Gnostic Gospels

Download Books that Speak to the Soul

1. The Pistis Sophia Unveiled
2. The Nag Hammadi Library
3. The Gospel of Judas
4. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
5. The Gospel of Thomas
6. The Gospel of Philip
7. Related Features

Neither of them were included in the Bible as we know it, although both are dated around the same time and include never before seen teachings of Jesus and the disciples. In fact, these texts were banned by the Church who labelled them as heretical, ordering them to be burned.

This was shortly after the Church had formed in 312 AD and became the official religion of Rome. Seeking to wipe out any opposition to their doctrine, the widespread persecution of the Gnostics began, and their texts and the study of them were forced underground - and it remained that way until these texts were recently re-discovered, bringing with them the lost knowledge of a small group of people who had until now only been made known to history through the derisive accounts of those who despised them. It is with the discovery of these ancient texts that the world has gained new insight into who the Gnostics actually were and what they practiced.

When these texts were hidden, those in possession of them were under threat of violence and punishment. Today, they are freely available for download here.

Discover more about the ancient Gnostics and early Christianity.
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The Pistis Sophia Unveiled

Before the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library, the Pistis Sophia was the largest source of Gnostic teachings known to the world. It is an extraordinary work, whose title means 'power-wisdom'.

This epic manuscript was purchased by the British Museum in 1795 from a doctor who had obtained it from an unknown source, finally emerging from obscurity after having been banned in the 4th Century. The writings themselves have been dated to 150-300 AD, and were written in the Sahidic dialect of Upper Egypt although originally composed in Greek. It wasn't until the 1850s, over half a century after they were discovered, that work began on their translation.

The scale and complex esotericism of the text hid what was obviously a deep knowledge of spirituality from the early Gnostic tradition. It covers aspects of creation and delves into the process of awakening to the truths which the Gnostics possessed and aimed for.

Remarkably, the Pistis Sophia recounts events that occur only 11 years, after Jesus' resurrection. During the previous 11 years he had been teaching his disciples, both men and women, in Gnostic wisdom. And it is in this work that we witness his final teachings on the Mount of Olives.

Jesus takes his disciples on an astounding journey into the regions of the invisible world. Here he instructs them and reveals many esoteric mysteries – in particular, he speaks of the story and repentance of the Pistis Sophia, which is a symbolic part of each person's true Being.

In The Pistis Sophia Unveiled, Samael Aun Weor, at intervals through the text, explains the meaning behind the words of Jesus to his disciples and reveals many of the secret keys contained in this teaching.

Read the Pistis Sophia Unveiled
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The Nag Hammadi Library

In 367 C.E. the bishop of Alexandria issued an Easter letter in which he demanded that the Egyptian monks who had collected what are now called the Nag Hammadi texts, destroy any writings they had which were deemed to be unacceptable. Someone gathered the dozens of books that were to be burned, removing them from the monastery library and sealing them in a six foot jar – burying them with the intent of hiding and preserving them in a nearby hillside near Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt. There they rested for over a millennium and a half.

Then in December 1945, two brothers uncovered the jar whilst digging up soil for their fields. One of them smashed it open in the hope of finding gold, but instead discovered fragments of the books, which he then carried home. The various texts became separated as they were sold, and one part even burnt because it was deemed to be worthless and perhaps even bad luck. Yet they were eventually brought together again, and translated from the Coptic the scribes had written them in, which themselves were translations from the original Greek. It wasn't until 1978 that the translations were first published, and not until the last decade that the public have really begun to take an interest.

Perhaps the most famous of the works in The Nag Hammadi Library is the Gospel of Thomas, which contains never seen before sayings of Jesus, the first of which begins, “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death.” Another saying soon follows, “If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty.”

Each of the texts are separate, yet bound by unifying principles, which is why they were kept together. That is, they are Gnostic – teaching in the various treatises and testimonies, how to renounce the world and the things in it, to seek ultimate liberation through faith and shaking off 'drunkenness', ignorance and sleep. The authors, who are still thought to be unknown, though the actual original writings are thought to have taken place as early as 50 – 100 A.D., speak about overcoming fears, jealousies, lusts and desires, and attaining illumination. Many mysterious things are mentioned like the bridal chamber, the Aeons, Plemoras, Light Beings and Vestures, and beings called Archons.

The Nag Hammadi Collection

Made available here is an inspiring selection of some of The Nag Hammadi Library texts, which contain information about the apostles, about Jesus and many esoteric mysteries.

Some titles are linked to The Gnostic Society Library, which have the English translations of this collection published on their website. Others can be downloaded directly from this page. In a few of the texts, sections have been lost due to age and deterioration of the manuscripts.

The Apocalypse of Paul
The Gospel of Truth

The following texts recount events and insights from the lives and experiences of some of the apostles:
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
The (First) Apocalypse of James
The (Second) Apocalypse of James
The Apocalypse of Peter
The Letter of Peter to Philip
The Apocryphon of John

The scriptures below contain the amazing sayings of Jesus, as well as further information about his life:
The Apocryphon of James (Williams translation)
The Apocryphon of James (Cameron translation)
The Book of Thomas the Contender
The Dialogue of the Savior
The Gospel of Philip
The Gospel of Thomas (Lambdin translation)
The Gospel of Thomas (Patterson & Meyer translation)
The Gospel of Thomas (Patterson & Robinson translation)

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The Gospel of Judas

The public release of The Gospel of Judas is creating waves across the world, making major news headlines and causing a storm of controversy. The long-held view of Judas as a villain is already crumbling away despite the Church’s embarrassed attempts to downplay the discovery, as new sayings of Jesus come to light – sayings in which Judas’ real character is revealed…

“You will become the apostle cursed by all others, Judas, you will sacrifice this body of man which clothes me.”
“You will become the 13th, and you will be cursed by the other generations – and you will come to rule over them.”
“It is possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal.”

These incredible sayings are finally revealing that Judas actually had a divine mission – he took the role of the villain, appointed to him by Jesus himself, in an epic drama that would captivate an audience of billions. Along with the other disciples, who each played their part, they enacted a magnificent teaching in living flesh – a teaching that demonstrates the real path to salvation.

Read the Gospel of Judas
Learn more about the Gospel of Judas at gnosticjudas.com
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The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

This little known yet incredible text, is thought to have been written in the second century and was originally composed in Greek. A fifth century Coptic translation of it came to light when it was purchased in Cairo by a man called Carl Reinhardt and taken to Berlin in 1896; however, it wasn't until 1955 that it was finally published. It was part of what became known as the Akhmim codex, and this version of it is the most complete.

Then in the early 20th century, during archaeological excavations at Oxyrhynchus in Northern Egypt, two other small fragments of it, written in Greek and dated to the third century, were uncovered. Yet between both versions, they still provide fewer than eight pages of the original ancient text – meaning that over half of it has been lost to the passage of time.

The first six pages of the text are missing, and so we enter into the midst of a discussion between the resurrected Jesus and his disciples. The gospel also recounts a conversation between Mary and the disciples, from which a number of pages are also missing. However, although the text is incomplete, it still contains many powerful teachings.

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The Gospel of Thomas

The most well known of the Nag Hammadi texts is The Gospel of Thomas. It was the first manuscripts translated from Coptic, and you can perhaps imagine the translator’s surprise to uncover those first incredible words:

These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded. And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

Known as ‘Doubting Thomas’ in the biblical gospels, here we find a seemingly random collection of 114 sayings from Jesus, recorded by his disciple Thomas.

Although studied extensively by modern religious scholars, The Gospel of Thomas offers far greater insight to the sincere esoteric practitioner.

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The Gospel of Philip

The Gospel of Philip is part of the Nag Hammadi collection and is a compilation of short sayings and stories about Jesus.

Although the source of the excerpts has not been identified, it is suggested that they were written as late as the second half of the third century.

Through symbolic references, analogies, and parables, the sayings within The Gospel of Philip reveal the meaning and value of the sacramental rites of initiation and provide insights into the mysteries of birth, death, and resurrection.

One prominent theme that arises throughout the Gospel is the mystery of the 'bridal chamber', the sacred practice of Alchemy...

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Belzebuub's homepage
Gnostic Judas homepage
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