The Second Treatise of the Great Seth

Background 2 nd century text 2 nd century text Discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945 Discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945 Along with Gospel of Thomas and other Gnostic texts Along with Gospel of Thomas and other Gnostic texts Special form of Gnosticism, called “Docetism” Special form of Gnosticism, called “Docetism” From Greek, “to appear” From Greek, “to appear” Jesus only appears to be human, does not die Jesus only appears to be human, does not die Negative view of the body—why? Negative view of the body—why?

Gnosticism Many different forms Many different forms Some Christian, some not Some Christian, some not “Panreligious”: combined different cultural and religious beliefs (Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Jewish), scripture and philosophy “Panreligious”: combined different cultural and religious beliefs (Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Jewish), scripture and philosophy Focus on elaborate myths: what are divine beings like? What is the world like? Focus on elaborate myths: what are divine beings like? What is the world like? Salvation happens through attaining special, secret knowledge (“gnosis”) Salvation happens through attaining special, secret knowledge (“gnosis”) Elite, dualistic Elite, dualistic

Cosmology 1 st person voice: Christ talking to his “kindred and fellow spirits” 1 st person voice: Christ talking to his “kindred and fellow spirits” Impossible for others to know the high God (“Father of Truth”) Impossible for others to know the high God (“Father of Truth”) Descends from heavenly assembly to “Ennoias” (thoughts), to creation Descends from heavenly assembly to “Ennoias” (thoughts), to creation Ennoia = emanation of thought from divinity, falls into world Ennoia = emanation of thought from divinity, falls into world Pleroma is the realm of other semi-divinities, like Sophia, a goddess of wisdom Pleroma is the realm of other semi-divinities, like Sophia, a goddess of wisdom Cosmos governed by “archons” = spiritual powers at war Cosmos governed by “archons” = spiritual powers at war God of creation, the Cosmocrator (God of OT!), at odds with Father of Truth God of creation, the Cosmocrator (God of OT!), at odds with Father of Truth

Christology Christ inhabited a “bodily dwelling” Christ inhabited a “bodily dwelling” Kicked out the human soul already in it Kicked out the human soul already in it Only inhabited body, didn’t unite his spirit to it Only inhabited body, didn’t unite his spirit to it Did not die in reality, but in appearance Did not die in reality, but in appearance God of creation tried to kill him (!) God of creation tried to kill him (!) Another man, Simon of Cyrene, carried the cross and was crucified (a switch-a-roo) Another man, Simon of Cyrene, carried the cross and was crucified (a switch-a-roo) None of the Jewish patriarchs knew him None of the Jewish patriarchs knew him

Gender Ambivalence “Do not become female” “Do not become female” Associated with body, giving birth Associated with body, giving birth Less god-like than the male Less god-like than the male Here, actually associated with evil and vice Here, actually associated with evil and vice So, what is “male” and masculinity? So, what is “male” and masculinity? “Female” and “male” are spiritual qualities, but does it carry over to real men and women? “Female” and “male” are spiritual qualities, but does it carry over to real men and women? Yet, Christ is also associated with motherhood Yet, Christ is also associated with motherhood There is complementarity among the divinities: both masculine and feminine, father and mother There is complementarity among the divinities: both masculine and feminine, father and mother

For Wednesday Reading is on course website (not e- reserve, sorry!) Reading is on course website (not e- reserve, sorry!) How does Marcion contrast the “Father” and the “Creator”? Why? How does Marcion contrast the “Father” and the “Creator”? Why? Do you think Marcion’s ideas are still present among Christians today? If so, where and how? Do you think Marcion’s ideas are still present among Christians today? If so, where and how?