Summary of the Forbidden Coptic Books
By: Elias Makarios, June, 2025
The so-called “Coptic books” refer to a set of ancient texts discovered primarily in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in 1945. Written in Coptic — an Egyptian language using the Greek alphabet — many of these books contain Gnostic teachings and were excluded from the official Bible.
These texts offer alternate versions of Biblical events, often more esoteric and inwardly focused. Below is a summary of some of the most notable works:
1. The Gospel of Thomas
Rather than recounting Jesus’s life, it presents 114 sayings attributed to him. It emphasizes that the Kingdom is within and that inner knowledge leads to salvation.
2. The Gospel of Philip
Notable for referencing Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s companion. It explores sexual and spiritual symbolism in sacraments, especially the “sacred marriage.”
3. The Gospel of Truth
Portrays Jesus as a Gnostic revealer whose purpose was to awaken human souls. The focus is not on his death or resurrection but on liberation through awareness.
4. The Apocalypse of Peter (Coptic version)
Offers a vision of the afterlife that diverges from the canonical Revelation. It critiques institutional religion and suggests that many believers misunderstand suffering and redemption.
5. The Book of Thomas the Contender
A dialogue between Jesus and Thomas urging the transcendence of the material world and recognition of inner divinity. Its tone is philosophical and mystical.
Final Reflection
These texts were excluded from the New Testament due to contradictions with orthodox Church teachings. Yet they offer a glimpse into early Christian diversity — many branches of which valued direct personal knowledge of the divine over external authority.
Exploring them need not imply agreement but signals a willingness to understand a more layered and pluralistic spiritual history.
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