The Nag Hammadi Library

The History and Legacy of the Ancient Gnostic Texts Rediscovered in the 20th Century

By: Charles River Editors, Gustavo Vazquez-Lozano

Narrated by: Jim D Johnston

Length: 1 hr and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

• Includes excerpts from the texts
• Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
• Includes a table of contents

Many people interested in biblical themes know about the Dead Sea Scrolls and their guardians, the mysterious Essenes, the sect of Judaism that hid its priceless library in caves before marching against the Romans in an end-time war, certain that God would intervene at the decisive moment. The ancient texts found in their rock cabinets have produced tons of literature. Fewer people know about an equally fascinating finding in the same region of the planet, made only a few months apart: a collection of hitherto unknown Christian codices, buried in the 4th century CE, and found accidentally by peasants near the city of Nag Hammadi, Upper Egypt. Among the old codices was The Gospel of Thomas, lost for 16 centuries, and other unfamiliar titles, such as The Gospel of Philip and the Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles.

In this case it was not Essenes who had entrusted them to the protection of the caves and the centuries, but monks who followed a now forgotten variant of Christianity called Gnosticism. The Gnostics were mystics who had no real use or hope for the world. Their writings became forbidden when the Church defined the canon of the books authorized to be read in the congregation. For some reason, instead of burning them, the monks of Nag Hammadi decided to entrust them to posterity, perhaps waiting for better times.

The library of Nag Hammadi, Egypt, is as significant in the study of early Christianity as the writings of the Essenes to the understanding of Judaism during the time of the Roman occupation. Considering the history of religions, they were composed at the opposite sides of that watershed that was the 1st century CE, which witnessed the birth of Christianity and the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem.

Although all the titles of the Nag Hammadi library are not known, many people have heard about its most famous components: The Gospel of Thomas - at one time it was discussed whether it should be included in the New Testament - and The Gospel of Philip, which tried to revive the debate around the identity of Mary Magdalene: "Why do you love her more than all of us?" asks a disconcerted Peter to Jesus. Finally, the Nag Hammadi texts have led many scholars to reconsider the rigid canons imposed by the early Church, and the readers to find a more intimate religion that turned upside down many postulates of Christian orthodoxy. Along with the history of their discovery in 1945, the analysis of the main texts that form this collection, the exposition of their most important beliefs, and the reasons for their suppression in the 4th century CE, you will learn about the unknown gospels and the Gnostic texts of Nag Hammadi like never before.

©2017 Charles River Editors (P)2017 Charles River Editors

Interesting information

This is thought provoking information regarding early Christian philosophy from scrolls and codex from different sects.

not what I expected. no nag hamadi was read

the nag hamadi wasn't read here, which is what I was expecting. instead, it was merely a historical overview of the discovery , etc. regarding the books. I didn't care for such a dry, analytical view of such spiritual, beautiful words!

A worthwhile read!

Excellent neutral presentation of both the Nag hammadi/gnostic codices and the Dead Sea/Coptic scrolls, their rediscovery, condition, and relevance. It also serves as an incidental condemnation of the time honored practice of banning and burning books.
Jim D Johnston delivers the narration clearly and nonjudgmentally.

Nag Hamadi overview?

I was.looking for a more in-depth
study but it was very interesting
for what it was

Good read only thing disliked was

The narrator had a annoying Lipps at the end of each S but over all its a good educational read and want more

review review review

it was informative and good.If you want an overview of the finding.As for information about the scrolls aka the knowledge theres not much.No meat and potatoes..alittle thin.

Short but we'll writen

The narrator whistles his "S's" it became very annoying otherwise, I enjoyed the book. I do wish it wasn't so short.

Just history

Not at all what I expected - just history, not the actual gospels of the Nag Hammadi.

this book sucks I wanted the real book

refund me this credit never read it, it's bitt the real book. wtf this is cheap

This is an overview

Not the actual book. Waste of a credit. That’s all I wanted to say, but audible makes you write more than two small sentences in order to submit.