Gnostic Revisions of Genesis Stories and Early Jesus Traditions /
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This book argues that the intellectuals behind early Gnostic revisions of Genesis stories were second-century Christians with an ideological background in Greek-Hellenistic philosophy, who adopted and reinterpreted biblical narrative materials with a view to exposing the inferiority of the creator-God of Genesis and the ignorance of those Christians who continued to worship this God. It also discusses controversies between Gnostic and early orthodox Christians about the person and the mission of Jesus Christ. The first part examines the possible polemical function, the philosophical thought structure, and the narrative scheme of the Genesis rewritings, and continues with studies of individual episodes of the Gnostic myth, from the creation of Adam up to the story of Noah and the Flood. The second part focuses on Gnostic reinterpretations of the teaching and the passion of Jesus. The book includes essays about Gnostic theology, ancient and modern readings of Gnostic texts, and an appendix dealing with the ancient baptist community in which Mani was reared.
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1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789047417057
9789004145108
Synoptikon : Streams of Tradition in Mark, Matthew, and Luke /
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This Synoptikon brings together the Synoptic Gospels, freshly translated, comparing them with materials selected from previous volumes in this series. The aim is to serve commentators who engage the Gospels critically and with the awareness that a consideration of their Judaic environments is crucial. Placing the texts within that setting evokes particular streams of tradition that interacted so as to produce the Gospels. These are set out in distinctive typefaces, so that readers may assess the depth of the Synoptic tradition as well as the breadth of its development.
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1 online resource :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004521544
9789004521551
Before Valentinus: The Gnostics of Irenaeus /
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This book offers the first detailed commentary on the Gnostic treatises reported by Irenaeus in Adversus Haereses 1.29-30. It is argued that these texts represent the earliest tangible layer of the Gnostic literary tradition and served as sources for the Apocryphon of John and other later works. They also formed the starting point for Valentinus and his followers, who sought to reconcile the ideas of the Gnostics with apostolic Christianity. The book also shows that Irenaeus and later heresiologists referred to "the Gnostics" as a specific group among the great mass of heretics.
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1 online resource (210 pages) : illustrations. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004677890
Where can wisdom be found? : the sage's language in the Bible and in ancient Egyptian literature /
: Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral--Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1984) : xxxi, 508 pages ; 24 cm. : Includes bibliographical references (pages [422]-449) and indexes. : 3727808993
Buddha and Christ, Nativity Stories and Indian Traditions.
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The infancy narratives of the gospels of Matthew and Luke appear as a magnificent mosaic of allusions not only to the Hebrew Bible but also to Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions. Professor Thundy argues that many details of the infancy gospels as well as the rest of the gospels can be clarified by the Buddhist and Hindu scriptures. In this sense, the gospels are Eastern religious texts. Buddha and Christ covers the following topics in order: methodology of study, priority of Indian texts vis-à-vis Christian gospels, parallels of the birth narratives of Buddha and Jesus, uniqueness of Indian parallels, the Gnostic context of the Christian gospels, and contacts between India and the West in antiquity. Multicultural studies such as this encourage ecumenism and mutual understanding in East-West dialogues as well as reinforcing the view that the gospels should be taken seriously as Eastern religious texts.
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1 online resource. :
9789004378827
Gnosis und Judentum : alttestamentliche und jüdische Motive in der gnostischen Literatur und das Ursprungsproblem der Gnosis /
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This book addresses different theories related to the origin of Gnosticism. The author comes to the conclusion that, if we set aside the Christian substance, in Gnostic literature - besides Platonist philosophy - the most numerous influences come from Judaism. As they have, partially, reached Gnostic literature independent from Christianity, it could validate the theory according to which we should be searching for the origin of Gnosticism in certain Judaist circles. The author analyses the use of lore from the Old Testament and Judaism in Gnostic literature. Even though this does not prove that Gnosticism has evolved from Judaism, it still shows how extensively the Judaist world of thought influenced Gnosticism and how it gives us a reason to ask whether we should consider more thoroughly the theory according to which we should be searching for the founders of Gnostic lore within certain Judaist circles of antiquity. Über den Ursprung der antiken Gnosis gibt es verschiedene Theorien, aber noch heute herrscht in dieser Frage in der Forschung kein Konsens. Der Autor dieses Buches betrachtet unterschiedliche Ursprungstheorien der Gnosis und kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass (abgesehen vom christlichen Stoff) neben den Einflüssen des Mittelplatonismus der alttestamentliche und jüdische Stoff in der gnostischen Literatur die wichtigste Rolle spielt. Da der jüdische Stoff teilweise durch die Vermittlung des Christentums in die Gnosis gekommen ist, könnte das die alte Hypothese unterstützen, dass die Gnosis innerhalb des Christentums entstanden sei. Doch gibt es eine Vielzahl gnostischer Texte, die vom Christentum nicht beeinflusst sind, in denen aber der alttestamentliche und jüdische Stoff eine sehr wichtige Rolle spielt. Diese Tatsache könnte nun die zweite alte Theorie unterstützen, nach der die Wurzeln der Gnosis im antiken Judentum liegen. Der Autor der vorliegenden Arbeit analysiert den Gebrauch der alttestamentlichen und jüdischen Überlieferungen und Motive in der gnostischen Literatur und kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass es nicht letztgültig bewiesen ist, dass die Gnosis aus dem Judentum heraus entstand. Doch zeigt die Untersuchung, wie große Bedeutung die alttestamentlichen und jüdischen Motive in der Gnosis gehabt haben. Dies gibt Anlass zu fragen, ob wir dennoch die Theorie ernsthaft zu erwägen haben, nach der der Ursprung der Gnosis in Kreisen des antiken Judentums zu suchen sei.
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Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Universität Tartu, 2009. :
1 online resource (xxiii, 447 pages) :
Includes bibliographical references (p. 397-433) and index. :
9789004209510 :
0929-2470 ; :
Available to subscribing member institutions only.
The myth of cosmic rebellion : a study of its reflexes in Ugaritic and Biblical literature /
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This volume examines reflexes of a West Semitic myth describing an attempted coup against the high god of the pantheon. In 1939, J. Morgenstern theorized that this myth was the precursor of the Satan traditions found in Jewish and Christian sources. This treatment (1) reconsiders Morgenstern's hypothesis, (2) reviews scholarship on this myth of cosmic rebellion within the W.F. Albright/F.M. Cross, Jr. lineage, (3) compiles a concordance of texts cited by scholars in analyzing the myth, (4) considers the possibility that Athtar is the myth's divine antihero, (5) provides a translation and close reading of selected Ugaritic and Hebrew texts that have informed discussion about the myth, (6) reassesses the value of these texts, and (7) provides a reconstruction of the myth.
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1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references (p. [212]-231) and index. :
9789004275898 :
0083-5889 ; :
Available to subscribing member institutions only.
Israel und Agypten in der Konigszeit : die kulturellen Kontakte von Salomo bis zum Fall Jerusalems /
: Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral) -- Universitat Bonn, 1998/1999. : xi, 359, [11] pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. : Includes bibliographical references (pages [302]-344) and indexes. : 3727812656