Gnostic Gospels

- From the Greek word "gnosis," meaning knowledge
- Most Gnostic gospels discovered from 1896 to 1983
- Largest collection: Nag Hammadi LibraryThe Gnostic Society Library: The Nag Hammadi Library
- Dated to approximately the 2nd century

The Gnostic Gospels are a collection of writings that purport to give information about the life and teachings of Jesus that supplement the information held to be authentic by mainstream Christianity. Most scholars use the texts to understand the beliefs of the Gnostics.
Gnostics

The Gnostics were a Christian sect that began sometime in the pre-Christian era and continued until about the 5th century. They believed that they had secret knowledge about God and the mysteries of the universe.Catholic Encyclopedia: Gnosticism
Several Books Considered to be Gnostic
Quotes
"I have come to teach you about what is, and what was, and what will be in order for you to understand the invisible world, and the world that is visible, and the immovable race of perfect humanity."—The Apocryphon of JohnThe Gnostic Society: Apocryphon of John Collection
"Simon Peter said to them, “Mary should leave us, for females are not worthy of life.” Jesus said, “Look, I shall guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter heaven’s kingdom.”—The Gospel of Thomas, 114:1-3PBS: [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/gthomas.html The Gospel of Thomas

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