1. From the Apocryphon of James
2. From the Gospel of Philip
3. From the Gospel of Truth
4. From the Thunder, Perfect Mind
5. From the Apocryphon of John
6. From the Book of Thomas the Contender
7. From the Dialogue of the Saviour
8. The Sophia of Jesus Christ
9. From the Testimony of Truth
10. From the Book of Secrets
11. From the Teachings of Silvanus
12. From the Sentences of Sextus
13. From the Apocalypse of Peter
14. From Allogenes

The findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi collection of ancient texts have added much to the understanding of how the Christian Bible developed. With one exception (No. 10) our extracted text parts are from the Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of thirteen ancient codices with over fifty texts, discovered in upper Egypt in 1945. Other texts than our No. 10 have been found in caves near Qumran, where researches have identified about 800 different original manuscripts.

Gnosticism has been called a parallel philosophical-religious movement to Christianity. Gnosticism had its variegated ideas and doctrines that became quite popular throughout the Mediterranean world in the 100s and 200s AD. No specific origins of Gnosticism have been traced. [Source: Britannica Online: "Gnostic Texts"]

Moreover, in Gnosticism it was believed that the material cosmos was created by an imperfect god, frequently identified with Yahweh. There was also a superior entity, referred to by such as Godhead. The secret knowing, gnosis, was a form of esoteric knowledge for siding with the superior Godhead and thereby escaping from the world of matter.

Jesus of the Bible was identified by some Gnostic sects as a "false messiah".

Gnosticism spread in the Roman Empire and Persian Empire. Gnostic ideas became influential in movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries in Europe and North America. [See WP, "Gnosticism"]

Below are some utterances from the extant texts and fragments.

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From the Apocryphon of James

Translated by Ron Cameron

No one ever will enter the Kingdom of Heaven if I bid him . . .

Woe to those who have seen the Son of Man! Blessed are those who have not seen the Man . . . and who have not listened to anything from him.

The Coming One is able to mock you.

Know yourselves.

From Ron Cameron, The Other Gospels (Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1982), as quoted in Willis Barnstone, The Other Bible (Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1984). On-line: www.gnosis.org/naghamm/jam2.html

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From the Gospel of Philip

Translated by Wesley W. Isenberg

If man is saved, there will not be any sacrifices. And animals will not be offered to the powers.

Sons of God, wherever they may be, still have value in the eyes of their Father [Mod].

Before men were sacrificed [to the man-eater God], animals were being sacrificed.

An ass which turns a millstone did a hundred miles walking. When it was loosed, it found that it was still at the same place. . . . In vain have the wretches laboured.

The superiority of man is not obvious to the eye, but lies in what is hidden from view.

A bridal chamber is . . . for free men and virgins.

The "Holy of the Holies" is the bridal chamber.

The children of Adam worship animals.

Truth [can be] a life-eater.

A horse sires a horse [a mule too].

Thought consorts with thought.

It is not proper to cause anyone distress - whether the person is great or small, unbeliever or believer - and then give comfort only to those who take satisfaction in good deeds.

The one who fares well sometimes causes people distress . . . it is their own wickedness which is responsible for their distress.

He who possesses the qualities (of the perfect man) bestows joy upon the good. Some, however, are terribly distressed by all this.

There are many animals in the world which are in a human form. When he identifies them, to the swine he will throw acorns, to the cattle he will throw barley and chaff and grass, to the dogs he will throw bones. To the slaves he will give only the elementary lessons, to the children he will give the complete instruction.

Most things in the world, as long as their inner parts are hidden, stand upright and live. If they are revealed, they die . . .: When [a man's] intestines . . . come out of him, the man will die. So also with the tree: while its root is hidden, it sprouts and grows. If its root is exposed, the tree dries up.

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html

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From the Gospel of Truth

Translated by Robert M. Grant

Happy is the man who comes to himself and awakens.

From Robert M. Grant, Gnosticism (Harper & Brothers, New York, 1961), as quoted in Willis Barnstone, The Other Bible (Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1984). On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/got.html

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From the Thunder, Perfect Mind

Translated by George W. MacRae

Be on your guard!

I am . . . attainable to everyone.

I am the Truth.

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/thunder.html

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From the Apocryphon of John

Translated by Frederik Wisse

In [some] the despicable spirit has gained strength when they went astray. And he burdens the soul and draws it to the works of evil, and he casts it down into forgetfulness.

Guard yourself against what leads into poverty and chaos and all those who ensnare you. [Mod]

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/thunder.html

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From the Book of Thomas the Contender

Translated by John D. Turner

If the things that are visible to you are obscure to you, how can you hear about the things that are not visible?

Thomas: 'Many are [...] those who do not know [...] soul.".

Thomas: What shall we say to blind men? (etc.)?" The saviour said, "Do not esteem them as men, but regard them as beasts . . . They are deprived of the kingdom . . . And they rejoice over [...] madness and derangement [...] They pursue this derangement without realizing their madness.

We realize in our heart.

Woe to you, godless ones, who have no hope, who rely on things that will not happen!

Woe to you who hope in the flesh and in the prison that will perish! . . . You are corrupting your souls!

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/bookt.html

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From the Dialogue of the Saviour

Translated by Stephen Emmel

When you see the Eternal Existent, that is the great vision.

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/dialog.html

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The Sophia of Jesus Christ

Translated by Douglas M. Parrott

He Who Is is ineffable.

Eternal is blessed.

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sjc.html

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From the Testimony of Truth

Translated by Søren Giversen and Birger A. Pearson

The foolish think in their heart that if they confess, "We are Christians" in word only . . . they will live, when they are (really) in error.

Selection made from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/testruth.html

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From the Book of Secrets

Provided by The Dead Sea Scroll Collection at The Gnostic Society Library

Who wants his money to be stolen by a wicked man?

On-line:
www.gnosis.org/library/bks.htm

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From the Teachings of Silvanus

Translated by Malcolm L. Peel and Jan Zandee

Arm yourself.

The Wicked One . . . is a tyrant.

Protect yourself.

The rational nature will guide you in rational ways. Turn toward the rational nature.

How will you be able to comprehend the schemes of . . . soul-killing counsel?.

Malicious man harms his heart.

Do not trust anyone as a friend, . . . each one is seeking his own advantage.

Enlighten your mind with the light of heaven.

My son, guard yourself against wickedness.

Entrust yourself to reason.

God does not need to put any man to the test.

Open the door . . . that the Word may open for you.

Knock on for yourself, benefiting yourself. [Mod].

Help yourself, . . . (by) not proceeding with things in which there is no profit.

The right way is always profitable. [Mod].

Gist from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. San Franciso: HarperCollins, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/silvanus.html

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From the Sentences of Sextus

Translated by Frederik Wisse

A wise man is a doer of good works . . . (176).

Do not become guilty of your own death. (321).

Know what is fitting for the fortunate man to do. (343/344).

Speak when it is not proper to be silent, [about] things you know (only (161/162).

Gist from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. San Franciso: HarperCollins, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sent.html

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From the Apocalypse of Peter

Translated by James Brashler and Roger A. Bullard

The guileless, good, pure one they push to the worker of death.

There shall be others . . . who name themselves bishop and also deacons, as if they have received their authority from God. They bend themselves under the judgement of the leaders. Those people are dry canals.

Gist from James M. Robinson, ed. The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. San Franciso: HarperCollins, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/apopet.html

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From Allogenes

Translated by John D. Turner and Orval S. Wintermute

Cease seeking incomprehensible matters.

I saw the light that surrounded me and the Good that was in me, I became divine.

Gist from James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition. San Franciso: HarperCollins, 1990. On-line:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/allogene.html