The Lost Gospels

The speaker recounts his personal journey with the New Testament and how he later discovered that it represents only a fraction of early Christian texts. He explains that discoveries in the Egyptian deserts revealed over 20 gospels, 15 apocalypses, and nearly 50 other texts about Jesus from the first 400 years after his death. The video aims to explore why only a select few made it into the New Testament and how different these lost gospels were, potentially altering the course of Christianity.

The journey begins in Alexandria, Egypt, home to Bishop Athanasius. In 367 AD, Athanasius issued his 39th letter, which controversially listed the 27 books now forming the New Testament canon. He explicitly stated that only these books were approved as scripture, effectively condemning a wealth of other Christian literature, including gospels attributed to Mary, Philip, and Peter. This edict was a groundbreaking moment, marking the first time a church leader dictated which books were to be tolerated, thereby shaping Christian doctrine for centuries.

The narrative shifts to the desert near Nag Hammadi, where a significant discovery was made in December 1945. Seven farmhands uncovered a jar containing 13 codices (papyrus books) with over 50 individual works from early Christianity, many previously unknown. These manuscripts, dating to the 4th century but potentially composed earlier, revealed a Jesus unrecognizable from the traditional New Testament account—a Jesus who didn't die, took revenge, and kissed Mary Magdalene on the mouth. These texts offered alternative visions of Jesus and Christianity, providing new perspectives on early Christian belief systems.

Among the Nag Hammadi texts, the Gospel of Thomas stands out. Attributed to 'doubting Thomas,' it is a collection of 114 sayings of Jesus, unique for its lack of narrative about his death or resurrection. The gospel's emphasis is on deciphering cryptic sayings to gain secret knowledge (gnosis) and achieve eternal life, a concept championed by Gnostic Christians. This contrasted sharply with traditional Christian belief that salvation is for all through faith in Jesus's death and resurrection. The esoteric nature of Thomas's gospel and its dismissal of Jesus's physical resurrection made it subversive to early church leaders, especially those facing persecution, as it offered no reassurance to martyrs.

The discussion moves to the role of women in early Christianity, particularly Mary Magdalene. Contrary to her traditional depiction as a repentant sinner, the lost gospels, especially the Gospel of Philip and the Gospel of Mary, portray her as a prominent and influential disciple, even suggesting an intimately close relationship with Jesus. The Gospel of Philip contains a controversial passage where Jesus is said to have kissed Mary Magdalene, leading to speculation about their relationship. The Gospel of Mary further shows Peter's hostility towards Mary's perceived elevated status among the disciples, highlighting a power struggle between men and women for leadership in the early church. Archaeological evidence from Roman catacombs corroborates that women held more prominent roles in early Christian communities than later traditions suggest.

The video delves into the debate about Jesus's nature—human or divine. The Gospel of Peter, although attributed to Jesus's most trusted disciple, was deemed heretical because it suggested Jesus did not truly suffer or die on the cross. This reflects the Docetic view, where Jesus only 'appeared' to be human, and his suffering was an illusion. This idea was controversial because it undermined the central Christian belief in Jesus's redemptive death and resurrection. The discovery of this gospel in 1886 provided tangible evidence of differing Christological views in the early church.

On the opposite end of the Christological spectrum were the Ebionites, Jewish Christians who believed Jesus was a mere mortal, born from the sexual union of Mary and Joseph. They rejected the virgin birth and believed Jesus became the son of God during his baptism. Their gospel, a modified version of Matthew, emphasized Jesus's humanity and adherence to Jewish law, which clashed with the evolving Orthodox view that Jesus was both truly human and truly divine. Their beliefs were condemned as heresy because they were seen to compromise the efficacy of Jesus's role in salvation.

The segment introduces Marcian, a radical figure who proposed a revolutionary concept: there were two gods. One was the wrathful, judgmental God of the Old Testament, creator of the world, and the other, a loving and merciful 'God the Stranger' revealed by Jesus. Marcian completely rejected the Old Testament and compiled his own canon, consisting only of parts of Luke's Gospel and some letters of Paul, edited to remove Jewish influence. His extreme anti-Jewish stance and creation of a closed canon before the New Testament was established created shockwaves, forcing early church leaders to formalize their own list of sacred texts to counter his influence.

The culmination of these debates led to the formation of the New Testament canon. Several factors influenced the selection of texts: their ability to sustain Christians facing persecution (favoring those that emphasized suffering and resurrection), and perceived apostolic authorship. While some apostolic attributions were clear, others, like Matthew and John, were based on tradition rather than explicit claims within the texts. Texts like the Shepherd of Hermas and the Book of Revelation faced intense debate before their inclusion. The drive for unity within the church, particularly after Emperor Constantine's conversion, also played a crucial role. A coherent, widely accepted set of scriptures was essential for the faith's survival and its role in unifying the Roman Empire. Ultimately, texts supported by the Roman Church gained prominence, leading to the gradual consensus around the 27 books of the New Testament.

The video concludes by reflecting on the lasting impact of the canonical selection and the disappearance of the 'lost gospels.' Many forbidden gospels were destroyed or simply ceased to be reproduced. While the New Testament contains diverse theological viewpoints, the formation of the canon established boundaries for acceptable belief. The irony is that while a more tolerant and diverse Christianity might seem appealing today, this strict orthodoxy was vital for the fledgling religion's survival. Had the early church not asserted a unified doctrine and canon, Christianity itself might have faded into obscurity.