The Gnostic Gospels of Nag Hammadi, An Inclusive Rather Than Exclusive Spirituality

In December 1945 a collection of ancient scriptures -- fifty-two books -- was unearthed near the village of Nag Hammadi in Egypt. These texts had been placed in a clay storage jar, sealed, and buried sometime during the Fourth Century AD. Monks who lived at a nearby monastery founded by Saint Pachomius most likely hid them there at the time. They would have been sacred texts once part of the library of this monastic community, one of several Pachomian monasteries operating in Egypt during those days.

Rather than confining themselves to only reading the Old and New Testaments or teachings exclusively from Orthodox Christian sources, these monks had a surprisingly diverse collection of writings that can only be characterized as inter-faith and multi-traditional. In other words, they were also studying the scriptures of other teachers, sages, religions and “cousin” esoteric mystical movements of their day.

“And there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing buried that will not be raised!” (Saying of Jesus, Greek Gospel of Thomas)