Gnosis and mysticism as illustrated by Eugnostos the Blessed

Authors

• Jørgen Podemann Sørensen

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67141

Keywords:

Gnosticism, Greek language -- Terms -- Gnosis, Mysticism, Eugnostos the Blessed, Philosophy

Abstract

The Letter of Eugnostos or Eugnostos the Blessed as the text is usually called, has come down to us in two copies, one in NagHammadi Codex III and another less well preserved in Codex V. The text has aroused considerable interest as a possible sample of so-called pre-christian gnosis. Writing under the programmatic name Eugnostos and the more common Makarios, the author addresses his pupils or adepts to teach them about god. He starts by refuting three propositions about the nature of the world which to him represent the basic shortcomings of contemporary philosophy, or perhaps of philosophy as such: (1) the world is governed by itself, (2) by a providence, or (3) is subject to predestination. His refutation is neither philosophical in the proper sense of that word, nor does it deal with the implications of these propositions in detail: That which is from itself leads an empty life, providence is foolish, and that which is subject to destiny or fate is something that does not attain knowledge. According to Eugnostos, real insight is not reached through philosophy; what matters is to be able to refute the propositions of philosophy and by means of another proposition to gain access to and reveal the god of truth. The attainment of this, he says, means to be immortal amidst the mortals.