The Gnostic Bible: Gnostic Texts of Mystical Wisdom form the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

(Elliott) #1
LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM 285

giving life to whoever wanted it
so they might not die.

ADAM IN PARADISE


God planted a garden, and humans were placed
in the garden. They lived among many trees
with the blessing and in the image of god.
The things in it I will eat as I wish.
Here in this garden they will tell me,
"Eat this or do not eat that, just as you wish."
Here I will eat all things,
where the tree of knowledge is.^66
That tree killed Adam,
but here the tree of knowledge made us alive.
The law was the tree.
It has the power to give knowledge of good and evil.
It did not remove me from evil
or set me among the good.
It created death for those who ate it. When they said,
"Eat this or do not eat that," death began.

SUPERIORITY OF CHRISM TO BAPTISM


The chrism is superior to baptism.
From the word chrism we have been called Christians,
and surely not from the word baptism.
And because of the chrism Christ has his name.
The father anointed the son,
and the son anointed the messengers,
and the messengers anointed us.
Who has been anointed possesses everything:
resurrection, light, cross, holy spirit.
The father gave him this in the bridal chamber.
He merely accepted the gift.


  1. Partially restored.

Free download pdf