Apr 06, 2006 buy the gnostic gospels new ed by pagels, elaine isbn. Pagels is best known for the gnostic gospels 1979, which won a national book award and was named one of the best 100 englishlanguage nonfiction books of the 20th century by the modern. Elaine pagels the gnostic gospels, winner of the 1980 american book award for religious history, is a penetrating study of the theological significance of the nag hammadi texts. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. These socalled gnostic writings were coptic translations from the original greek dating from. Sep 21, 2018 the gnostic gospels are ancient religious writings which falsely claim to be written by famous biblical figures such as peter, thomas, and mary. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, paperback barnes. The gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction. The gnostic gospels provides engaging reading for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of christianity. She is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian church, and the way that women have been viewed throughout jewish history and christian history.
The gnostic gospels has 8 available editions to buy at alibris. Short description of book the gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Jun 29, 2004 the gnostic gospels ebook written by elaine pagels. She brings her considerable competence to bear on the subject without overwhelming the reader with. The gnostic texts, discovered in 1948 buried in a remote egyptian cave, describe a spiritual tradition of meditation, inner visions, and selfdiscovery, rather than a quest for salvation.
Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. The 52 texts discovered in nag hammadi, egypt include secret gospels poems and myths attributing to jesus sayings and beliefs which are very different from the new testament. Dec 21, 2018 elaine pagels discusses her book, why religion. As opposed to the gospel of john, which asserted that jesus was an eternally existing aspect of god who came to earth to save humankind, the secret gospel of thomas agrees that jesus was in some sense divine, but says that a streak of divinity can be found in all. Modern library named it as one of the 100 best books of the twentieth century. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels home facebook. The gnostic gospels opens up so much which was hidden and as one reads one is filled with introspection. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university and the author of reading judas, the gnostic gospels winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book awardand the new york times bestseller beyond belief. The gnostic gospels won both the national book critics circle award and the national book award and was chosen by the modern library as one of the 100 best books of the 20th century.
As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she. According to pagels, the finding of the 52 coptic texts at nad hammadi in 1945, has seemingly shifted our very. Part of the the nag hammadi library nag hammadi scriptures collection. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. She won the national book award for her book, the gnostic gospels. Pagels is best known for the gnostic gospels 1979, which won a national book award and was named one of the best 100 englishlanguage nonfiction books of. This is an excellent introduction to the gnostic gospels. Elaine pagels is an exceptionally engaging writer with a talent for locating and explaining hidden wisdom.
The gnostic gospels ebook written by elaine pagels. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24. The only bizarre and sickly disconcerting aspect of the book comes near the end, and serves to in a way undo pagels entire project. Most of the gnostic gospels that have survived were found in a collection of books from the third and fourth century ad. The site includes the gnostic library, with the complete nag hammadi library and a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. The beginners guide to the gnostic gospels overviewbible. Elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine foundation professor of religion at princeton university. Chapter ii, one god, one bishop chapter iii, god the fathergod the mother chapter iv, the passion of christ and the persecution of christians chapter v, whose church is the true church. Pagels summarizes not just the writings of these early spiritual leaders, but also the social and political issues of the day. In 1945 fiftytwo papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the egyptian desert.
A fine thematic introduction to gnosticism, concentrating on the texts discovered at nag hammadi upper egypt in 1945. Name of writer, number pages in ebook and size are given in our post. Nov 12, 1979 the gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. Part of a vast collection of materials dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient and modern. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was.
The gnostic gospels provides engaging listening for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of christianity. The gnostic gospels book by elaine pagels 8 available. Review the first major and eminently readable book on gnosticism benefiting from the discovery in 1945 of a collection of gnostic christian texts at nag hammadi in egypt. Selected by the modern library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time the gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. In the gnostic gospels, author elaine pagels suggests that christianity could have developed quite differently if gnostic texts had become part of the christian canon. Long buried and suppressed, the gnostic gospels contain the secret writings attributed to the followers of jesus. Elaine pagelss most popular book is the gnostic gospels. She is the recipient of a macarthur fellowship best known for her studies and writing on the gnostic. Apr 19, 20 through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic gospels. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the gnostic gospels. Nov 06, 2018 pagels acknowledges that no one escapes terrible loss, but as the countrys most popular historian of religion, she brings a unique reservoir of spiritual wisdom to bear on the thousand. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download. Pagels, author of the acclaimed book the gnostic gospels, was one of the first scholars to study ancient scrolls unearthed in egypt in 1945.
Books by elaine pagels author of the gnostic gospels. A vast collection of materials and audio lectures dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient. The site includes the gnostic society library with the complete nag hammadi library and scriptures, and a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. Gnosticism celebrates god as both mother and father, shows a very human jesuss relationship to mary magdalene, suggests the resurrection is better understood symbolically, and speaks to selfknowledge as the route to union with god. The nag hammadi library also known as the chenoboskion manuscripts and the gnostic gospels is a collection of early christian and gnostic texts discovered near the upper egyptian town of nag hammadi in 1945. Buy the gnostic gospels new ed by pagels, elaine isbn. Would adding the gnostic gospels transform the christian. The book, the gnostic gospels, by elaine pagels presents an easyreading historical document that reveals the fundamental and theoretical similarities and differences of gnostic and orthodox christians of the early christian movement. In 1979, pagels published the gnostic gospels, a brief and elegant analysis of a series of ancient documents known collectively as the nag hammadi library. Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, 9780753821145, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Thirteen leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local farmer named muhammed alsamman. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was asked, why religion. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award. Elaine pagels wrote the gnostic gospels after working as part of an international team dedicated to studying and translating into english the ancient gnostic books found in nag hammadi, egypt. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Elaine pagels has 17 books on goodreads with 83397 ratings.
Check here and also read some short description about the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. The 52 texts discovered in nag hammadi, egypt include secret gospels poems and myths attributing to jesus sayings and beliefs which are very different from the new. A new account of the origins of christianity, that brilliantly summarized the ancient and rambling nag hammadi texts, which describe the teachings of jesus as captured by early christian writers. Title the gnostic gospels elaine pagels pdf author elaine pagels. A rare lung disease killed elaine pagelss 6yearold son, and then about a year later her husband fell to his death while mountain climbing. Download the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download pdf ebook. The gnostic gospels by pagels, elaine and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The gnostic gospels opens up so much which was hidden and as one reads one is filled with i a great read. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. The gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal.
Pagels teaches the history of religion at barnard, and she has spent practically all of her young academic life working with the nag hammadi manuscripts in one way or another. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. Author and noted scholar elaine pagels suggests that christianity could have developed quite differently if gnostic texts had become part of the christian canon. Through the bestselling books of elaine pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the gnostic gospels. A vast collection of materials and audio lectures dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both. Gnostic gospels by elaine pagels goodreads elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Gnosticism celebrates god as both mother and father, shows a very human jesuss relationship to mary magdalene, suggests the resurrection is better understood.
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