What are the Gnostic texts?

The mysterious depths of ancient esoteric texts speak about an incredible profundity to life. While their parables and stories may seem obscure, they stir something within – a yearning to look beyond everyday life, into the realm of the truly spiritual.

Early religious literature is full of these esoteric works, and Christianity is no exception.

The Gnostic texts are known as The Nag Hammadi Library and The Pistis Sophia. They were not included in the Bible as we know it, although both are dated around the same time and include never before seen teachings of Jesus and the disciples. In fact, these texts were banned by the Church who labeled them as heretical, ordering them to be burned – and so they disappeared for centuries.

Now, their recent discovery is over-turning the world's view not only on the life of Jesus and the disciples, but also of spiritual knowledge and how to acquire it. Not only do the implications span the way the world's history has been viewed, but also across today's world with people's own spiritual searches and beliefs.

Movie blockbusters, international bestsellers, historians, spiritualists, philosophers, the media, and even celebrities have started to take interest in what is called - Gnosis. The term, often used loosely, through these discoveries, is now being traced like a thread throughout the ages, from the teachings of Jesus, even to this present day.

This knowledge has undertaken a perilous journey through the different centuries. From the persecutions, crucifixions and stonings of the disciples and their Master Jesus, to the Knights Templar and Cathars who were hunted out and killed. Yet what has survived, as these ancient scriptures are now revealing, is a rich spiritual knowledge that you can investigate for yourself.

Today these ancient texts can be lawfully read – uncensored and freely available at bookstores, libraries and across the internet. From their times hidden in private collections, to beneath the earth, they are now at the world's fingertips, and the interest in them is continuing to intensify. They are beginning to raise and answer many questions people have about who the Gnostics were and what they believed.

People are starting to realize that Gnosis is not reserved for those who have studied for years, acquired roles and titles, or seem to be spiritually gifted, but teaches that each person can make direct contact with the divine – which is why it has been viewed as heretical for so long, but also why Gnosis is still alive today. Through practice people have been able to unlock the secrets of these texts, discovering again the awe-inspiring spiritual knowledge of the ancient Gnostics.

Now whilst having some decipherable meaning, these texts appear to be written almost in another language, which has even been considered primitive by some, and this is why Gnosis and those who practiced it have remained so elusive and mysterious for so long. Gnosis so challenged the opinion of the day throughout the different ages, that it had to be taught in secrecy through seemingly incomprehensible parables, myths, legends and even art and music.

That is how the teachings were protected and the meaning of the biblical saying which Jesus said, “Do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot.” Knowledge had to be kept hidden and veiled from the public, so that it was protected and could continue on for others in the future - and not become completely lost and destroyed. However, the parables and stories themselves always contained enough information, so that those who were truly seeking could decipher them and use them to achieve illumination.

What is Gnosis? Read more