The Apocryphal Gospels are a set of very important ancient texts that were not included in the biblical canon of the New Testament. The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, held under the reign of Constantine II, is considered the first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. It addressed crucial issues for the future of a religion that would not include these Gospels in its “corpus doctrinae.”
Some of the best-known apocryphal gospels are classified into three categories : a) The Childhood of Jesus b) The Adult Life of Jesus and c) Gnostic Gospels.
Infancy Gospels
They focus on the period of Jesus’ childhood and the figures of Mary and Joseph.
Protoevangelium of James:
The Protoevangelium of James begins with the story of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, who were unable to bear children. After much prayer and supplications, Anna conceives Mary. The book continues with the account of Mary’s childhood and youth, including her presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem and her marriage to Joseph.
The Protoevangelium of James also describes the birth of Jesus. According to the text, Mary was still a virgin when she conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The book recounts Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus in a manger, and the adoration of the shepherds.
The Protoevangelium of James is an important source for understanding the traditions and beliefs of early Christians regarding the infancy of Mary and Jesus. Although it is not considered a canonical text by the Official Church, it has had a great influence on Christian art and literature.
Main themes of the Protoevangelium of James
- The Virginity of Mary: The Protoevangelium of James emphasizes Mary’s virginity before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. This theme is central to the text and is presented as a fundamental element for salvation.
- The Childhood of Mary: The book offers details about Mary’s childhood and youth, including her presentation at the Temple and her marriage to Joseph. These accounts highlight Mary’s virtue and grace from an early age.
- The Birth of Jesus: The Protoevangelium of James describes the birth of Jesus in a manger and the adoration of the shepherds. These events are presented as the fulfillment of prophecy and a manifestation of God’s love for humanity.
- Mary’s relationship with Joseph: The text also addresses the relationship between Mary and Joseph, highlighting Joseph’s role as protector of Mary and Jesus.
Gospel of the Infancy by Thomas
The Gospel of the Infancy by Thomas narrates a series of episodes from Jesus’ childhood, from the ages of 5 to 12. Unlike the canonical gospels, this text focuses on the miracles and wonders Jesus performed during his childhood.
Some miracles that are narrated
The miracles narrated in this gospel are radically different from those found in the canonical gospels. Some of the most notable include:
- Giving Life to Clay Birds: Jesus creates clay birds and then gives them life, demonstrating his divine power.
- Healing sick children: Jesus heals children suffering from various illnesses, showing his compassion and ability to heal.
- Resurrecting a friend: When a friend of Jesus dies after falling from a rooftop, Jesus resurrects him, demonstrating his power over life and death.
- Cursing a child who dies: In a controversial episode, Jesus curses a child who bothers him, and the child dies. This episode shows a side of Jesus not found in the canonical gospels.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew contains many stories not found in the canonical gospels. Some of the most notable include:
- Mary’s childhood: The text describes Mary as a very pious girl who spent a lot of time in the Temple.
- The miracles of Jesus: The text narrates several miracles that Jesus performed during his childhood, such as healing the sick and raising the dead.
- The Flight to Egypt: The text tells how Jesus and his parents fled to Egypt to escape the persecution of King Herod.
About the Mother of Jesus the great Master Samael Aun Weor tells us:
The Goddesses Isis, Juno, Demeter, Ceres, Vesta, and Maia were then personified in the Mother of the Hierophant Jesus. The Hebrew Mary was a great Initiate. Every occultist knows this. All these Mother Goddesses may well represent the Divine Mother Kundalini, from whom the Universal Word of Life is always born.Samael Aun Weor – The Perfect Matrimony / The Christ
Mary, the mother of Jesus, also interprets the scripture:
My Lord, as for the words that your power spoke forth in prophesying through David: Grace and Virtue met together, and Virtue and Peace kissed one another. Truth sprang forth from the earth, and Virtue looked down from heaven, your power also prophesied concerning you .Pistis Sophia – Chapter 61
Judeo-Christian Gospels
They are inspired by late Judaism in their interpretation of the life of Jesus.
Gospel of the Hebrews
The text does not reveal who wrote it, but it is believed to have been composed by an unknown author in the 2nd or 3rd century AD. It was given the title “of the Hebrews,” probably to emphasize its connection with the early Judeo-Christian community.
What is it about?
The Gospel of the Hebrews focuses on several aspects of Jesus’ life and teachings, including:
- The Ministry of John the Baptist: The text describes the ministry of John the Baptist and his encounter with Jesus at the Jordan River.
- The Sermon on the Mount: The text presents a version of the Sermon on the Mount, which contains some unique teachings of Jesus.
- The miracles of Jesus: The text narrates several miracles that Jesus performed, such as healing the sick and raising the dead.
- The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus: The text describes the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing his divinity and his victory over death.
Gospel of the Egyptians
Two different versions of the text are known:
I – The Greek Gospel of the Egyptians:
This text is known only through quotations from Clement of Alexandria and other Church Fathers. It is believed to have been written in the second century AD. The text appears to have a Gnostic view of Christianity.
Some of the topics covered in the text include:
- The nature of God
- The origin of the universe
- The salvation of the soul
II – The Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians:
This text was discovered in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945. It is believed to have been written in the 3rd or 4th century AD. The text also has a Gnostic view of Christianity.
Some of the topics covered in the text include:
- The creation of the world
- The Fall of Man
- The role of Jesus as savior
Gnostic Gospels
These texts are notably influenced by the Gnostic movement at the time of their writing.
Some of the best known are:
Gospel of Thomas: This Gospel is a collection of 114 sayings of Jesus, many of which resemble sayings found in the canonical Gospels. However, the Gospel of Thomas also contains sayings unique to this text that reflect Gnostic ideas about the nature of Jesus and salvation.
Samael Aun Weor in the Pistis Sophia Unveiled gives this gospel an esoteric explanation that leads us to value the work on our own mind, let’s see:
Thomas, the particular Thomas of each of us, only accepts the Teacher of the world, the Inner Christ within each of us. The Thomas who exists within each of us places his mind in the hands of the Inner Christ and only accepts the Inner Christ. “The Gospel of Thomas” is marvelous. Whoever places his mind in the hands of the Inner Christ and only accepts the Inner Christ walks the path of final liberation, and the demons of the mind will never be able to defeat him. Thomas is one of the twelve within ourselves, a part of our own Being. The mind of Thomas receives exclusively the words of Christ.
Gospel of Mary Magdalene: This Gospel focuses on Jesus’ teachings to Mary Magdalene, whom he presents as one of his closest disciples. The text addresses topics such as the nature of the soul, knowledge, and salvation.
Author Claudia Setzer writes:
Most biblical scholars affirm that the author of the Fourth Gospel was an anonymous follower of Jesus referred to within the Gospel text as the Beloved Disciple. In an earlier tradition of the Fourth Gospel community, the anonymous Beloved Disciple was known as Mary Magdalene, the founder and true hero of what has come to be known as the Johannine Community—one of the original founders and leaders of the Christian church.
Gospel of Judas: This gospel presents a different view of the story of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Instead of being a traitor, Judas is presented here as a hero who played a necessary role in Jesus’ plan of salvation.
In Gnosis we know that:
With the Initiation of Judas, the ego definitively ends, and absolute radical enlightenment follows, as a sequence or corollary. However, after the supreme death of the Self, the Apocalypse of St. John says that a silence of about half an hour follows; it is therefore for a certain time. After this time, the Inner Christ resurrects in the heart of the mystic, and the state of continuous consciousness absolutely illuminated by the Being begins.– Samael Aun Weor
Gospel of Philip: This Gospel is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus that focus on themes such as the nature of God, creation, and salvation. The text also contains some unique teachings about the relationship between Jesus and his disciples.
In Gnosis, Philip is more important because he teaches us the science of JINAS, let’s see:
Philip, the Apostle of Jesus, exists within us, here and now. One is the Historical Philip, and the other the Intimate Philip. Philip, within each Human Being, is one of the self-aware parts of our own BEING. Philip must teach the Initiate to consciously travel outside the Physical Body. Philip must practically teach the Initiate to bring the Physical Body itself into the Higher Dimensions to travel through hyperspace.Samael Aun Weor
Gospel of Peter: This Gospel is an account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection from the perspective of the apostle Peter. The text emphasizes Jesus’ divinity and his victory over death.
Furthermore, we must not forget that Peter is Patar; the cornerstone we must chisel, let us read:
“This one is called PETER,” one of the HIEROPHANTS driving the chariot of the centuries answered me. Then… Oh my God! I prostrated myself on the ground before this ancient of the centuries, and he, filled with infinite love and compassion, blessed me, speaking in the sacred language. Since then, I have reflected a great deal, and I will never regret having taught humanity the GOSPEL OF PETER, MAITHUNA, SEX-YOGA. And PATAR, PETER, says, “Behold, I lay in Zion the chief cornerstone, chosen and precious.” Therefore, to you who believe, he is precious; but to those who do not believe, the STONE that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
Samael Aun Weor
It is important to note that the list of apocryphal gospels may vary depending on the source and classification used. Furthermore, some of these gospels are only known through fragments or quotations in other ancient texts. For us Gnostics, these documents are important because they reveal the real existence of the perennial Gnostic philosophy, which is always manifested in all cultures through initiates prepared and capable of communicating the path of Salvation to the world.
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