Ebionites: A name used by early Jewish sects who were considered Christians. Tertullian believed the sect was started by Ebion in Jerusalem. The term Ebionite is also translated as the ‘poor men’ in Aramaic. Iranaeus classified them as heretical. Those that believed the Jewish traditions should be incorporated into Christianity are referred to as “Judaizers.” The name is associated by some authorities with James the Just, and the blood relatives of Jesus who became early Christians. The term is also associated with Naassenes.
http://www.religiousstudies.uncc.edu/jdtabor/ebionites.html http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05242c.htm
http://www.geocities.com/faithofyeshua/who_are_ebionites_and_importance_for_christianity.htm
http://essenes.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=595&Itemid=834
“A poor one am I, who has come out of the celestial fruits. A stranger to
the world, who comes out of the distance. A Poor man am I, to whom Great
Life gave ear, a Stranger to this world, whom the Light-treasures made
world-strange. They brought me out of the abode of the good ones; ah me! in
the wicked ones’ dwelling they made me to dwell. Ah me! they made me to
dwell in the wicked ones’ dwelling, which is filled full of nothing but
evil. It is filled full of nothing but evil, filled full of the fire which
consumes. I would not and will not dwell in the dwelling of naughtiness.
With my power and with my enlightening I dwelt in the dwelling of
naughtiness. With my enlightening and my praise-giving I kept myself
stranger to this world. I stood among them as a child who has not a father,
As a child who has not a father, as a fruit who has not a tender. I hear the
voice of the Seven, who whisper in secret and say: Whence is this Stranger
man, whose discourse is not like to our discourse? I listened not to their
discourse; then were they full of wicked anger against me. Life, who gave
ear to my call, a Messenger sent forth to meet me. He sent me a gentle
Treasure, an armored, well-armored Man. With his pure voice he makes
proclamation, as the Treasures make in the House of Perfection.
He speaks Poor one, from anguish and fear be thou free Say not: I stand here
alone. For thy. sake, 0 Poor, this firmament was outspread, Was this
firmament spread out, and stars were pictured upon it. For thy sake, 0 Poor,
this firm land came into existence, Came into existence this firm land, the
condensing took form, fell into the water. For thy sake came the sun, for
thy sake the. moon. was revealed. For thy sake, 0 Poor, came the Seven, and
the Twelve are hither descended. Thou Poor one! On thy right rests glory, on
thy left rest [light-] lamps. Hold steadfast in thy security, until thy
measure has been completed. When thy measure has been completed, I will
myself come to thee. I will bring thee vestures of glory, so that the worlds
will long for them, desireful. I will bring thee a pure, excellent
head-dress, abundant in infinite light. I will set thee free from the
wicked, from the sinners will I deliver thee. I will make thee dwell in thy
shekinah free thee into the region unsullied.”
I hear the voice of the Seven, who whisper in secret and speak: “Blessed is
he who is to the Poor one a father, who is unto the Fruit a tender. Hail to
him whom Great Life knows, woe to him whom Great Life knows not.” Hail to
him whom Great Life knew, who has kept himself stranger to this world, The
world of the defect, in which the Planets are seated. They sit on thrones of
rebellion and drill their works with the scourge.
For gold and for silver are they disquiet, and strife they cast into the
world. Disquiet are they and therein cast strife; therefore will they go
hence and seethe in the fire. The wicked shall seethe, and their pomp shall
vanish and come to an end. But I with my offspring and kindred shall ascend
and see the Light’s region, The region whose sun never sets, and whose
light-lamps never darken-That region, the state [of the Blessed), whereto
your souls are called and invited. And so are our good brothers’ souls, and
the souls of our faithful sisters.
‘Life is exalted and is victorious) and victorious is the One who has come
hither:’
–Drashia d-Malkia
Echmoth: (Echamoth) Meaning a form of wisdom; “Echamoth is one thing and Echmoth, another. Echamoth is Wisdom simply, but (e) Echmoth is the Wisdom of death, which is the one who knows death, which is called “the little Wisdom”. (”Gospel of Phillip, NHL.)
Ekousiai: Name of a Sethian authority in the Spirit World.
Enlightenment: Refers to a state of being; described in Chinese/Oriental classics that reflects the same kinds of mental changes, ‘awareness,’ or ‘Satroi’ as in Gnosis. ”The Enlightenment refers to a movement in philosophy that advocated the untrammeled use of reason to establish truth. The movement challenged traditional authority, doctrine, and values. Emphasis was placed on the empirical method employed by the sciences.” (”The Five Gospels,” by Funk, Hoover, Harrier-Collins, 1993, p. 544.) ”For scientific knowledge is necessary both for the training of the soul and for gravity of conduct; making the faithful more active and keen observers of things. For as there is no believing without elementary instruction, so neither is there comprehension without science.” (Quote from Theodotus, See; Kirby, Criddle collections.)
Ennead: Meaning nine in reference to the Sethian Monadology. The term is also used in ancient Egyptian. ”It is said that the Ennead, which was the ’seed and hand of Atum’, becomes the ‘teeth and lips of Ptah’ and gives a name to each thing bringing it into existence. Divcine principles and qualities (the Ennead) can now ‘ enter into all the species of things – mineral, plant or animal – and become manifest through them.” (Memphis) The term is used in Sethian works, to connote nine in the Sethian Monadology, and is used in the Untitled text in the ”Bruce Codex.” ”….stretching out of the cross is the ennead on the right side and on the left. The sprouting and rest and love and resurrection and faith and rebirth and the seal. This is the ennead the ennead was manifested, whose names are these: Prôtia, Pandia, Pangenia, Doxophania, (akatagnôstos), the mother of the ennead, which completes a decad from the monad of the ennead makes twelve enneads….”
Ennoia: Means “thought” Sophia in her high form as Pleromic, is the first thought (so she is the first Aeon, or Pleroma, and the last one as well). Creation happens in the triad of thought, word, and action. (See; ‘Tripartite Tractate.’)
Epiphanes: Son of Carpacrotes of Alexandria. Died at age 17. Clement stated that Epiphanes had been taught the way of the ”Monad.” “But the followers of Carpocrates, and Epiphanes think wives should be common property.” (See; Bk 3, of ”Stromata.”) His work ”Concerning Justice,” can be read at;
Epiphanius: (310-403) ”In 367 his reputation for asceticism and learning brought about his nomination as Bishop of Constantia (Salamis) the metropolis of the Island of Cyprus. He wrote against Origen and Gnostics. He identified the existence of the Gospel of Judas Iscariot,” and ”Birth of Mary,” {”Gospel ofMary’‘} which he says describes horrible and deadly things. (He admits to not having seen the Gnostic texts, but claims to know about them. ) He wrote in regard to an unidentified Gnostic Gospel…. ”Another Gospel (?) of similar tendancy was that which was used by the nameless “Adversary of the Law, and the Prophets’ {Gnostics} whom Augustine refutes, and from which the following is quoted. ” The Apostles having asked the Lord what they were to think about the Jewish prophets, who were thought in the past to have foretold his coming, he was troubled that they even yet had such thoughts, and answered: Ye have given up (let go) the living on who is before your eyes and talk idly of the dead.” Epiphanius, also identifies the ”Apocalypse of Paul,” as being a book written by Canites, or Cananites, (Canaanites) and used by Gnostics. Paul is quoted in the text to have been taken up to the level of the ”Third Heaven,” which corresponds to the Nag Hammadi text. It does not correspond to the other ”Apocalypse of Paul,” which fragments exist in Greek, Latin, and Coptic. The Canaanites were an ancient tribe that lived in the basic area that is Israel today. ( “The New Testament Apocrypha,” James, Apocryphile Press, pages 19- 20, 525, 575.) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13393b.htm ,
Epinoia: Means “insight” as it comes from the higher connections of spirit, portrayed as a Pleromic emination . It can be translated as “wisdom” in the modern sense of the word. Without it one cannot gain Gnosis. This ‘insight’ refers to, metanoia, (change of mind), and self-knowledge of the soul, which is merged with the ‘light’ or Sophia, in the act of Gnosis. (See; the “Apocryphon of John,” See also; Metenoia.)
Eros: The love that comes from the desire to reunite. It is a passion contrast with agape which is compassion). Eros originates when the Demiurge sees “light Adam” or the primal man (See; Anthropos, Agape.)
Esaldaios: Name that the Naassenes used for the Demiurge.
Essenes: Jewish communal sect known as free thinkers at the time of Jesus. They were said by Josephus to have combined Pythagorean, and Stoic theory, with ascetic virtues, and spiritual knowledge with divine law. In Qumran, the Essenes were the keepers and/or writers (some works) of the ‘Dead Sea Scrolls.’ http://mosaic.lk.net/g-qumran.htmlAccording to Robert Wiseman, author of “James, Brother of Jesus,” there are similar language parallels to some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and first century Christianity. However there is no real proof of this connection and I found Wiseman’s claims to be on very thin ice, and hardly parallels at all. Most experts see no connection to Essenes, and Christians at all. There are no Christian works found in the scrolls.”The sect was an extremist offshoot of the Jewish apocalyptic movement, whose basic doctrine was the expectation of the soon end of days. When it comes, the wicked would be destroyed, and Israel freed from the yoke of the nations. Before this, God would raise for Himself a community of elect who were destined to be saved from the divine visitation, and who were the nucleus of the society of the future.” http://mosaic.lk.net/g-qumran.htmlThis is different than the claims of modern Essenes, who claim to be originated by Nazoreans
My note:Some modern writers note that there were several groups of essenes; the dead sea scroll (Qumran) those from Mount Carmel; of Elijah (who eventually became the Nazoreans) and a group in Egypt. Some of their texts are preserved in mandaeism, which has been corrupted by Islam (See Dositheus http://essenes.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=358&Itemid=614 and some scholars tells us the modern mandean faith is an off shoot of) who denied Yeshu; figures such as Simon Magus who despite some modern accounts was not the first Gnostic. Simon was a Dositheus follower, he proclaimed himself to be “Yeshu” and his lunar bride (some acounts say she was a former whore) to be an incarnate Goddess.This all have led to the insistence of venerating John the Baptist (Yohana) and denigrating Jesus (Yeshu/Hibil Ziwa/ Manda dHiya)… This can be easily seen (for one example) in the Mandaean Ginza Rba which tells the story of Jesus being baptized by John. There are two versions, one where Jesus is wholly rubbished, another where Jesus’ name is transposed with Manda dHiya…We find this Manda dHiya version in the Ginza Rba. The changing of Yeshu or hibil ziwa or any of Yeshu’s several names for Manda d’Hiya makes the obvious redaction of texts easy to spot and correct.
….
Whereupon spoke Yohanna to Manda dHiya: A thousand times a thousand people to the Jordan do I let descend, and I baptized ten thousand times ten thousand souls in the water. Yet one like unto you my hand has yet to take. Now explain to me; how do I baptize you?
Then Manda dHiya spoke to Yohanna: as far as the water, go also, and I want to go with you. Baptizing me with your pure baptism, with which you tend to baptize, and speak about me something of the name, which you to tend to utter. So Yohanna went back down to the water from the dry land, and Manda dHiya went with him.
The radiance of the Manda dHiya was over Jordan and its banks.
The fish opened their mouth from the sea, the birds on the two banks of the cosmic sea. They praised Manda dHiya and spoke to him: Blessed art you, Manda dHiya, blessed be the place from which you came, and praised and strengthened is the great place to which you go.
When the voice of the fish from the sea and the birds from the two banks of the cosmic sea entered into the ear of Yohanna, he knew that it was Manda dHiya who went with him. Then Yohanna spoke to Manda dHiya: You are the one in whose name I baptize with the living baptism. And he asked him: In whose name do you baptize? Whereupon Yohanna answered Manda dHiya: In the name of the one who has been revealed to me, in the name of the predestined, of he who is destined to come, as in the name of the Mana well guarded, who has to reveal himself. Now place upon me now your hand of Truth, your great right hand of healings, and speak over me your names, for I am the planting which you planted. In your name will be strengthened the first and the last.
-Ginza Rba
“His name is Amun-el and he called himself Y’su Mashiana (Yeshu messiah). He appears to you and says to you: ‘Come and stand beside me and you shall not be burned…He says: ‘ I am Alaha (’God’), I have been sent here by my father’. And he further says to you: ‘I am the first messenger, I am Hibil-Ziwa I have come from the great heights”
–Ginza Rba, the great treasury
……….
Eucharist: See Eucharist A., and B., in the Nag Hammadi Library. “, ”Pistis Sophia by Mead….”And Jesus said unto them: “Bring me fire and vine branches.” They brought them unto him. He laid out the offering, and set down two wine-vessels, one on the right and the other on the left of the offering. He disposed the offering before them, and set a cup of water before the wine-vessel on the right and set a cup of wine before the wine-vessel on the left, and laid loaves according to the number of the disciples in the middle between the cups and set a cup of water behind the loaves.”
Jesus explaineth the vision of fire and water, and wine and blood. Jesus,–that is Aberamenthō,–said unto his disciples: “Amēn, I say unto you: I have brought nothing into the world when I came, save this fire, this water, this wine and this blood. I have brought the water and the fire out of the region of the Light of the lights of the Treasury of the Light; and I have brought the wine and the blood out of the region of Barbēlō. And after a little while my father sent me the holy spirit in the type of a dove.
“And the fire, the water and the wine are for the purification of all the sins of the world. The blood on the other hand was for a sign unto me because of the human body which I received in the region of Barbēlō, the great power of the invisible god. The breath on the other hand advanceth towards all souls and leadeth them unto the region of the Light.”
“And for this cause I took also a cup of wine, blessed it and give it unto you and said: ‘This is the blood of the covenant which will be poured out for you for the forgiveness of your sins.” (P.S. Bk. 5.)
Eugnosis: Freely developing (gnosis.)
Eusebius: ( 260-341 A. D.) Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine, known as the “Father of Church History.” Known to have been counsel to Emperor Constantine who converted the Roman Empire to Christianity. Was an anti-Gnostic,who carried on the teachings of Irenaeus, and Hippolytus against heretics. ”At the opening of the Council of Nicæa Eusebius occupied the first seat on the right of the emperor, and delivered the inaugural address which was couched in a strain of thanksgiving to Almighty God on his, the emperor’s behalf.” (New Advent, Catholic Encyc., Online.)
Eusebius of Caesarea
Exegesis: An explanation of a passage, or word. It is related to allegory and translation of scripture.
Exousiai: Name for the powers of the entities in the Pleroma. (See “Pistis Sophia.”) Referred to as rulers and wicked powers in the “1st Book of Jeu.”
Prayers and Reflections 
December 10, 2019 at 9.25.pm.
Thank you for your work here! I am new to Gnosis, and this information is very helpful! Peace!
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December 10, 2008 at 10.16.pm.
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