No Longer Jews The Search for Gnostic Origins First Edition by Carl Smith ISBN 978-1565639447 1565639448

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ISBN 10:  1565639448

ISBN 13: 978-1565639447

Author: Carl B. Smith

Where, when, and how did Gnosticism arise? What exactly is Gnosticism? There is no scholarly consensus on these questions. No Longer Jews reviews the theories about Gnosticism and its sources and details Smith’s hypothesis, offering an excellent introductory text on Gnosticism.
In addition to examining the development of Gnosticism, this book addresses issues of New Testament development and the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism as they interact in the late first and early second centuries.

Carl Smith starts with a lucid and incisive survey of the secondary materials on Gnosticism and explains various understandings of the development of Gnosticism. He defines Gnosticism by its unique anti-cosmic dualism between material things (evil), vs. spiritual things (good) and also explores both Gnosticism’s probable close relationship with Judaism and its rejection of the Creator God of the Old Testament.

After an extensive survey of the issues, Smith provides his own conclusions: first, that an early second-century dating for Gnosticism is most consistent with the historical details of the period; and second, that Egypt following the Jewish Revolt under Trajan (115–117 CE) provides a ripe context for Gnosticism’s most unique and definitive innovation, the rejection of the cosmos and the Creator God of the Jews. He argues that individuals closely connected with Judaism—whether Jews, Jewish Christians, or gentile God-fearers—may have responded to the rebellion by rejecting the God and religion that inspired this apocalyptic and messianic ferment. “No longer Jews,” they were now free to follow a higher God and way of life.

“The date of the origin of Gnosticism is still much disputed, even after the publication of the Nag Hammadi texts. There is, however, a general recognition by scholars of the significant Jewish elements in Gnosticism, though often used polemically, and a consensus that Gnosticism probably emerged in Egypt. Carl Smith presents a persuasive case for identifying the historical context which may have induced disillusioned Jews to contribute to the origins of Gnosticism in the revolt of the Jews in Cyrene and Egypt under Trajan. Even those who may not agree with Smith’s conclusions will appreciate the lucid manner in which he has expounded the issues and the evidences for emergent Gnosticism.” —Edwin Yamauchi, Professor, Ancient History, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

“Carl Smith has revisited a contentious and important question that has profound implications not only for our understanding of Gnostic origins, but its relationship to Judaism and Christianity in late antiquity. Smith’s readable book carefully reviews the competing theories and proposes a judicious explanation that fits well a particular time and place in history. I recommend it enthusiastically!” —Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, Acadia Divinity College

Table of contents: 

Chapter 1: Definitions of Gnosticism and Theories of

Gnostic Origins

Definitions of Gnosticism

Attempts at Definitions

Anticosmic Dualism: The Unique Feature of Gnosticism

Conclusion on Definitions

Theories of Gnostic Origins

Gnosticism as a Christian Heresy

Gnosticism as a Product of Iranian Dualism

Gnosticism as a Product of Platonic Philosophical Thought

Gnosticism as a Product of Hermeticism

Gnosticism as a Product of Pagan Religious Syncretism

Gnosticism as a Product of Jewish Speculation

Chapter 2: Gnostic Origins: Jewish Social and Political Crises

The Hasmonean Period-Douglas Parrott

First-Century Palestine and Syria-Kurt Rudolph

The First Jewish Revolt (66-74 C.E.)-Robert M. Grant

The Period between the Jewish Revolts (70-135 С.Е.) –

Nils Dahl

The Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 C.E.)-Edwin Yamauchi,

Stephen G. Wilson, and Alan Segal

The Theory of Edwin Yamauchi

The Theory of Stephen G. Wilson

The Theory of Alan Segal

Focus toward Egypt-Birger A. Pearson and Henry A. Green

The Theory of Birger A. Pearson

The Theory of Henry A. Green

Concluding Thoughts

Chapter 3: The Jewish Revolt under Trajan: A Historical Reconstruction and Its Implications

Historiography of the Revolt

Causes of the Jewish Revolt

Prehistory and Political Causes

Socioeconomic Causes

Religious Causes

Analysis and Reconstruction of the Revolt

Effects of the Revolt

Effects upon the Romans

Effects upon the Native Populations

Effects upon the Jewish Communities of Egypt

Effects upon the Christians

Chapter 4: Chronological and Geographical Considerations for Gnostic Origins

The Chronology of “Gnostic” Teachers

General Statements on Gnostic Origins

Simon Magus of Samaria (fl. 40-65? С.Е.)

Menander of Samaria (late 1st to early 2d c. C.E.)

Cerinthus of Asia Minor (late 1st to early 2d c. C.Е.)

Carpocrates of Alexandria (Egypt; 120s C.E.) and Epiphanes

Saturninus of Antioch (Syria; 120s C.E.?)

Basilides of Alexandria (Egypt; 120-150s C.E.)

Later Gnostic Teachers

Observations and Conclusions

The Chronology of Polemical Works Related to Gnosticism

Early Christian Polemics and Gnosticism

Jewish Polemics and Gnosticism

Middle Platonism and Its Polemic against Gnosticism

Gnostic Polemics and Gnostic Origins

Chapter 5: Sethian Gnosticism, the Geography of Heresy, and a Proposal for Gnostic Origins

Sethian Gnosticism-The Immovable Race

Geography Related to Sethian Gnosticism Egyptian Seth and the Immovable Race of Seth

The Geography of the Gnostic “Heresy” Samaria Syro-Palestine

Asia Minor

Egypt

The Religious Context of Egypt Prior to the Jewish Revolt of 115-117 C.E. Judaism and Christianity

Judaism in Egypt Prior to the Jewish Revolt

Christianity in Egypt Prior to the Jewish Revolt

A Proposal of Gnostic Origins-“How It Might Have Happened”

Gnosticism’s Rise among Alienated Jewish Intellectuals

Gnosticism’s Rise from within Jewish Christianity

Platonic Converts to Judaism or Jewish Christianity

Summary of Proposals and Conclusion

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