The Books of Jeu and the Pistis Sophia as handbooks to eternity : : exploring the gnostic mysteries of the ineffable / / by Erin Evans.

• Superior document: Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, Volume 89
• VerfasserIn: Evans, Erin,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, Netherlands ;, Boston, [Massachusetts] : : Brill,, 2015.; ©2015
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Language: English
• Series: Nag Hammadi and Manichaean studies ; v. 89.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Despite the surge of interest in Gnostic texts following the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library, the Coptic Books of Jeu and Pistis Sophia remain understudied. Often dismissed as convoluted, confused, and repetitious, Erin Evans convincingly shows that these texts represent the writings of a distinct religious group with a consistent system of theology, cosmology, and ritual practice. This book offers an in-depth examination of these texts, their relationship to other contemporary Gnostic ideas, and their use in the context of a practicing religious group. Three thematic sections demonstrate how the collection of texts functions as a whole, covering baptisms and mystical ascent procedures, guides to moral living, and introductory texts and myths.

Table of Contents

Front Matter -- Introduction -- The First Book of Jeu -- The Second Book of Jeu -- Diagrams in the Books of Jeu -- 4 Pistis Sophia (a) -- Part 1: Summary -- 4 Pistis Sophia (b) -- 3 Pistis Sophia -- Part 2: Summary -- 1/2 Pistis Sophia -- The Pistis Sophia Myth -- Part 3: Summary -- Conclusions -- The Jeuian System: Cosmologies -- Ranks of the Treasury of Light (2 Jeu B32(70),4–B37(75),32): Full List -- Bibliography -- Index.