Pistis sophia. A gnostic gospel (with extracts from the books of the saviour appended)

the confusion surrounding Gnosticism remains largely difficult to manage. It refuses to be organized even by the most hardworking and careful research.

The reason for this lack of success is not just the small amount of material available. It is also due to the inherent difficulty of the subject itself. Gnosticism is filled with very complex mysticism. It is also tied to magic, mystery, and sometimes various forms of sorcery. It is not surprising that no single writer has truly solved the problem. Most modern scholars do not believe in magic of any kind and dislike anything connected to mysticism. Except perhaps for King, who tried in a very weak way, no one has really tackled the issue. The viewpoint of most open-minded scholars on this forbidden subject can be seen in the remarks of Dr. Gaster. He suggests that magic should be treated like folklore. In the introduction to The Sword of Moses, he writes:

"It is remarkable that we do not have a good work or an exhaustive study on the history and development of magic. It is true that we find references to it, and sometimes chapters on charms, incantations, and superstitious customs in books about various nations. However, a full study of magic is still just a hopeful wish."

Even if a bold scholar attempted such a task, the result would likely be mere guesswork. It would have no real value unless the writer not only possessed scholarship but also believed in and understood the art of magic.

To explain Gnosticism in a way that truly makes sense, one needs a writer who at least believes that magic is possible. They must also be a mystic, or at least sympathetic to mysticism. Such a person is hard to find today. The very names of magic and mysticism usually cause scholars and scientists to smile with contempt or frown in disapproval.

The current Introduction, however, is only concerned with the historical and critical side of the subject. Even this is limited to the study of a single document.

the best method of Gnostic doctors.

It would be very bold to try to define Gnosticism without first analyzing and labeling all the different schools and sects. However, we can suggest the likely viewpoint that led the best Gnostic teachers, especially Valentinus, to write their books. Let us look at the movement around the year 150 A.D. By that time, the original Logia Sayings of Jesus or the Urevangelium Original Gospel of Christianity had disappeared. The Synoptic Gospels were already placed within the framework of the traditional life of the Master. The popular growth of the new religion had come entirely from Jewish tradition. It was bringing a more universal view of Christianity into a state of intolerance and exclusiveness. This same narrowness had defined the Hebrew nation throughout its history.

This surprising situation attracted the attention of thinkers who were trained in philosophy. They were also filled with the spirit of universal theosophy divine wisdom and a knowledge of the inner teachings of ancient religions. These men believed they saw a similarity of doctrine in the Christian Gospel that matched the inner teachings of ancient faiths. They tried to stop the narrow and exclusive trends they saw developing among less educated believers. These believers valued faith over knowledge to such a degree that they openly condemned all other religions and laughed at philosophy and education.