John jr_esq: > Judy, this book looks controversial by its title... > There's probably nothing in either of these two books that proves that Jesus was a Gnostic or that any of the Gnostic texts came before the Markan document. The oldest gospel is Mark which was probably compiled around AD 70.
According to some conspiracy theorists, there is a 'hidden knowledge' in the Gnostic Gospels, which is the basis for Gnosticism. Is it possible that Mark was a Gnostic? If so, that would be a real stretch since apparently Mark and the other Apostles were of the Jewish faith. According to some informants, Jesus used to conceal his messianic identity in a "Messianic Secret". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_according_to_Mark
