1. Gnosticism The Quest for Knowledge

2. Why is Gnosticism hard to grasp? A belief system Lack of central organization Lack of linear progression

3. Discovery of Gnostic Documents Gnostic documents discovered 1945 Muhammad ‘Ali al- Samnan Smuggling scandal

5. Main Gnostic Tenets The Godhead and the dyad The Universe as a prison Knowledge

6. Gnosis Ignorance Spark of Divine

7. Jesus – Man or God? Reject Jesus’ divinity Reject Resurrection Divine spirit

9. Gnosticism v. Christianity Gnosticism not as popular Jesus Personal error Elitism

10. The Challenge of Gnosticism Alternate path Gnosis contradicted the Church institution

11. The Gnostic Gospels Written 150-300 years after Jesus’ death Not important for historical records Theological notions

12. First Gnostic Reference “The cover read: The Gnostic Gospels. Teabing heaved it open, and Langdon and Sophie joined him. Sophie could see it contained photographs of what appeared to be magnified passages of ancient documents – tattered papyrus with handwritten text. ‘These are photocopies of the Nag Hammadi and Dead Sea scrolls, which I mentioned earlier,’ Teabing said. ‘The earliest Christian records. Troublingly, they do not match up with the gospels in the Bible.’” Chapter 58, p. 245-246

13. Mistakes in the Section Calls Nag Hammadi documents “scrolls” Should not be titled “The Gnostic Gospels” Not “earliest Christian records”

14. Lutzer, Edward Ecumenical point of view Discussion of Gnostic Gospel of Philip

15. Lutzer’s Interpretation of Philip “The companion is Mary of Magdala. Jesus loved her more than his students. He kissed her often on the ______, more than all his students, and they said, ‘Why do you love her more than us?’” facehandmouthcheek

16. Brown’s Interpretation of Philip “And the companion of the Savior is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on the mouth. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, ‘Why do you love her more than all of us?’” Chapter 58, p. 246

17. Lutzer’s Interpretation: Implications Blank where scholars fill in face Implies that Jesus kissed the other disciples in the same way

18. The Aramaic Problem “The words surprised Sophie, and yet they hardly seemed conclusive. ‘It says nothing of marriage.’ ‘Au contraire.’ Teabing smiled, pointing to the first line. ‘As any Aramaic scholar will tell you, the word companion, in those days, literally meant spouse.’” Chapter 58, p. 246

19. The Aramaic Problem Brown’s claims about Aramaic scholars, “companion” Gnostic Gospels are written in Coptic Differences between Aramaic and Coptic

20. The Word “Companion” “any Aramaic scholar” could not tell a Coptic word “companion” frequently used for friendship

21. Gnosticism and The Da Vinci Code

22. Brown’s Claims About Hieros Gamos Alleged sex rite Sophie witnesses Male was incomplete without knowledge of sacred feminine Hieros Gamos to achieve gnosis

23. The Truth About Hieros Gamos “Sacred marriage” - Greek Success and fertility of the land Only proper name for agricultural areas who reenact Inconsistent with Gnostic beliefs

24. Misinterpretations Apparent expertise Some believe Brown is Gnostic Little serious research