The Gnostic Paul

This book is much less about the author's overall views than about a close reading of Paul's Epistles. For a religious scholar, this may be very interesting. For a lay reader, not so much.

THE GNOSTICPAUL:GNOSTIC EXEGESIS OF DE PAULINE LETTERS

In this highly original work, Elaine Pagels demonstrates how evidence from gnostic sources may challenge the assumption that Paul writes his letters to combat "gnostic opponents" and to repudiate their claims to secret wisdom. Drawing upon evidence from the gnostic exegesis of Paul, including several Nag Hammadi texts, the author examines how gnostic exegetes cite and interpret key passages in the letters they consider Pauline -1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Hebrews. Besides offering new insight into controversies over Paul in the second century, this analysis of gnostic exegesis suggests a new perspective for Pauline study, challenging students show more and scholars to recognize the presuppositions-hermenuetical and theological-involved in their own reading of Pauls letters. Elaine H. Pagels is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton Uni show less