When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one band of people to stand up for the truth and to present to each other a complete and historically accurate representation of the full Word of God. That sounds pretty intellectual doesn't it. Daniel finally got some smarts in him. Nope, not really. I just paraphrased the opening of the Declaration of independence. Why? Lately archeological discoveries , the last 70 years, have unearthed books that dispute the Bible.
Books that present a different form of Jesus, and a different belief than that which Christians have followed for over 2000 years. When "discovered" these books were supposedly going to turn Christianity on its ear, and force the Church to change their teachings. These books were going to prove that Jesus was divine and not human; that women were the rightful leaders of the early church; that Jesus conspired with Judas to be betrayed; Jesus was married; and an assortment of other things. All of these things go against what the Bible teaches. And what are these books called: The Gnostic Gospels.
I was in a bookstore a while back and there on a shelf was a book called, The Lost Books of the Bible. I looked at the cover and realized, rather quickly, they were the Gnostic writings. What really intrigued me was the title. If something is going to be "lost" then it has to be part of the original texts. These books were never included in the earliest texts, or the later texts for that matter. An early church father, Origen, spoke against the Gnostic writings, "I know a certain gospel which is called "The Gospel according to Thomas" and a Gospel according to Matthias" and many others have we read - lest we should in any way be considered ignorant because of those who imagine they possess some knowledge if they are acquainted with these. Nevertheless, among all these we have approved solely what the church has recognized, which is that only the four gospels should be accepted" ( Darrell L. Bock, PhD, Breaking the Da Vinci Code p 119, 120)
What is wrong with the Gnostic gospels? First Gnostic gospel is a misnomer. Gospel means "good news" and the Gnostics didn't teach the "good news". The Gnostic writings taught a different Jesus than the recognized gospels. They taught a different way to salvation. Many of their teachings went against the bible. "The gnostics were a knockoff pseudo-Christian group that came to be defined by (1) a black or white mentality in which all material (including the body) was seen as evil and spirit was seen as good; and (2) a view of spirituality that equated knowledge - especially secret knowledge- with salvation" (Focus on the Family's Response to 'The DaVinci Code' http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000049.cfm ) Looking at the first definition of their teachings you will see the body is sinful. Jesus was sinless, therefore, Jesus could not have come in the flesh. But, that was what John discussed in his first letter. "1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. " (I John 4: 1-3 NIV emphasis mine) Why would John write that, because the teaching was already prevalent at that time. The other teaching was that knowledge is all powerful. The term gnosis is Greek for "knowledge" and they taught that the more one gains in knowledge the closer to salvation you became. Especially in secret knowledge that most people would not have access too. To quote a PSA, "The more you know."
What about the choice of women to run the church and not the men, specifically Mary Magdalene and not Peter? What did the gnostics teach about women? Before we get to that, let's discuss the major transformation that one goes about when they ask Jesus into their lives. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they undergo a deep spiritual change. Jesus now leads their lives and they submit to His authority. They go from a deep sinner to one saved by grace. They begin to live for Jesus and not for themselves. Why do I mention that change in ones life? According to the gnostics, the women had to make a change also. One that is a bit more drastic and physically impossible. So, what do the Gnostic writings say about women, let's look at the source "Simon Peter said to them, 'Let Mary leave us, because women are not worthy of life.' Jesus said, 'Look, I shall lead her so that I will make her male in order that she also may become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven." (Gospel of Thomas Logion 114). Wow. And the Bible was against women? At least the women didn't have to make a physical change. What about the women leading the church? Misinterpretation, from what I can see. I studied a lot of the Gnostic writings to prepare myself for this and the seminar, I didn't see it anywhere. I doubt if any of the Gnostic writings taught that Mary should lead the church, everything I saw on the Gnostic writings was that women were inferior to men, look at the above quote.
I have divided this into a couple parts, so people can digest different parts of it without being overwhelmed. I will discuss more indepth the how the bible was selected and the false teaching on the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. I do hope that this does open up some people eyes to the truth. "6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal 1:6,7 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
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