Theos-Talk Archives (January 1995 Message tl00159)

Point Loma Publications has recently issued a new book:

H.P.  BLAVATSKY, ON THE GNOSTICS Compiled and annotated by H.J.
Spierenburg, 1994, xiv + 308 pp.  $12.50 [I believe!], paperback.

Dr.  Spierenburg has compiled in one volume almost everything
H.P.B.  wrote about the Gnostics.  The book is divided into the
following sections: *HPB's Genealogy of the Gnostics*The Corpus
Hermeticum*The Essenes and Therapeutes*The Nazarenes*The
Ebionites*The Story of Simon Magus*The System of Simon
Magus*Saturninus*The Docetae*The Carpocratians*The Cerinthians*
The Marcionites*The Basilideans*The Valentinians*The
Marcosians*Bardesanes* The Ophites*The Pistis Sophia.

Although no a book for the beginning student of Theosophy, still
a valuable work.

A helpful introduction on the subject of Gnosticism is Kurt
Rudolph's GNOSIS: THE NATURE AND HISTORY OF GNOSTICISM, first
published

GNOSIS: THE NATURE AND HISTORY OF GNOSTICISM, 1984, 1987.  xii +
411 pp.  Kurt Rudolph is an internationally recognized authority
on Gnosticism.

This book gives an up-to-date overview of the history of
Gnosticism, of the various teachings of the Gnostics, etc.

And, of course, the best anthology of Gnostic texts is THE NAG
HAMMADI LIBRARY, general editor, James M.  Robinson: "The
definitive new translation of the Gnostic scriptures, complete in
one volume." xvi + 549 pp.

One might also consult 2 translations of THE PISTIS SOPHIA: (1)
G.R.S.  Mead's revised translation published 1921 and (2) C.
Schmidt and Violet MacDermot's version, published 1978.

Wizards Bookshelf, San Diego has reprinted several works on
Gnosticism and Hermeticism used by H.P.  Blavatsky in THE SECRET
DOCTRINE.

Where to obtain copies of these works listed above? Order from
your local bookstore or borrow a copy from your local library.
Also Jerry H.-E.  on Theos-l Network is a bookseller and can
obtain what you need.

Daniel