Gnostic Paul: Gnostic Exegesis of the Pauline Letters

In this book Elaine Pagels takes a systematic look at how certain Pauline letters were interpreted and cited by gnostic exegetes. These epistles are Romans, l Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Hebrews. Pagels uses several gnostic sources such as Valintinus and many gnostic opponents including Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons. One of the benefits of reading THE GNOSTIC PAUL is that we learn even more about the diversity that flourished in early Christianity during the first three centuries before Constantine. Pagels is very good at peeling away layer after layer in her study of this period in church history.The author is an excellent writer and the format is easy to follow. The subject matter, however, requires some prior knowledge of Christian gnosticism and a familiarity with the Nag Hammadi documents. For supplementary reading I recommend especially two other books by Elaine Pagels. They are THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS and BEYOND BELIEF: THE SECRET GOSPEL OF THOMAS.

Pagels presents Gnostic Christians' interpretations of Paul's letters almost line by line. Not the easiest book to read, but extremely helpful in understanding the Gnostic elements of early Christianity. Some knowledge of Gnosticism is presupposed, and Gnostic terminology is not always defined. FYI, I've compiled a list of key terms below, with my (admittedly non-expert) definitions.sarkic - earthly, hidebound, ignorant, uninitiatedhylic - similar to sarkicpsychic - "soulful," partially initiated pneumatic - "spiritual," fully initiatedaion - one of various levels of realityarchon - one of various powers in the cosmospleroma - fulfillment, the higher reality of archetypes (related to Plato's realm of Ideas)kenoma - the visible or manifest cosmos, "lower" than the pleromacharisma - gift, or energy, bestowed by pneumatics through oral teaching and personal encounterssophia - "wisdom," worldly understanding; personified as Lady Wisdomlogos - divine ordering principle of the cosmos; personified as Christhypostasis - emanation (appearance) of God, known to psychicsousia - essence of God, known to pneumaticsgnosis - "knowledge," direct insight into God attained by pneumatics If all this seems baffling, you might want to read "Jesus and the Lost Goddess," an excellent summary of Gnosticism by Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy.

I'm surprised this book does not summarize the distinctions it constantly makes between the two main conceptions of Christianity according to the Valentinians' reading of Paul.This book has a lot to offer for the Christ-myth theory. The book explains the Valentinian gnostic reading of Paul's early epistles. "Jews" means literalists, the uninitiated, lower Christians. "Greeks" means spiritualists, the initiated, higher Christians. Paul encouraged the higher Christians to feel united or married with the lower Christians.The book would greatly benefit from a 2-column listing of the ideas the Valentinians associated with the higher and lower Christians. As a philosopher and theorist of ego death who is looking for a rational reading of the Christian scriptures, I agree with everything that falls into the group of ideas the Valentinians associated with higher Christians, and I disagree with all the ideas that fall into the group of ideas the Valentinians associated with lower Christians.The two sets of doctrines -- the book The Gnostic Paul divides the religious ideas as follows, from the Valentinian reading of Paul's early writings:HIGHER, ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY"Greeks"The religion of HeresyEarly PaulThe Truth, wisdom, enlightenmentThe initiated, adultsA secret mystery is revealed to some apostles, but not to other apostlesThe sacrament of apolytrosis (apo- can mean after-, post-, and separate redemption) in addition to common eucharistRedemptionSpiritual freedom from moral codes -- but metaphysical determinism/fatedness, predestined electionReject idea of responsible moral agency and idea of our culpability of sin/guiltThe apple was a gift of gnosisAll blame is placed on the Ground, not usNo death on the Cross (it was mythic and could be seen as a pseudo-death)Sacrifice is mythic, mental, conceptual, a mental experienceNo bodily resurrectionMythic ChristBelief in higher and lower Christians (with a principled respect for the lower)No point in moral-reward heaven or moral-punishment hellWe are spirits, controlled by GodLOWER, EXOTERIC CHRISTIANITY"Jews"The Orthodox religionPeter, The Church Fathers and their forged later PaulThe Lie, error, darkness, foolishnessThe uninitiated, childrenNo secret mystery; all apostles have authority through simple ordinary seeing of miraculous resurrectionThe common eucharist, onlySalvation, baptismSpiritual enslavement to morality -- with delusion of free will and choosing faith oneselfBelief in responsible moral agency and our culpability for sin/guiltAll blame is placed on usThe apple was badJesus died on the CrossSacrifice is bodily, bloody, magically effective, physicalBodily resurrectionSupernaturalist JesusDisbelief in higher level of Christianity -- to obtain unity and harmony of the ChurchMoral-reward heaven and moral-punishment hell exist, for the responsible agent/soulWe are souls, controlled by ourselves Each point I listed above should have page references to Pagel's book to prove that the ideas break out

If you are open minded you will like this book. Also if you are open minded you will like An Encounter With A Prophet. If you are closed to new spiritual truths or a firm believer in Christian dogma (the same thing really) avoid both books they will just upset you.

Elaine truly brings a new understanding to the writings of the apostle Paul through cross-referencing with Valentinian texts and orthodox apologetic arguments against such texts. All in all, the reader comes away with new insight into Christian Gnosticism and what it means to be "the elect".A fascinating read that has enriched my life. Buy it and enjoy....