Yeshayahu Ben-Yehudah

Gnosis (from Greek for "knowledge") refers to a profound, intuitive, spiritual understanding of divine truths, particularly in Gnosticism , where it's insight into one's divine nature and liberation from earthly illusion, contrasting intellectual knowledge. Beyond religion, it signifies deep self-awareness, accessing hidden realities, and transformative experience, often involving practices like meditation or contemplation for spiritual awakening, as seen in various traditions and modern contexts like tech/biotech companies named Gnosis. Gnosis. The Nature and History of Gnosticism

Thrice-greatest Hermes; studies in Hellenistic theosophy and gnosis , being a translation of the extant sermons and fragments of the Trismegistic literature, with prolegomena, commentaries, and notes. Thrice-greatest Hermes; studies in Hellenistic theosophy and gnosis.                                                  

Gnosticism was a diverse religious and philosophical movement flourishing in the early centuries CE, centered on achieving salvation through secret, intuitive knowledge (gnosis) of the divine, rather than faith or works .  It proposed a dualistic worldview: the material world is flawed and evil, created by a lesser, ignorant being (the Demiurge ), while a transcendent, perfect God exists in a higher spiritual realm. Gnostics believed humans possess a divine spark trapped in material bodies, needing gnosis to escape the corrupt world and return to the spiritual source, often viewing Jesus as a revealer of this liberating knowledge. Gnosticism

The Gnostic Bible is a comprehensive collection of ancient Gnostic texts, edited by Willis Barnstone  and Marvin Meyer , that presents mystical writings from various traditions (Christian, Jewish, Mandaean, etc.) emphasizing salvation through secret knowledge (gnosis).  The GNOSTIC Bible Key aspects  Content : Includes texts like the  Gospel of Thomas , Gospel of Mary Magdalene , and  Gospel of Judas , alongside other Gnostic scriptures. Scope : Covers a wide range of traditions (Jewish, Christian, Hermetic, Mandaean, Islamic, Cathar) and geographical origins (Egypt, Middle East, Greco-Roman world). Core Belief : Gnostics believed salvation comes from personal, mystical knowledge (gnosis) rather than solely through faith or works, viewing the material world as flawed. Significance : Offers a look into early Christian and non-Christian thought that was suppressed by the orthodox church, providing a rich source for understanding alternative spiritualities. Distin...

The Secret Book of John, also known as the Apocryphon of John, is an important 2nd-century Sethian Gnostic Christian text . It presents a complex mythological cosmology that explains the origin of the universe, humanity, and the path to spiritual salvation through secret knowledge (gnosis). The text is structured as a post-resurrection dialogue between Jesus and his disciple John the Apostle, in which Jesus imparts this hidden wisdom.   The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel

The Pleroma (Greek for "fullness") is a key concept in Gnosticism , representing the spiritual realm of divine perfection, completeness, and the totality of divine powers, contrasted with the flawed material world (Kenoma). It's the ideal, perfect reality where God the Father, the Mother ( Barbelo /Holy Spirit), and other divine beings called Aeons reside. Gnostics believe divine sparks fell from the Pleroma into humans, and the goal is to achieve Gnosis (knowledge) to return to this spiritual home through spiritual awakening and ascent, often aided by Christ's teachings. The Pleroma

The Apocalypse of Adam is a significant Gnostic religious text from the Nag Hammadi library , presented as revelations Adam gives to his son Seth , detailing a Gnostic interpretation of creation, the fall, and future apocalypse, featuring a flawed creator (Sakla) and a coming "illuminator," and it's notable for its pre-Christian themes, suggesting early Jewish Gnosticism or a transitional phase. Adam explains to Seth how he and Eve lost their divine glory after being created by the lesser god Sakla ( Demiurge ) and were awakened by divine figures, revealing true knowledge and prophecies about future evils (like the Flood) and the eventual arrival of the true Illuminator. The Apocalypse of Adam In Gnosticism , Adam isn't just the biblical figure but a complex archetype, often seen as the Primordial Man ( Adamas/Adam Kadmon ), a divine, perfect being of light who fell into the material world created by lesser deities ( Archons ), losing his divine knowledge (Gnosis) ...

Delve into the sacred mysteries of The Gnostic Prayer to Barbelo : Revelations of the Nameless and Unknowable—a timeless invocation to Barbelo, the divine Mother-Father and Source of Gnosis, magick, and angelic wisdom in Gnostic tradition .  Barbelo is the ultimate expression of ineffability—existing beyond mortal understanding—yet present in the intimate spark of your soul. As you explore this prayer, you’ll learn how to invite healing, purpose, and higher love into your life. The Gnostic Prayer to Barbelo This mystical prayer celebrates Barbelo as the Hidden God and Alien God , yet reveals a compassionate presence. Barbelo demands no offerings and no rigid ritual—only the free will and authenticity of the seeker. As the Great Spirit and Virgin of Light , Barbelo calls worshippers inward toward divine wisdom and spiritual renewal. Ultimately, the prayer affirms: If any true prayer to Barbelo exists, it is the Holy Spirit within each soul that yearns and speaks to Her .

Ancient Gnosticism was a diverse spiritual movement emphasizing salvation through secret, divine knowledge (gnosis) of one's true spiritual origin, contrasting the transcendent, unknowable Supreme God with the flawed material world created by a lesser, ignorant deity (the Demiurge ), trapping divine sparks within humans. Ancient Gnosticism : Traditions and Literature Key traditions ( Sethian , Valentinian , Mandaean , Manichaean ) shared dualistic myths of cosmic struggle, a fall of wisdom ( Sophia ), and a divine revealer (like Christ) bringing enlightenment to escape the material prison. Their rich literature, found in texts like the Nag Hammadi Library, includes gospels, apocalypses, and philosophical treatises, revealing diverse cosmologies and paths to liberation.

The Gospel of Truth is a 2nd-century Gnostic Christian text found in the Nag Hammadi Library (Codex I and XII) in 1945. It is a poetic, meditative sermon focusing on salvation through knowledge ( gnosis ) of the Father, rather than through crucifixion or atonement, likely originating from the Valentinian school . The Gospel of Truth

The Gospel of Truth is a significant Gnostic text, discovered in the 1945 Nag Hammadi library, known for its mystical exploration of salvation through secret knowledge (gnosis) rather than just deeds, focusing on the Father of Truth and the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who revealed divine wisdom to overcome ignorance and error, and it's often attributed to the early Christian teacher Valentinus. The Gospel of Truth

The Secret Book of John, also known as the Apocryphon of John, is an important 2nd-century Gnostic text that presents a secret revelation from Jesus to the Apostle John after Jesus's ascension. It offers a unique Gnostic perspective on creation, the divine realm, and salvation through knowledge (gnosis), which differs significantly from canonical Christian teachings. The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel

In Gnosticism, the Demiurge is the craftsman (Greek: demiurgos) who created the flawed material universe, often identified as the ignorant or malevolent god of the Old Testament (Yahweh/Jehovah), trapped souls in physical bodies, and stands in opposition to the true, transcendent God; his most famous names are Yaldabaoth , Samael , or Saklas , sometimes depicted as a lion-headed serpent. This contrasts with Plato's more benign creator and serves as a central figure in Gnostic myths explaining evil and the need for spiritual knowledge (gnosis) for salvation. The Gnostic Demiurge

In Gnosticism, the 7 Archons are malevolent, planet-associated rulers of the material cosmos, created by the ignorant Demiurge , who imprison the divine spark in human souls, acting as jailers over seven planetary spheres (Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) that souls must pass through, governed by vices and ignorance, to escape to the spiritual realm. Each Archon, often with animalistic features and Hebrew names like Yaldabaoth (Saklas/Samael) , controls a layer of heaven, binding souls with fate, emotions, and delusions until Gnosis (spiritual knowledge) allows liberation.  Who are the 7 Archons in Gnosticism

The Gospel of Thomas is significant as a key Gnostic text, offering a different vision of Jesus as a revealer of inner, divine knowledge (gnosis) for immediate spiritual awakening, rather than a messiah focused on earthly salvation through dogma or crucifixion, emphasizing the "kingdom within" and self-knowledge. Discovered in the Nag Hammadi library , its 114 sayings challenge mainstream Christianity by focusing on internal transformation, seeing the material world as a trap, and presenting Jesus as the "light" within everyone, making it crucial for understanding early Christian diversity and mystical traditions. The Gospel of Thomas

The Tripartite Tractate is a lengthy, complex Gnostic text from the Nag Hammadi Library , an important early Christian Gnostic collection, detailing a systematic theology of creation and redemption through a three-part structure (hence its name), describing the Pleroma (divine fullness), the fall/creation of the cosmos, and the path to salvation for humanity's three classes (material, psychic, spiritual) via divine revelation, especially the Savior's mission, rooted in Valentinian Gnosticism. It outlines the emanation of spiritual beings, the error of a Logos figure leading to material existence, and the eventual restoration of all things to the divine source, emphasizing divine love and knowledge (Gnosis) as keys to liberation. THE TRIPARTITE TRACTATE FROM NAG HAMMADI

The "Secret Book of James" (or Apocryphon of James) is a Gnostic Christian text from the Nag Hammadi library ,  d istinct from the canonical Book of James in the New Testament; it summarizes secret teachings Jesus gave to James and Peter, focusing on spiritual knowledge (gnosis), transcending worldly life, enduring persecution (like Jesus' crucifixion), and achieving higher spiritual levels, urging followers to go beyond even Jesus' achievements through deeper understanding, rather than just faith or works. The Secret Book of James

The core elements of Gnosticism center on salvation through esoteric knowledge ( gnosis ), a radical dualism between the spiritual and material worlds, and the belief that an inferior, lesser god created the physical universe. The Elements of Gnosticism

Gnostic texts, primarily from the Nag Hammadi library discovered in Egypt in 1945, present a portrayal of Jesus that differs significantly from traditional Christian orthodoxy. These texts emphasize gnosis—personal, experiential knowledge of the divine—rather than blind faith or institutional dogma.   Gnostic Texts Reveal Jesus in a New Light

The "Dialogue of the Savior"  and the Mystical Sayings of Jesus   is a Gnostic text from the Nag Hammadi library featuring Jesus (called "the Lord") teaching mystical, esoteric truths to his disciples, emphasizing inner knowledge ( gnosis ) for liberation from the material world, with themes of self-knowledge , spiritual awakening, and a challenging path to salvation. It shares connections with other apocryphal works like the  Gospel of Thomas , containing cryptic sayings about the soul, body, and the nature of the divine, contrasting with mainstream biblical accounts but offering deep insights into early Christian mysticism and the soul's journey. . The "Dialogue of the Savior"