TRUTH

God's Word

God's unchanging Word. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"  John 14:6

NT manuscripts: over 5,000 2nd century manuscripts affirm the New Testament. Recognized and used by Christians since the birth of the church.

Constantine had nothing to do with it.

God' Word is false. Truth is based on mythical, secret knowledge (gnosis).

“The Bible is a product of man... not of God. ... Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. ... The Bible, as we know it today, was collected by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.” 231

Divinity

of Jesus

The omnipotent and all-knowing Creator and Lord, who came to earth to die as our Redeemer and Savior. After resurrection, returned to His throne where He reigns as King.

"Who do you say I am?" Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matt 16:15-16

"...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11

Gnostic Revealer (kabbalah)

An ordinary man -- adept in gnosis -- who marries Mary Magdalene.

 "Compare me to someone and tell Me whom I am like." Peter: "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew: "You are like a wise philosopher." (Thomas)

God our Father

Omnipotent, sovereign Ruler of all.

“I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless." Genesis 17:1

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Aeon: "In early Gnosticism, the Absolute Being, or, in later Gnosticism, successive emanations from the Supreme Deity, which form the Pleroma, the world of light or higher reality...

"Plotinus taught that there is a supreme, totally transcendent "One", containing no division, multiplicity or distinction...

"Plotinus offers an alternative to the orthodox Christian notion of creation ex nihilo ('out of nothing')... Emanation ex deo ('out of God')...

The existence of both a transcendent God and a lower God (the Creator–Demiurge), whom Gnostics equated with Yahweh of the Old Testament...

Two gods, a father god and a mother goddess (wisdom/Sophia, shekinah). Some see the Holy Spirit as the mother goddess.

Human condition

Sin

Man's physical body is neutral, but his soul (especially will and emotions) is fallen (wicked) until regeneration.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…" Romans 3:23

Two parts: spirit (good) and matter or body (evil)

Two options: asceticism or reckless licentiousness

The problem is ignorance, not sin.

Faith

In Christ, the Living Word

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7

Our faith is based on God's revelation of Himself in His Word. Historical evidence, not irrational imagination. 1 Peter 3:13-15.

In "The Teachings of Silvanus" Jesus teaches salvation by enlightenment: "Bring in your guide and your teacher. The mind is the guide, but reason is the teacher. They will bring you out of destruction and dangers .... Enlighten your mind.... Light the lamp within you."

Brown: “...the acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove.” P341

 

Salvation

 "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25

"Whoever believes in Him [God's Son] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:18

"Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life...." John 6:40

Man's spirit is imprisoned in the material body but will escape this imprisonment at death; and

* SALVATION -- redemption through gnosis, by secret knowledge

The Teachings of Silvanus, another Gnostic document, portrays Jesus as teaching salvation by enlightenment:

"Bring in your guide and your teacher. The mind is the guide, but reason is the teacher. They will bring you out of destruction and dangers .... Enlighten your mind.... Light the lamp within you."24

Resur-

rection

Physical resurrection, not just immortality of the soul.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25-26

No physical resurrection of the body. Instead, reincarnation.

Gospel

 contain an orderly account of the birth, life, deeds, death, and resurrection of Christ.

 Ignorance is said to be the primary culprit of man's condition, not sin.28 Therefore, in no sense of the word can these documents be properly referred to as gospels.

Who do you say

I Am?

Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am?" Peter rightly responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, ^lfor flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but ^mMy Father who is in heaven."Matt. 16:15-17

Jesus: "Compare me to someone and tell Me whom I am like." Peter: "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew: "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas: "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom You are like."

Jesus: "I am not your master."... When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas: "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up." (Thomas)