History in the Bible 3.20 Gnowing Me, Gnowing You II: The Crusade of Valentinus
Sep 4, 2022
Explore the intriguing world of the Valentinian Gnostics, who flourished alongside early Christianity and welcomed female leadership. Discover how their literature, including the Gospels of Mary and Phillip, contrasts with orthodox texts. Delve into Valentinus’ unique views on duality in Christ and his reinterpretation of Pauline theology. The podcast navigates their eventual suppression and the recovery of lost Gnostic works, enriching our understanding of early religious diversity.
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Paul As Valentinian Model
- Valentinus found inspiration in Paul's mystical, revelatory emphasis rather than a human Jesus story.
- His movement elevated Paul as a revelatory figure and produced works like the Apocalypse of Paul.
Paul's Heavenly Ascent
- The Coptic Apocalypse of Paul depicts Paul ascending through seven heavens and encountering angels and gates.
- The text portrays Paul as chosen and revelatory, sometimes even more central than Jesus.
Two-Part Christology
- Some Valentinians taught a two-aspect Christ: a human Jesus inhabited temporarily by a Pleromic being.
- The divine spirit departs at crucifixion, leaving the human Jesus to suffer and die.