Gnosis and Faith in Early Christianity: An Introduction to Gnosticism [Paperback]

Riemer Roukema (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Gnosticism, a form of religious knowledge that dates from the early centuries of the Christian movement, has often been characterized as a bizarre and even perverse distortion of Christian theology. Its special emphasis was on knowledge of God and of the nature and destiny of human kind. Such knowledge was believed to have redeeming power, liberating the soul from the sway of cosmic forces. The earliest information on Gnosticism comes from the works of Christian opponents (Irenaeus et al.) and from certain ancient Coptic texts. A new era in the study of Gnosticism was inaugurated by the discovery in 1945 of the Nag Hammadi library. In this introductory handbook, Riemer Roukema explores the meaning of the "gnosis" phenomenon on the basis of these sources and sets forth the relationship between Gnosticism and the church. Part One provides a general orientation to Gnosticism; Part Two looks at the religious and philosophical backgrounds of Gnosticism; Part Three uses ancient texts to provide a more detailed discussion of gnosis, Gnosticism, and Gnostics; Part Four examines the relationship between "Catholic" Christianity and Gnosticism. Riemer Roukema is Lecturer in New Testament at the Theological University of Kampen, The Netherlands.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Serious students of the New Testament will find this a very informative resource." --Donald Senior, C.P., The Bible Today (Donald Senior, C.P. Bible Today, The )

"[Gnosis and Faith in Early Christianity] is praiseworthy as a basic introduction to the sort of mythology and literature to usually classified as 'gnostic'...readers will benefit from the considerable amount of information on a complex subject that has been packed in accessible form..."--Michael A. Williams, as printed in Interpretation, January 2001 (Michael A. Williams Interpretation )

"This book is a readable basic introduction for pastors, students, and interested lay people, assuming no previous knowledge..Anyone who is curious about gnosticism and the sensationalist claims sometimes made about it will do well to pick up this reliable guide."--David W. Kuck, Currents in Theology and Mission, Feb. 2002 (David W. Kuck Currents In Theology and Mission )

"Serious students of the New Testament will find this a very informative resource." --Donald Senior, C.P., The Bible Today (, Bible Today, The )

"[Gnosis and Faith in Early Christianity] is praiseworthy as a basic introduction to the sort of mythology and literature to usually classified as 'gnostic'...readers will benefit from the considerable amount of information on a complex subject that has been packed in accessible form..."--Michael A. Williams, as printed in Interpretation, January 2001 (, Interpretation )

"This book is a readable basic introduction for pastors, students, and interested lay people, assuming no previous knowledge..Anyone who is curious about gnosticism and the sensationalist claims sometimes made about it will do well to pick up this reliable guide."--David W. Kuck, Currents in Theology and Mission, Feb. 2002 (, Currents In Theology and Mission )

About the Author

Riemer Roukema is Professor of New Testament at the Protestant Theological University, Kampen, The Netherlands.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Press Int'l (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563382997
• ISBN-13: 978-1563382994
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,531,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb for an introductory book, October 9, 2004

By 

Peter D. Glickenhaus (Morrisville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gnosis and Faith in Early Christianity: An Introduction to Gnosticism (Paperback)

If I were currently teaching a course on the very complex religious phenomenon of gnosticism in the ancient world to an audience unfamiliar with the subject, this would undoubtedly be on the required reading list. There are at least six reasons for my enthusiasm about this book.

First, the book is simply organized. This perhaps may not be such a feat in and of itself, but with a topic as difficult to pin down as gnosticism, this is done very well. Anyone can follow the author's layout.

Second, Roukema's parlance is not for the scholar, but for the beginner. His syntax is not characterized by multiple subordinate clauses and the fifty-cent words of academia, but is simple and straight-forward. I imagine a high schooler could read this book with as much ease as anyone.

Third, the author simplifies the subject, but does not over simplify -- at least, not too much. When he does, however, he lets you know.

Fourth, although he finally disagrees with the gnostic perspective, his evaluation of it is practically undetectable until the end. That is, it reads very impartially. He is even sympathetic with the gnostic ideology at times.

Fifth, the reader comes away with some interaction with primary sources. While there are no lengthy quotations here (after all, it's just an introductory book), Roukema offers commentary on specific texts he feels are representative of certain communities.

Sixth, there are recommendations for further reading, which puts the icing on this lovely cupcake of a book.