by Bentley Layton

Paper Book, 1987

Status

Available

Call number

273.1

Publication

New York : Doubleday, 1995, c1987.

Description

A collection of extra-biblical scriptures written by the gnostics, updated with three ancient texts? including the recently discovered Gospel of Judas ?The one indispensable book for the understanding of Gnosis and Gnosticism. ? ?Harold Bloom This definitive introduction to the gnostic scriptures provides a crucial look at the theology, religious atmosphere, and literary traditions of ancient Christianity and Hellenistic Judaism. It provides authoritative translations of ancient texts from Greek, Latin, and Coptic, with introductions, bibliographies, and annotations. The texts are organized to reflect the history of gnosticism in the second through fourth century CE. This second edition provides updates throughout and adds three new ancient texts, including the recently discovered Gospel of Judas.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member erock71

This book is unique in that it is the first book that you need that you won't understand. I was directed to purchase this book by a professor who was a student of Layton. I wanted to better understand the gnostic traditions and this book works to explain the gnostic mind in mind-numbing detail. The

western, Enlightenment conditioned mind will not easily understand these scriptures because they don't exist in the rubric of rationalism. They are mythology. The gnostic scriptures are more like reading Hesiod's Theogony or Ovid's Metamorphoses than the New Testament. If your goal is to truly understand gnosticism Layton is indespensible. However, if all you want is a general understanding of gnostics, avoid this book. It will only muddy the water. You have been warned.

Show Less

1 more

LibraryThing member adamtarn

Bentley Layton's translation of gnostic scriptures provides a great supplement to Robinson's Nag Hammadi Library. He presents one of the best and most concise general introductions to the extremely complicated gnostic mythology of anything I have yet to read. His collection of scriptures includes

tractates that are not in Nag Hammadi such as the Hermetic text "Poimandres." Furthermore, each text is introduced with a summary of it's contents, the literary background, a breakdown of it's mythic characters, and a narrative outline of the myth itself. The actually text includes footnotes that provide helpful elucidation of obscure content and there are marginal references that direct the reader's attention to other passages that can contribute to an understanding of the text. This is definitely an indispensable source for those who wish to understand gnosticism and the development of early Christianity.

Show Less

Fewer