The Secret Book Of John: The Gnostic Gospel / Annotated & Explained (Skylight Illuminations) (Paperback)

~ (Author, Translator)
Key Phrases: invisible spirit, virgin spirit, artificial spirit, Secret Book of John, Spirit of Life, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This ancient Gnostic text can be a companion for your own spiritual quest

The Secret Book of John is the most significant and influential text of the ancient Gnostic religion. Part of the library of books found in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945, this central myth of Gnosticism tells the story of how God fell from perfect Oneness to imprisonment in the material world, and how by knowing our divine nature and our divine origins—that we are one with God—we reverse God’s descent and find our salvation.

The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel—Annotated & Explained decodes the principal themes, historical foundation, and spiritual contexts of this challenging yet fundamental Gnostic teaching. Drawing connections to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, kabbalistic Judaism, and Sufism, Davies focuses on the mythology and psychology of the Gnostic religious quest. He illuminates the Gnostics’ ardent call for self-awareness and introspection, and the empowering message that divine wholeness will be restored not by worshiping false gods in an illusory material world but by our recognition of the inherent divinity within ourselves.

Now you can experience and understand this foundational teaching even if you have no previous knowledge of Gnosticism. This SkyLight Illuminations edition presents the most important and valued book in Gnostic religion with insightful yet unobtrusive commentary. It provides deeper insight into the understanding that in Gnosticism the distinction between savior and saved ceases to exist—you must save yourself and in doing so save God.

From the Inside Flap

The Gnostic history of God comes to life

"The ultimate goal of humanity is to come to understand this myth, the gospel of the Secret Book of John, in such a way that the pattern of devolution from the fullness of God to humanity’s imprisonment in matter is reversed. To understand the events of our fall reveals to us a map for our journey of ascent. We will emerge free from matter … return to an established position in the mind of God, and never leave again." —from the Introduction

"Gnosis is the yeast that lifts the dough of revelation above the arid flatland of religious convention. Stevan Davies’ The Secret Book of John is very yeasty. Taste and see!" —Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of The Hebrew Prophets: Annotated and Explained

"Breathes new life into the Gnostic gospel message—their ‘good news.’ Davies’ translation and clarifying commentary help to unlock their secrets of salvation for the contemporary seeker." —Charles W. Hedrick, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, religious studies, Southwest Missouri State University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Skylight Paths Publishing; annotated edition edition (February 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594730822
• ISBN-13: 978-1594730825
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,294 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #33 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > Gnosticism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Foundation Text of Gnosticism, January 10, 2006

By	Booklister (CA United States) - See all my reviews

The Secret Book, or Apocryphon, of John is perhaps the most important text of classic Gnosticism. It is also one of the most complex, difficult to follow in the standard translations, its meaning more or less impenetrable without a commentary. In The Secret Book of John: Annotated and Explained, Gospel of Thomas expert Stevan Davies provides a clear and accessible introduction to this important text. Step by step Davies steers the reader through the different layers of the text, outlining the structure of its thought and even providing diagrams. The translation is straightforward and formatted in such a way that the reader cannot get lost in the maze of terminology and ideas. What is more, the introduction is the best short explanation of Gnosticism that I have ever read. Davies sketches out the fundamentals of Gnosticism clearly, appealing to contemporary spiritality without compromising historically accuracy. Anyone genuinely interested in understanding ancient Gnosticism should start here.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cornerstone of Gnostic Mythos, September 4, 2006

By	Gregory Lewis "psychedelic shaman" (Marathon, Florida Keys) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Secret Book of John was a difficult read,at first. More so, possibly because I had originally read it in James M. Robinson's Nag Hammadi Library collection. I appreciate the classic value of the Robinson edition, but since then other interpretors have better clarified the secret texts, in comprehensible and succinct language. Davies' book is one such basic read, although I still call Marvin Meyer's "The Gnostic Teachings of Jesus" my favorite. However, Davies' "Annotated & Explained" goes further than Myers, so now I have two on my shelves. The more interpretation samples we read, the better our understanding of such esoteric material. "John" is not at all like the Secret Gospel of Thomas, or the Gospel of Mary, which were short, and "sayings". This book is more like a "cosmology according to the Christ".

What throws so many people off from The Secret Book/Teaching/Apocryphon of John is that the story doesn't resemble anything else Jesus said in the New Testament. People also tend to condemn it because it stands rather disconnected from other gospel, apocrypha and epistles, and has a sense of fantasy about it. Jesus explains Sophia, the feminine wisdom who gave virgin birth to Yaldabaoth, the demiurge. It discusses the role of archons, even naming the Archons of Yaldabaoth. It is highly revelatory, but so are the writings of Swedenborg, J. Smith and John Ballou Newbrough, to name just a few latter day prophets. The Secret Book of John is a syncretism of Greek ideas and Judaic Genesis mythology. If you give it a chance, you can come away with meaningful and life changing knowledge. One thing it did for me was answer the eternal question of "why bad things happen to good people".

That question has never been answered satisfactorily by more traditional (note, I avoid the term "Orthodox", my bias--sorry) priests and pastors, because they don't teach that it was an imperfect demiurge that made an imperfect world. Once you accept that premise, everything else falls into place. For any reader serious about Gnosticism or Gnostic-curious, this is the book to start with.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read!, February 14, 2009

By	C. Pegues "Callie" (VT) - See all my reviews

This is definitely a book more people should read, like everyone.
Clear, informative and worth a second read.