The Gnostic Bible

by Willis Barnstone (Editor), Marvin Meyer (Editor)

121 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1590301999

ISBN-10: 1590301994

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A landmark work of scholarship and literary translation, The Gnostic Bible presents the most significant and beautiful sacred texts of gnostic mysticism. The gnostics were religious thinkers who believed that salvation is found through mystical knowledge and personal religious experience. Gnostic writings offer striking perspectives on both early Christian and non-Christian thought.

Dating from the first to the thirteenth centuries, the selections in this volume represent Jewish, Christian, Hermetic, Mandaean, Manichaean, Islamic, and Cathar forms of gnostic spirituality, and their sources include Egypt, the Greco-Roman world, the Middle East, Syria, Iraq, China, and France. These texts show that gnosticism was a world religion that sought truths in a wide variety of traditions and expressed those truths in powerful and provocative mystical poetry and prose. This is the first time that such a diverse collection of ancient gnostic texts has been published in a single volume, and many of the texts have never before been translated into English.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book may well be the most comprehensive collection of gnostic materials ever gathered in one volume. What is clear from the sourcebook is the tremendous diversity of thought that exists under the 'gnostic' umbrella including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Zoroastrian, and Greco-Roman themes. A valuable resource for students and scholars."—Publishers Weekly

“The selection of texts ranges across two millennia and various cultures. Each work, some translated into English for the first time, is accompanied by a clear introduction and synopsis. This is an important sampler of relatively unknown spiritual literature.”—Library Journal

“To read The Gnostic Bible is to witness something astonishing. . . . I read it with dizzy excitement.”—Ian Cant, Ascent Magazine

“A Godsend for anyone interested in alternative Christianity, the history of Christianity, or spirituality in general.”—Turk’s Head Review

"An enormously rich collection of sources—a wonderful achievement!"—Elaine Pagels, author of The Gnostic Gospels and Beyond Belief

"Willis Barnstone and Marvin Meyer's Gnostic Bible joins Bentley Layton's Gnostic Scriptures as one of the true critical sourcebooks for gnostic texts. Here, from China to Catalonia, from the first to the fourteenth centuries, gnosticism is seen as a global meditation."—Harold Bloom, author of Genius: A Mosaic, Hamlet: Poem Unlimited, and The Western Canon

“I feel as if I had been waiting for this book all my life.”—Carolyn Kizer, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet

“Everyone interested in the tumultuous origins of Christianity and in a mysticism of direct, unmediated communion with God should fall on this brilliant and ground-breaking book. In it, for the first time, are assembled all the major texts of gnosticism, with illuminating notes and introductions, and in translations that radiate clarity.”—Andrew Harvey, author of Sun at Midnight, Son of Man, and The Direct Path

“These ancient texts have not lost any of their power to awaken higher consciousness. Seekers of knowledge owe an enormous debt to Barnstone and Meyer for presenting these works to us in a fresh, clear, and accessible form.”—Richard Smoley, author of Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition

“In this wonderfully readable anthology the authors have brought together a large number of interesting selections from a wide chronological, geographical, and cultural range of traditions that nevertheless illustrate fascinating overlapping patterns in religious symbolism and worldviews.”—Michael Williams, author of Rethinking Gnosticism

“These two wise men have written an amazing book—the best of its kind, ever. They bear lit matches in our dark tunnel—sometimes they are the matches themselves.”—Gerald Stern, author of American Sonnets and What I Can’t Bear Losing

Product details

Publisher : New Seeds (May 9, 2006)
Language : English
Paperback : 880 pages
ISBN-10 : 1590301994
ISBN-13 : 978-1590301999
Item Weight : 2.6 pounds
Dimensions : 6.05 x 1.85 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,663,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #443 in Gnosticism (Books)
- #5,473 in Christianity (Books)

Customer Reviews:
121 ratings

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4 star		9%
3 star		11%
2 star		5%
1 star		4%

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Jolene P Duff

Know The TRUTH

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2015

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I'm a follower of this religion and way of thinking, it's logical and makes sense to me, something I have never gotten from the Christian Bible - I've always had an avid interest in reading the Bible, but kept coming up against brick walls that just left me scratching my head and saying, "That just doesn't make sense!"... but not with the Gnostic Bible!... ;-) My God is the God above all gods, The Source from whence my Spiritual self comes - not the Creator God who is responsible for physical life - when the physical wears out it returns from whence it came - when my Spirit/Soul leaves this shell, it will return from whence it came, HOME to my Source... Some people are just not intelligent enough to see the whole picture, and for them, the Church created the Christian Myth... know the difference before you give you Soul to one of them...

10 people found this helpful

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Michael R. Young

The most complete and comprehensive Gnosticism text available

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2013

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For me this is the most comprehensive and complete text on Gnosticism available. The scholars whose names appear as its editors are among if not the foremost in this area of ancient mystical knowledge. The introduction to each entry are, in my opinion, alone worth the purchase of the book. For me gnosticim as a whole is yet one more validation of humanity's quest to resolve the most significant questions that continue to challenge our human condition, quest for truth and memories of our seemingly forgotten origens. These questions stated as simply as posssible are where did I or we come from or how did I or we get here, why am I or we here and where am I or we going from here? Unfortuately, the mystical initiations and practices of the many Gnostic traditions and disciplines of the west are lost eccept for what can be gleaned through recent literary discoveries and what is stored in the collective memory of humanity streching from time immemorial to the present. This book will enrich you accumen of what is presently available and demonstrate that the quest for our recovered human origin in consciousness as a timeless reality based in direct and collective experience will never be lost no matter how much we think we may have fogotten or still continue to seek and not seem to find.

3 people found this helpful

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RENE RODRIGUEZ

TRANSLATION IS MORE A RE-WRITE THAN A TRANSLATION

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2018

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Excellent collection. Unfornutalely, the translation is more like a personal interpretation. The words of the mystics are what they are, they can be interpreted but not chanced dramatically by the translator. I am refering specifically of the songs (odes) of Solomon.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Great information

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2020

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A good source of information for understanding another religion and other ways of viewing "God" and the cosmos, etc. Of historical benefit to me.

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Mad City WI

Gnostic Gospels - what they are really about

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2018

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Always wanted to read the Gnostic Gospels. This book provides them and so much more background information.

One person found this helpful

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Becky F

Interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2008

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I purchased this book because I like to study different religions. I actually heard about Gnostic Christianity on an educational program I was watching about the life of Jesus.

Although this book is not an "easy" read, I do think it is an "interesting" read. For those people who have inquisitive minds and perhaps are looking for answers, this is a book that I would recommend. Does it have all the answers...no. However, it does open the door to alternative ways of looking at religion and belief systems. It may answer some questions you have, or it may give you more questions that need to be answered.

For me, I am glad I purchased the book. I am enjoy learning and growing in my own spirituality.

One person found this helpful

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Suzy Hudson

These are missing books of the bible preserved by Gnostic Christians to be found by us almost 2000 years later!

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018

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This is the second time I have ordered this book and gifted it to a relative. We love. It also goes well with the Nag Hamadi scriptures as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

One person found this helpful

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Patrick Church

Great read easy interpretation so much information 👍👍

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2018

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Valuable addition. Great read easy interpretation so much information 👍👍

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Top reviews from other countries

joanne

The best book to buy to study gnostic religion

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2015

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This is all the information one needs to study the gnostic religion. A very thick heavy book and well worth the money. I bought a couple of smaller versions that only have parts of this book thinking I was saving money, but I was wrong. This is the book to buy.

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2016

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Wonderful. The CD is perfect for playing in my car!

maria owens

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2015

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excellent. a good reference book.

Amazon Customer

Excellent condition, as advertised

Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2019

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Wonderful reference and companion to Bible

Mr. H,T,Suddick

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2014

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what to say? it is what it is.

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