The Books Banned From the Bible: What Are the Gnostic Gospels?

- VIDEO NOTES

Elaine Pagels is an American historian of religion. She is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early Christianity and Gnosticism.

- LINKS

- TIMESTAMPS

00:00 What is a Gnostic Gospel?
04:51 How the Gnostic Gospels Were Discovered
10:36 Secret Knowledge & Teachings
18:01 Do the Gnostic Gospels Contradict the New Testament?
23:01 Was Jesus Sent to Save Us From an Evil God?
28:27 Was Paul the Only True Apostle?
31:16 Nuances in Marcion & Valentinus’ Writings
37:44 Concept of God the Mother
41:20 Is Jesus the Serpent in Genesis?
47:02 Spiritual Revelation Over Authority
50:37 Worshipping Bishops as Though They Were Gods
54:42 What People Should Keep in Mind About the Gnostic Gospels
57:20 Controversial Final Passages in Thomas
1:07:33 Elaine’s Book

- SPECIAL THANKS

A special thanks to my top-tier supporters on Patreon:

Tom Rindell
James Younger, DDS

- CONNECT

SOCIAL LINKS:

TikTok: @CosmicSkeptic

- CONTACT

Or send me something:

Alex O'Connor
Po Box 1610
OXFORD
OX4 9LL
ENGLAND

------------------------------------------

[mymom]

Glad to see you get actual Gnostics on here. This is a reminder to all: The Early Gnostics did not call themselves 'Gnostics' they considered themselves Christians and simply disagreed with the orthodoxy. According to the Apocrypha of John, the main Tragedy in the Gnostic Creation myth was Sophia (a child of the Original God) birthing the Demiurge (aka Yaldabaoth) without the consent of the original God. This was the tragedy instead of eating from the apple. I reccomend ESOTERICA as an introduction to the whole concepts its pretty interesting. 😊

[ucantstopme]

What I found pretty cool in this interview was that after nearly 50 yrs. of studying this, Dr. Pagels was excited and animated when discussing things...

[modernism]

I so admire Elaine Pagels. A renowened scholar, translator and author, she is willing to sit down with Alex for hours and explore, revisit, explain, and converse. She is centered in her experience and scholarship (and spirituality) yet also has such an open, friendly receptivity. What a great dialogue as was the prior one with the great Justin Sledge. Thank you!

[alexdenton]

Can you have Jesus on your podcast next time ?

I think it would answer a lot of questions

[bobbykontje]

I am a Muslim.... And I really really like to listening to Alex's podcasts and interviews. High intellectual with a pleasant voice and gentle but crticial approach.

[JoAnnChamness-xflq]

I met Elaine Pagel in 1995, she is wonderful. I use to mistake her for two other women in the community college who looked so much like her but their intellect wasn’t even close to our good lady Mrs. Elain PAGEL . .. . . What a Real Treat to listen to her here today . She captivated me back in the 1990’s and now here. Thank you 🙏 for this video .

[ionasmith]

I wonder how these older people feel about being approached by Alex who is so much younger to talk about their work. They must be so so happy to share their thoughts and feelings in a way they wouldn’t usually.

[MiraGabriel]

What a remarkable interview! Thank you so much, Alex! Dr. Pagels is an extraordinary soul - so interesting - and you asked her great questions!

[johnblanco]

I attended a prlvate Jesuit college. During a class on New Testament theology the class started debating Genesis with some blaming Eve for our world while others refused to do so. The priest ended the debate by writing The Gnostics on the chalk board and advising us to learn about them. The Jesuits were later decribed to me as the one's following the dark or black pope. That priest later left the Jesuit order in order to get married. It is likely he discovered the Gospel Of Phillip which led him down a different path. He passed away as a spiritual man which opened up to us this different path. Yes back in the 1970s. Later in life I met a pastor from a Disciples Of Christ who simply asked me if I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior which I replied yes. That pastor said congratulations you are ahead of the 90 percent of people here. Then he finally went on to say thank you we are here for you only if you need us. Spirituality and the gospel of thomas tells me and many others that The Kingdom is inside and outside of each of us. The fact that we have this 80 year old lady talking about this subject is truly a blessing.

[CatBahptista]

This lady is EIGHTY ONE YEARS YOUNG as of 2024!

Wow, she’s so sharp still. I wish my dad was too 🤍

[CindiCares]

Dr. Elaine Pagels!!!
You are exquisite in mind, spirit, and beauty! Such an honor to hear your voice and insights. I am grateful for your life's work!

[kevinmccabe]

What an incredible conversation. That woman is so learned and fascinating. Great post!

[Zachary_Setzer]

Having earned my degree in Religious Studies from UNC under Bart Ehrman, among others, it's very odd to hear a scholar dodge questions and say, "I'd prefer not to comment on that, " and, "I dont like that [source] very much" every time anything contrary to her poisition is raised.

Great interview Alex.

[Charlieismycat]

Great interview, very interesting topic and speaker.

(P.S: commentors be grateful for the podcast guest)

I notice some people complain about her not wishing to speak on certain topics. Bear in mind, her enthusiasm for the topic might not stem from the same place as yours, and that different angle for her curiosity is likely to be why she's dived so deep into these texts.

[redsoxexpat]

I could listen to this woman for days. So brilliant, yet so down to earth.

[jacquelinelucien]

I found this discussion extremely fascinating; it resonated with some of my own thoughts about religions and Bible texts. I have listened to it ten times, and each time I go back, I discover another gem. One takeaway: I feel the first trinity is a mother, father, and son, not a father, son, and a spirit.

[devilishegg]

I'm only 5 minutes in but I absolutely love the authentic joy Elaine has talking about the findings from 1945. It's so contagious, I love it. :)

[chadwood]

Mr. O'Connor and Mrs. Dr. Pagels, job well done. Enjoyed your conversation on many levels. It was intellectual, spiritually and emotionally fulfilling.

[agrav]

Thank you for this interview and introducing me to Elaine Pagels.

[AKAMustang]

Aww it's heart warming to see her eyes light up when you asked a sensible interesting question.