Gnostic Gospels

October 10, 2017

Gnostic Gospels

We have recently been treated

to exposition of the so-called

Gnostic gospels, without any

announced purpose for their review.

All we laymen know about them is that

a rather large number of early Christians

wrote sayings attributed to Jesus that

never made it into the New Testament.

It is easy to see why, in that their

efforts are obviously made up and

wholly lacking the clarity and majesty

of the included passages in the bible.

That still leaves the question as to

why the sudden interest in them.

Could it be inspired by a resistance

to the present contents of the bible?

It is well-known that the bible is

not kind to persons who prefer a

lightweight Christianity which

makes no demands in their lives.

Episcopalians partly solve this

problem by deleting verses from

the daily lectionary that are not

in sync with modern secular mores.

They cannot rewrite the bible,

but perhaps they can add excerpts

from the ancient writings that are

more acceptable to their congregants.

If so, playing up the wisdom of the

Gnostic gospels, and other sources

continues the drive to refashion a

religion far from its origin.

October 30, 2017


Yes, indeed, some biblical scholars are promoting an alternative New Testament, replacing or erasing passages which they believe are offensive. Their publications are based on early Christian writings which are generations removed from the eyewitness accounts in the presently accepted bible. The objective seems to be compiling a New Testament closer to contemporary mores and values. This helps to explain why TEC is not a biblically-centered denomination. 

https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Twenty.../dp/0544570103

The problem is that our "progressive" clergy are already preaching the Gospel According to Rob Bell. The lectionary has been edited to omit bible verses that are offensive, as you pointed out. On the agenda is a rewrite of the BCP, which will probably include non-biblical rites. Next, the non-canonical writings may be approved for use in our worship services. Then you have a rewritten Bible, something that has not occurred for nearly two thousand years!