Lost Scriptures

1. Christ's True Nature: Beyond Flesh and Blood

He is not corporeal [nor] is he incorporeal. He is neither large [nor] is he small. [There is no] way to say, 'What is his quantity?' or, 'What [is his quality?'], for no one can [know him].

Christ's essence. The Secret Book of John presents Christ as a divine being far beyond human comprehension, existing outside the limitations of physical form or earthly qualities. This transcends the conventional understanding of Jesus as a historical figure.

Docetic undertones. The text suggests a docetic view of Christ, where his physical body was merely an appearance, not his true essence. This is further emphasized by the idea that Christ's true nature is spiritual and cannot be grasped through sensory experience.

Implications for understanding Jesus. This perspective challenges the traditional Christian understanding of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. Instead, it emphasizes his divine nature to the point of diminishing his humanity.

2. The Imperfect Creator: A Gnostic Perspective on the Old Testament God

The arrogant one took a power from his mother. For he was ignorant, thinking that there existed no other except his mother alone.

Yaltabaoth's ignorance. The Secret Book of John introduces Yaltabaoth, a flawed and ignorant creator god who mistakenly believes himself to be the only God. This contrasts sharply with the traditional Christian view of God as all-knowing and all-powerful.

Creation as a flawed act. The creation of the world is not attributed to a benevolent and perfect God, but to a lesser, ignorant deity. This explains the presence of evil and imperfection in the world.

Reinterpreting Genesis. The text offers a Gnostic reinterpretation of the Genesis creation narrative, casting the Old Testament God in a negative light and challenging the traditional understanding of creation.

3. Sophia's Error: The Source of Imperfection in Creation

And when she saw (the consequences of) her desire, it changed into a form of a lion-faced serpent. And its eyes were like lightening fires which flash.

Sophia's unauthorized creation. The aeon Sophia's desire to create without the consent of the Spirit and her consort leads to the birth of Yaltabaoth, a monstrous being who embodies imperfection. This act of unauthorized creation introduces a flaw into the divine realm.

The origin of evil. Sophia's error is the source of evil and imperfection in the world. This contrasts with the traditional Christian view that evil is a result of human sin or a test of faith.

Gnostic cosmology. The story of Sophia's error is a key element of Gnostic cosmology, explaining the existence of a flawed material world separate from the perfect divine realm.

4. The Role of Christ: Revealer and Redeemer

The Christ has everything in himself: man, angel, mystery, and the Father.

Christ as the divine messenger. Christ is sent from the divine realm to reveal the truth about the true God and the nature of reality to humanity. He is not the creator, but a messenger of knowledge.

Christ's transformative power. Christ's presence and teachings offer a path to escape the material world and return to the divine realm. He provides the knowledge (gnosis) necessary for salvation.

Christ as a composite being. Christ embodies a complex array of attributes, including human, angel, mystery, and the Father. This reflects the Gnostic tendency to view Christ as a multifaceted divine being.

5. The Nature of Salvation: Escape from the Material World

Indeed, how is one to hear if his name has not been called? For he who is ignorant until the end is a creature of oblivion, and he will vanish along with it.

Salvation through knowledge. Salvation is not achieved through faith or good works, but through acquiring knowledge (gnosis) of the true God and the nature of reality. This knowledge allows individuals to escape the material world and return to the divine realm.

The elect vs. the ignorant. The Secret Book of John distinguishes between those who are destined for salvation (the elect) and those who are doomed to perish in ignorance. This reflects a Gnostic belief in predestination.

Rejection of the material world. The material world is seen as a prison created by the ignorant Yaltabaoth. Salvation involves escaping this prison and returning to the spiritual realm.

6. The Condemnation of Literal Interpretations

They err who say, “The Lord first died and then he arose.” First he arose, and then he died. If someone does not first achieve the resurrection, will he not die?

Symbolic understanding. The Secret Book of John rejects literal interpretations of biblical events, such as the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus. Instead, it emphasizes the symbolic meaning of these events.

Gnostic reinterpretation. The text offers a Gnostic reinterpretation of Christian doctrines, transforming them into allegories of spiritual enlightenment and escape from the material world.

Critique of orthodox Christianity. The Secret Book of John implicitly criticizes orthodox Christian beliefs, portraying them as simplistic and misguided understandings of deeper spiritual truths.

7. The Importance of Gnosis: Knowledge as the Path to Liberation

Blessed is he who came into being before he came into being. If you become my disciples and listen to my words, these stones will minister to you.

Gnosis as the key to salvation. The Secret Book of John emphasizes the importance of gnosis, or secret knowledge, as the path to salvation. This knowledge allows individuals to understand their true nature and escape the material world.

Inner transformation. Gnosis is not simply intellectual knowledge, but a transformative experience that changes a person's understanding of themselves and the world around them.

The role of Jesus as a revealer. Jesus is the one who conveys this saving knowledge to humanity. His teachings are not simply ethical guidelines, but a roadmap to spiritual liberation.

8. Ethical Implications: Asceticism and the Rejection of Worldly Values

If one who knows the all still feels a personal deficiency, he is completely deficient.

Ascetic lifestyle. The Secret Book of John promotes an ascetic lifestyle, urging its readers to renounce worldly pleasures and desires in order to focus on spiritual pursuits.

Rejection of material possessions. Material possessions are seen as a hindrance to spiritual progress. True followers of Christ should strive to detach themselves from the material world.

Emphasis on inner purity. The text emphasizes the importance of inner purity and self-control. By mastering their desires, individuals can free themselves from the chains of the material world.

9. The Fate of the Soul: Ascending Beyond the Material Realm

When you trample on the shameful garment and when the two become one and the male with the female is neither male nor female; and when you fashion eyes in place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter [the kingdom].

Transcending duality. Salvation involves transcending the dualistic nature of the material world, including the distinctions between male and female, inside and outside, and good and evil.

Spiritual ascent. The soul must ascend beyond the material realm and the control of the archons in order to reach its ultimate destination in the divine pleroma.

Restoration of unity. The ultimate goal of salvation is to restore the original unity of the divine realm, where all things are one and there is no separation or division.

10. Proto-Orthodox Christians: Misguided Adherents to a False Gospel

You do not realize who I am from what I say to you, but you have become like the Jews, for they (either) love the tree and hate its fruit (or) love the fruit and hate the tree.

Critique of mainstream Christianity. The Secret Book of John implicitly criticizes mainstream Christian beliefs, portraying them as a simplistic and misguided understanding of deeper spiritual truths.

Rejection of Jewish heritage. The text rejects the Jewish heritage of Christianity, viewing the Old Testament God as an ignorant and flawed creator.

Gnostic superiority. The Secret Book of John presents Gnosticism as a superior form of Christianity, offering a more profound and liberating understanding of God and the nature of reality.

Last updated: March 16, 2025