Lost Books of the Bible (186 page)

She was there when Jesus was crucified.

Mark 15:40: There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.

Matthew 27:56: Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

John 19:25: But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

She continued to believe in Jesus after he was killed.

Mark 15:47: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.

Matthew 27:61: And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

Matthew 28:1: Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

Mark 16:1: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.

She was the first to realize and announce the resurrection of Jesus.

John 20:1: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

Mark 16:9: Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.

John 20:18: Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.

Luke 24: But at daybreak on the first day of the week [the women] took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead?

He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words.

Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.

The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.

               It is the myth woven into the story of Mary that empowers her to us. To many, she is the captive, possessed, enslaved, caught in the midst of crime and tragedy, but  at once redeemed, set free, and loved by God himself. She is hope and triumph. She represents the power of truth and love to change the life of the lowest and most powerless of us. She is you and me in search of God.

The Reaction of Christendom

               Reaction to Gnosticism within the newly forming church was swift and bold. Beginning with a swelling defense in the New Testament itself, the writers began to define and defend doctrine. Labels, names, and descriptions of the Christian doctrine would be established later in various councils, but for now there would be decisive actions to fend off new ideas.

               Considering the fact that there were two main approaches to Gnosticism in the first and second centuries, the stoic-ascetic approach of self denial and the hedonistic-epicurean approach of self indulgence, we will find two criticisms mounted against Gnosticism in the Bible.  First we will examine the pronouncements against the more hedonistic sects.

2 Timothy 3 (King James Version)

 
1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

 
2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

 
3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

 
4
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

 
5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 
6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

 
7
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

               Keeping in mind the previous information and scripture given regarding the Gnostic sect of the Nicolaitanes, Timothy mounts an attack against Pagans and wayward Christians, including certain Gnostics, who had fallen into debauchery. The last line of the admonition targets what he sees as the Gnostic weakness of, “
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

              
One of the most difficult passages to apprehend is found in l John chapter 4, where the writer attempts to draw a fine line between what is the error in Gnostic theology and what is the full truth of Christ on earth according to orthodoxy.

1 John (King James Version)  

1 John 4

 
1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 
2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

 
3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

 
4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 
5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

 
6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

 
7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 
8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

 
9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

 
10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 
11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 
12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

 
13
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

 
14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 
15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

 
16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

 
17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

               With gentle and elegant words, John cuts to the bone, amputating the part of Christendom seen as heretical.

 
1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 
2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

 
3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.