The Interpretation of Knowledge
Home > Gnostics > The Interpretation of Knowledge The Interpretation of Knowledge At a Glance Treatise Genre: (5/5) ***** Reliability of Dating: (5/5) ***** Length of Text: Greek Original Language: Ancient Translations: Modern Translations: Estimated Range of Dating: 150-200 A.D. Chronological List of Early Christian Writings Discuss this text on the Early Writings forum. Text The Interpretation of Knowledge Offsite Links French Translation Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia: The Interpretation of Knowledge The Nag Hammadi Library in English Nag Hammadi Codices XI, XII, XIII Two Schools and the Call to Reconciliation: Literary and Social Aspects of Moral Exhortation in the Interpretation of Knowledge Analysis of the Interpretation of Knowledge (NHC XI, 1) in the Context of the Gnostic Sect of Valentinianism Books Bentley Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures: A New Translation With Annotations and Introductions (Doubleday 1987) Marvin Meyer, ed., The Nag Hammadi Scriptures (HarperOne 2009) Birger A.
Pearson, Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions And Literature (Fortress Press 2007) Recommended Books for the Study of Early Christian Writings Information on the Interpretation of Knowledge Einar Thomassen writes, "That the outlook of the text is Gnostic is clear from the first page: 'The world [is the place of] unbelief [and death]' (1,36-38). The Gnostic tenor is also evident in a statement such as: 'While we were in the darkness, we used to call many people "father," because we were ignorant of the true Father. And this is the greatest of all sins' (9,35-37). More precisely, the tractate can be assigned to a Valentinian homiletic tradition on account of numerous parallels with other Valentinian texts: the distinction between faith and persuasion (p.
1) is also found in the Treatise on Resurrection; the statement that the Father knew his limbs from the beginning and will reveal them at the end (p. 2) is paralleled in the Gospel of Truth; the metaphor of the 'trace' (2,31) is found in the Gospel of Truth and the Tripartite Tractate; the image of the human being as an inn (pandokeion) inhabited by demons (p. 6) is used in a letter by Valentinus (Valentinus, frag. 2); the picturing of the Savior as schoolmaster teaching the true letters (9) is also found in the Gospel of Truth; the association of the Sabbath with the cosmos, and the interpretation of the Savior's 'work on the Sabbath' to retrieve the lost sheep as a metaphor for his incarnation and descent into the world (11) also occur in the Gospel of Truth; the Name (12) is a central Valentinian notion; the concern with avoiding jealousy (phthonos; 15ff.) is also found in the Gospel of Truth, the treatise on Resurrection, and other Valentinian sources; finally, on page 19 there even seem to be references to Church and Life, Valentinian names of aeons." (The Nag Hammadi Scriptures, pp.
651-652) Birger A. Pearson writes, "Nothing is known of the author of this tractate. It is clear that he was a learned exegete of the scriptures and used his teaching authority pastorally in addressing the needs of his community. Where and when he was active cannot be determined, but late second-century Alexandria is a good guess." (Ancient Gnosticism, p. 182) Some Contemporary Texts Justin Martyr (150-160 A.D.) Excerpts of Theodotus (150-180 A.D.) Heracleon (150-180 A.D.) Ascension of Isaiah (150-200 A.D.) Interpretation of Knowledge (150-200 A.D.) Testimony of Truth (150-200 A.D.) Acts of Peter (150-200 A.D.) Acts of John (150-200 A.D.) Acts of Paul (150-200 A.D.) Go to the Chronological List of all Early Christian Writings Please buy the CD to support the site, view it without ads, and get bonus stuff!
Early Christian Writings is copyright © Peter Kirby <E-Mail&gt. Follow @mrpeterkirby MLA Style Kirby, Peter. "The Interpretation of Knowledge." Early Christian Writings. <http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/interpretation.html>. Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Letters of Paul Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Letter to the Hebrews General Letters James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Gospels Gospel of Thomas Egerton Gospel Gospel of Peter Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel of Mary Epistula Apostolorum Infancy Gospel of James Infancy Gospel of Thomas Acts of Pilate Diatessaron Gospel Fragments Oxyrhynchus 1224 Fayyum Fragment Gospel of the Egyptians Gospel of the Hebrews Gospel of the Ebionites Gospel of the Nazoreans Traditions of Matthias Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony Apostolic Acts Preaching of Peter Acts of Peter Acts of John Acts of Paul Acts of Andrew Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Acts of Thomas Martyrologies Martyrdom of Polycarp Fifth and Sixth Books of Esra Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice Letter from Vienna and Lyons Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs Acts of Apollonius Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas Didache Apocalypse of Peter Didascalia Dialogues with Jesus Sophia of Jesus Christ Secret James Gospel of Mary Dialogue of the Savior Gospel of the Savior Books of Jeu Pistis Sophia Apocalypses 2nd Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Paul 1st Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Peter Acts Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Letter of Peter to Philip More Nag Hammadi Apocryphon of John Gospel of Truth Treatise on the Resurrection Gospel of Philip Trimorphic Protennoia Authoritative Teaching Discourse on the Eighth and the Ninth Melchizedek Quoted Authors Basilides Naassene Fragments Valentinus Marcion Epiphanes Ophite Diagrams Gospel of Judas More Quoted Authors Ptolemy Isidore Theodotus Heracleon Apelles Julius Cassianus Apostolic Fathers Didache Epistle of Barnabas First Clement Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Polycarp to the Philippians Second Clement Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus Martyrdom of Polycarp Apologists Aristides Justin Martyr Tatian Minucius Felix Athenagoras of Athens Theophilus of Antioch Quoted Authors Papias Quadratus Aristo of Pella Claudius Apollinaris Melito of Sardis Hegesippus Dionysius of Corinth Rhodon Theophilus of Caesarea More Quoted Authors Bardesanes Maximus of Jerusalem Polycrates of Ephesus Victor I Pantaenus Anonymous Anti-Montanist Serapion of Antioch Apollonius Caius Irenaeus of Lyons Hippolytus of Rome Clement of Alexandria Tertullian Origen Pagan and Jewish Mara bar Serapion Josephus Pliny the Younger Suetonius Tacitus Fronto Lucian of Samosata Marcus Aurelius Galen Celsus Talmud Philostratus Jewish/Christian The Twelve Patriarchs Non-Pagan Sibyllines Odes of Solomon Book of Elchasai Ascension of Isaiah Hypothesized Sources Passion Narrative Sayings Gospel Q Signs Gospel Anti-Marcionite Prologues Muratorian Canon Kerygmata Petrou Inscription of Abercias