Books The Nag Hammadi Library by James M. Robinson (Author)

The Nag Hammadi Library, edited and translated by James M. Robinson, is a collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts discovered near Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945. These writings vary widely in origin, authorship, and viewpoints, reflecting diverse religious and philosophical traditions from the early centuries AD. The texts provide insight into Gnostic beliefs, emphasizing a radical spiritual stance involving estrangement from conventional society, a longing for ultimate liberation, and withdrawal from worldly desires.

Robinson's work reveals that these texts were likely compiled by ascetic monastic communities or individuals seeking deeper spiritual knowledge, distinct from mainstream religious teachings at the time. Rather than representing a single homogenous group, the writings show a range of interpretations and mystical philosophies that challenge orthodox Christianity. The Nag Hammadi Library offers a new perspective on Gnosticism as a serious spiritual movement with profound answers to existential questions, rather than mere heresy.