Interpretation of Knowledge
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The Interpretation of Knowledge is an gnostic tractate of the Nag Hammadi library placed in Codex XI.[1][2][3]
Content overview
The text gives an insight of Christian congregations of both gnostic and non-gnostics living together. However, strong enmity between these groups grow because of division and authoritative possession of spiritual gifts such as prophecy and high authority over congregational groups.[4]
The author coinciding with the gnostics, in fear of division, addressed a group who feel they are separated or discriminated. The author preaches to them of envy. Particularly referring to the New Testament, the author mentions familiarities with the Pauline epistles about the body of Christ as a unity. The author points out that each and everyone is just as important as the other person.[4]
Manuscripts
Only two tractates were copied by the first scribal hand of Codex XI. Only the one tractate (21, 35) has the full title displayed at the end of the text on the back of a partially preserved flyleaf. The condition of the text is poor, making it difficult to actually determine the correlation of the title and the incipit.[5]
References
Citations
- ↑ Gregory, p. 383.
- ↑ Dunderberg 2013.
- ↑ Layton 1980.
- 1 2 Broek 2013, pp. 106 & 107.
- ↑ Robinson 2000, p. 21.
Bibliography
- Broek, Roelof Van Den (2013). Gnostic Religion in Antiquity. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107031371.
- Dunderberg, Ismo O. (2013). Beyond Gnosticism: Myth, Lifestyle, and Society in the School of Valentinus. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231512596.
- Gregory, Andrew (2003). The Reception of Luke and Acts in the Period Before Irenaeus: Looking for Luke in the Second Century. Mohr Siebeck Publishers. ISBN 9783161480867.
- Layton, Bentley (1980). The Rediscovery of Gnosticism. BRILL. ISBN 9789004061767.
- Robinson, James McConkey (2000). The Coptic Gnostic Library: A Complete Edition of the Nag Hammed Codices. BRILL. ISBN 9789004117020.