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. Part of a vast collection of materials dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient and modern. Spurred by personal tragedy, elaine pagels turns to a consideration of the gnostic gospels, in particular, the gospel of thomas. Title the gnostic gospels elaine pagels pdf author elaine pagels. This is an excellent introduction to the gnostic gospels. 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. Name of writer, number pages in ebook and size are given in our post. She brings her considerable competence to bear on the subject without overwhelming the reader with. The gnostic gospels by pagels, elaine and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Elaine pagels, the secret gospel of thomas her latest book. Elaine pagels, nee hiesey born february, 1943, is an american religious historian. The gnostic gospels book by elaine pagels 8 available. 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.
Elaine pagelss most popular book is the gnostic gospels. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels in its entirety. A rare lung disease killed elaine pagelss 6yearold son, and then about a year later her husband fell to his death while mountain climbing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. She is the harrington spear paine 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 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. Her bestselling book the gnostic gospels 1979 examines the divisions in the early christian. Books by elaine pagels author of the gnostic gospels. Thirteen leatherbound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local farmer named muhammed alsamman. A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the bible, by the bestselling author of beyond belief. Pagels, author of the acclaimed book the gnostic gospels, was one of the first scholars to study ancient scrolls unearthed in egypt in 1945. Gnosticism celebrates god as both mother and father, shows a very human jesuss relationship to mary magdalene, suggests the resurrection is better understood. 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.
In 1945 fiftytwo papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the egyptian desert. The only bizarre and sickly disconcerting aspect of the book comes near the end, and serves to in a way undo pagels entire project. Elaine pagels is an exceptionally engaging writer with a talent for locating and explaining hidden wisdom. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early christianity and gnosticism.
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. 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 gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, paperback barnes. Check here and also read some short description about the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download. The beginners guide to the gnostic gospels overviewbible. She is the author of several books, including reading judas. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24, 2012. The gnostic gospels has 8 available editions to buy at alibris. 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 the gnostic gospels, author elaine pagels suggests that christianity could have developed quite differently if gnostic texts had become part of the christian canon. Buy the gnostic gospels new ed by pagels, elaine isbn.
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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The gnostic gospels provides engaging reading for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of christianity. The gospel of judas and the shaping of christianity, the new york times bestseller beyond belief. A vast collection of materials and audio lectures dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both. Part of the the nag hammadi library nag hammadi scriptures collection. 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. Modern library named it as one of the 100 best books of the twentieth century. The gnostic gospels provides engaging listening for those seeking a broader perspective on the early development of christianity. 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. Long buried and suppressed, the gnostic gospels contain the secret writings attributed to the followers of jesus. A vast collection of materials and audio lectures dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient.
The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, 9780753821145, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. 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. 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. Would adding the gnostic gospels transform the christian. The gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction. Elaine pagels on the book of revelation february 24. 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. As one of the worlds foremost religion scholars, she. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the national book award and the national book critics circle award, the gnostic gospels has. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was. 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. When pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the gnostic gospels, was asked, why religion.
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. She is the recipient of a macarthur fellowship best known for her studies and writing on the gnostic. The gnostic gospels opens up so much which was hidden and as one reads one is filled with introspection. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download. 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. 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. She won the national book award for her book, the gnostic gospels.
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. 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. Apr 06, 2006 buy the gnostic gospels new ed by pagels, elaine isbn. Elaine pagels has 17 books on goodreads with 83397 ratings. The gnostic gospels modern library 100 best nonfiction books series by elaine pagels. 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. According to pagels, the finding of the 52 coptic texts at nad hammadi in 1945, has seemingly shifted our very.
Download the gnostic gospels by elaine pagels pdf book download pdf ebook. Jun 29, 2004 the gnostic gospels ebook written by elaine pagels. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels home facebook. A fine thematic introduction to gnosticism, concentrating on the texts discovered at nag hammadi upper egypt in 1945. 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. The gnostic gospels opens up so much which was hidden and as one reads one is filled with i a great read. 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. Pagels summarizes not just the writings of these early spiritual leaders, but also the social and political issues of the day. Gnostic gospels by elaine pagels goodreads elaine pagels is the harrington spear paine professor of religion at princeton university. Most of the gnostic gospels that have survived were found in a collection of books from the third and fourth century ad.
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. The gnostic gospels is a landmark study of the longburied roots of christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the gnostic gospels. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The secret gospel of thomas, and the gnostic gospels, winner of the national book critics circle award and the national book award.