Penguin, London, 1988. Reprint. Softcover. Very Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Acknowledgements, introduction by author, notes and index. Plaintext paperback binding with black and dark orange coloured titles to the front panel and white and orange coloured titles to the back strip. In 1945, 52 papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the Egyptian desert. The material they embodied -- poems, quasi--philosophical descriptions of the origins of the universe, meth, magic and instructions for mystic practice -- were later declared heretical, as they offered a powerful alternative to the Orthodox Christian tradition. The author examines these texts and the questions they pose and show why the Gnosticism was eventually stamped out by an increasingly organised and institutionalised Orthodox Church. Some creasing of the book corners with rubbing of the book edges and panels. Fading to the back strip which also has reading creases. Age toning of the text block edges and pages. Size: 8vo - over 7Â¾" - 9Â¾" tall. 184 pages, indexed, plus 4 pages of listings of other books by Penguin.. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Religion & Theology; Religion -- Christianity; ISBN: 0140223584. ISBN/EAN: 9780140223583. Inventory No: 0287238. . 9780140223583

Synopsis

The Gnostic Gospels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time.In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today.With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of "Christianities" emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment--and access to God--within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary--or worthy--expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed--and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message. Brilliant, provocative, and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.

Reviews

On Sep 20 2014, a reader said:

Pagels has a rare combination of writing talent and understanding of the Gnostic literary heritage. She is able to bring together traditional Biblical literature and the recent finds such as the manuscripts of Nag Hammadi. To do this and to stimulate reader imagination and interest is a great accomplishment.

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Details

Bookseller: Syber's Books ABN 40533682787 (AU)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 0287238
Title: The Gnostic Gospels
Author: Pagels, Elaine
Format/Binding: Softcover
Book Condition: Used - Very Good Condition
Jacket Condition: No Dust Jacket
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Paperback
ISBN 10: 0140223584
ISBN 13: 9780140223583
Publisher: Penguin
Place of Publication: London
Date Published: 1988
Keywords: BZDB2 GNOSTICISM religion Christianity Religion & Theology; Religion -- Christianity; Unbranded ISBN: 0140223584 EAN: 9780140223583 Pagels, Elaine The Gnostic Gospels
Bookseller catalogs: Religion -- Christianity;

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About Syber's Books ABN 40533682787

General secondhand dealers, with 3 cats.We have two shops, 227 Glenferrie Rd Malvern 3144, Victoria 03 9530 2222 ( open 7 days Midday 'til 5.30 PM)And the other at 666 Glen Huntly Road Caulfield South 03 9523 666 open 11:00 am - 5.00 pm-ish the other 6 days. We seem to specialize in non mainstream stuff but read and stock Science-fiction, fantasy, detective fiction, history, biography and true crime, war, natural history. cooking, children's books and try to avoid current text books.We probably have the largest collection of Science Fiction, Penguins and general crime in Victoria in an open shop ( David has 8 bookcases 900mm x 2200mm of sf and f) ( Penny has 8 bookcases 1200mm x 2400 of sf and f )On shelf each shop has 30,000 plus books and we list over 30000 books online

Glossary

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Jacket: Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Reprint: Any printing of a book which follows the original edition. By definition, a reprint is not a first edition.
Edges: The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Text Block: Most simply the inside pages of a book. More precisely, the block of paper formed by the cut and stacked pages of a book....