Originally Posted by Revenge of Montezuma

Hello Gamera

Your quotes would only seem to substantiate that there are contradictions in an ancient scripture (hardly something totally unknown before). In fact, they would seem to support Roger Pearse's claim in the second post of this thread that there are at least two sources for the gospel, one Gnostic and one not. I'm no scholar of ancient texts like this, so I wouldn't be able to argue anything definitive.

Judging from the tone of your other posts on these matters (eg. "This is the structure of gnosticism, which is utterly contrary to Christianity's notion of a revealed religion, announced through a kerygma to everybody."), you seem to wish to set up such texts in opposition to the clear, unified message of Christianity. As if Christianity had no Gnostic traits, such as regarding the body as evil - did not St Paul exclaim "Who will deliver me from the body of this death" "Mortify your mortal members" etc. etc.

As for your wishing to identify "Guruism" as an undesirable Gnostic trait - well, even in the verses you cite in your post, there is one which is obviously completely anti-Guru, anti-elitist:

>>Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out."<<

"I am NOT your master" - and that's evidence of Guruism?

I'll shut up now, and let the scholars take over.