The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus

The Definitive Collection...

For all those readers curious to read the actual texts of the Gnostic Gospels, here is the definitive collection of all the Gnostic Gospels and Gospel-like texts.

Marvin Meyer, premier scholar of Gnostic and other Christian literature outside the New Testament, presents every Gnostic Gospel and Jesus text with a brilliant overall introduction, introductions to each text, and notes that explain everything the reader needs to know to understand the text. He includes his latest translations of not only the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Mary, but other texts such as the Secret Book of John, which some scholars regard as the second part of the New Testament Gospel of John.

The material is largely from the discovery at Nag Hammadi, freshly translated and introduced, but also includes texts found elsewhere. The texts, especially taken together, present an image of Jesus as the ultimate wisdom teacher, a kind of mysterious Jewish Zen master, who scandalized listeners by his radical egalitarianism (regarding women, slaves, the poor, the marginalized as of equal status, or more, with establishment male believers) and his insistence on living the message, spiritual experience, vs. outer observance only.

For those wanting to learn more after reading The Da Vinci Code, this book provides the definitive next book for those looking for expert presentation of the alternative Gnostic stream of Christianity, in which there is no talk of crucifixion and Mary Magdalene is presented as the disciple that Jesus loved best.

Dimensions: 8.28" x 5.84"
Details: Hardcover, 368 pages
Author: Marvin Meyer

Testimonials

"Marv is one of the original secret gospels scholars who has done an enormous amount of work to bring these texts to light. All of his research on the Nag Hammadi texts is having an incredible impact on our knowledge of early Christian history——it is virtually redefining it."

——Dr. Elaine Pagels, Princeton University

About Marvin Meyer

Marvin Meyer is Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and director of the Chapman University Albert Schweitzer Institute. Recently he has served as chair of the Chapman University Faculty and president of the Faculty Senate.

He is director of the Coptic Magical Texts Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity at Claremont Graduate University, Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, and a past president of the Society of Biblical Literature (Pacific Coast).

One of the foremost scholars on Gnosticism, the Nag Hammadi library, and texts about Jesus outside the New Testament, Meyer is the author of numerous books and articles on Greco-Roman and Christian religions in antiquity and late antiquity.

Among his most recent books are The Gnostic Discoveries (HarperCollins, 2005), The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus (HarperCollins, 2005), The Unknown Sayings of Jesus (Shambhala, 2005), The Gospels of Mary (HarperCollins, 2004) and Secret Gospels: Essays on Thomas and the Secret Gospel of Mark (T & T Clark International, 2003).

Meyer's books and articles have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Japanese. He teaches courses on religion and values, the New Testament and early Christianity, Greco-Roman and Egyptian religion and culture, the life and thought of Albert Schweitzer, and peace studies.

The recipient of many awards and grants, Meyer completed his M.Div. degree at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his Ph.D. degree at Claremont Graduate University.