The Sophia of Jesus Christ

The Sophia of Jesus Christ is one of many Gnostic tractates from the Nag Hammadi codices, discovered in Egypt in 1945. The title is somewhat coded, since although Sophia is Greek for wisdom, in a gnostic context, Sophia is the syzygy of Christ.

The Coptic manuscript itself has been dated to the 4th century, however, it is complemented by a few fragments in Greek dating from the 3rd century, implying an earlier date. The text has strong similarities to the Epistle of Eugnostos, which is also found in the Nag Hammadi codices, but with a Christian framing added, and expanding it somewhat.

The debate about dating is critical since some argue that they reflect the "true, recorded, sayings" of Jesus, which is possible should they date back as far as the first century. Others argue that they are in fact considerably later and an unreliable secondary source, at best post facto hearsay.

Curiously, the writings of four Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – are dated after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or later, placing them in the historical range some scholars identify for the gnostic writings. Therefore, one could conclude that the early Christians had a much different Bible than exists today. Some scholars believe the Gnostic texts were written later than the New Testament, wheras others think that they were earlier. Most scholars, however, think that the period of writing overlaps, with some gnostic texts earlier than some new testament texts (such as the Pastorals – Timothy and Titus) but later than others, and with other gnostic texts either pre-dating or post-dating the new testament.

Most scholars argue that the text is of Gnostic origin, based on the similarities between the mystical teachings found in the text itself and standard Gnostic themes. If the original tractate should date from the 1st century, we have a rare glimpse at a conversation between Jesus Christ and his disciples after his resurrection from the dead. Highly mystical, the content of this text concerns creation of gods, angels, and the universe with an emphasis on infinite and metaphysical truth.

The perfect saviour hath said: "Come (you) from things unseen unto the end of those that are seen, and the very emanation of Thought shall reveal unto you how faith in they which are unseen was found in them which are seen, they that belong to the Unbegotten Father. Whomsoever hath ears to hear, let him hear!"

— from The Sophia of Jesus Christ

The text is composed of 13 questions from the disciples, followed by brief discourses by Jesus in response.

• The first question concerns the vanity and futility of searching for god.
• The second concerns how to find truth, but only explaining what it is not.
• The third concerns how truth was revealed to the gnostics at the beginning of time.
• The fourth concerns how one must awake to see the truth.
• The fifth concerns how things began.
• The sixth concerns how mankind came to gnosis.
• The seventh concerns the position of Jesus in all this.
• The eigth concerns the identity of Jesus.
• The ninth concerns how the spirit connects to the material.
• The tenth concerns the number of spirits.
• The eleventh concerns the immortal.
• The twelth concerns those who are not material.
• The final question concerns where mankind came from and what purpose it should have.

External links

• A translation of this tractate can be seen at Sophia (http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sjc.html).
• PBS Article (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/pagels.html)