It’s widely believed that although Jesus was born into Judaic tradition, it was he who later became the first christian. In this light, it’s interesting to mention the Secret book of James, a classic Gnostic source depicting events of the second coming of Christ.
These events take place 550 day after the Crucifixion, where Christ returns while the apostles write down what they remember of his earlier teachings.
Apparently disappointed at his disciples’ lack of understanding, Jesus singles out James and Peter, in the hope of “filling them” with Knowledge.
James is receptive, however Peter isn’t.
James is in line with a mystical Gnostic tradition recognizing that no intermediary is needed to achieve salvation. Peter represents the views of the emerging Church.
Interestingly, it was Peter along with Paul, who later became the most significant figures in what we now know as Christianity.
James lead the Church in Jerusalem until his death.
Although James, Peter, and Paul are considered the three pillars of Christianity, the Church later changed direction, recognizing and eventually becoming an intermediary between God and Man, thus opposing the original message of Jesus.
Why didn’t Gnosticism become a basis of today’s worship?
What kind of world would we have if Jesus’s genuine teachings took root, and there was no intermediary between God and Man?