The Gnostic Scriptures

Bentley Layton's The Gnostic Scriptures is the one indispensable book for the understanding of Gnosis and Gnosticism. No other translations are within light-years of Layton's in eloquence, pathos, and accuracy while no other commentaries match his as an introduction to this perpetually relevant religious stance. Layton is particularly brilliant in his appreciation of Valentinus, the central Gnostic visionary, whose Gospel of Truth is marvelously served in this translation' (Harold Bloom). `This volume, which presents nearly all the relevant texts in a new English translation, is to be warmly welcomed. One particularly valuable feature is that Layton has included translations of all the relevant sections from patristic sources to place alongside the Gnostic texts themselves. As well as translating the texts, Layton has also given extended introductions to the various writings, dealing with different facets of Gnostic studies and placing the texts in their (possible) historical contexts. The result is an extremely useful resource for studying these Gnostic writings' (Kings Theological Review). …