THE GNOSTIC JOHN THE BAPTIZER: SELECTIONS FROM THE MANDAEAN JOHN-BOOK; TOGETHER WITH STUDIES ON JOHN AND CHRISTIAN ORIGINS, THE SLAVONIC JOSEPHUS' ACCOUNT OF JOHN AND JESUS, AND JOHN AND THE FOURTH GOSPEL PROEM
Book Details + Condition: John M. Watkins (London). First Edition, 1924. Extremely rare, as no copies appear to exist. Hardcover with green boards; gilt titling (etc) to spine. 137 pages. Theosophical author, historian and translator G.R.S. Mead presents translations and analyses of Mandaean sacred texts, highlighting their unique Gnostic view of John the Baptist as a pivotal prophet, a lesser deity of light, and the true source of spiritual wisdom, distinct from Christian or Jewish interpretations. The author thus reveals Mandaean beliefs about the soul, salvation through gnosis (knowledge), and an alternative history of Christian origins through their tradition of living Gnosticism. The book is divided into four sections: John the Baptizer and Christian Origins; From the John-Book of the Mandaeans; The Slavonic Josephus' Account of the Baptist and Jesus; and The Fourth Gospel Proem. Chapters include:
- Popular Messianic Expectations
- Probable Symbolic Signification of John's Baptism
- Rabbinic Fish Symbolism
- John and the Messiahship of Jesus
- Portents at John's Birth
- John's Light-ship
- John and the Baptism of Jesus
- John on his own Passing
- John's Answer to Jesus Concerning the Angel of Death
- The Fisher of Souls Saga
- The Final Submission of the Evil Fishers
- The Good Shepherd
- And much more.
An extremely rare first edition with firm binding; rubbed corners and edges, with chafed spine ends; light normal aging and wear to boards; toning to endpapers; inked name to ffep; interior is clean and free of markings. All books are carefully packed, and shipped in boxes.
