#fullpreterist

[worldwithoutendamen]

Petrine Authority and Mariology in the Gospel of Bartholomew

I have developed a thesis that not all so-called “Gnostic” texts are in fact Gnostic, but they may be artifacts of Catholic communities that did not stray from a fulfilled eschatology -- hence the tendency to “spiritualize” certain teachings which we’ve received from futurist teachers of the Church.

Nonetheless, in spite of this so-called “spiritualizing” of Christian doctrine, the Gnostics nonetheless were active members of the Christian body and generally under the authority of its priesthood (bishops) -- as the story of de-frocked Bishop Valentinus, infamous Gnostic heretic, reminds us. 

Jerome makes mention of this apocryphal, supposedly Gnostic, “Gospel of Bartholomew” in the 4th century. This excerpt is interesting in that it supports both Petrine (papal) authority as well as the traditional teaching that Mary was the ark, or tabernacle, of the Most High. These are instantly recognizable pillars of Catholic doctrine.

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Chp II.

1 Now the apostles were in the place [Cherubim, Cheltoura, Chritir] with Mary. 

2 And Bartholomew came and said unto Peter and Andrew and John: Let us ask her that is highly favoured how she conceived the incomprehensible, or how she bare him that cannot be carried, or how she brought forth so much greatness. But they doubted to ask her. 

3 Bartholomew therefore said unto Peter: Thou that art the chief, and my teacher, draw near and ask her. But Peter said to John: Thou art a virgin and undefiled (and beloved) and thou must ask her.

4 And as they all doubted and disputed, Bartholomew came near unto her with a cheerful countenance and said to her: Thou that art highly favoured, the tabernacle of the Most High, unblemished we, even all the apostles, ask thee (or All the apostles have sent me to ask thee) to tell us how thou didst conceive the incomprehensible, or how thou didst bear him that cannot be

5 But Mary said unto them: Ask me not (or Do ye indeed ask me) concerning this mystery. If I should begin to tell you, fire will issue forth out of my mouth and consume all the world.

6 But they continued yet the more to ask her. And she, for she could not refuse to hear the apostles, said: Let us stand up in prayer.

7 And the apostles stood behind Mary: but she said unto Peter: Peter, thou chief, thou great pillar, standest thou behind us? Said not our Lord: the head of the man is Christ ? now therefore stand ye before me and pray.

[worldwithoutendamen]

Justin Martyr: The Resurrection = Going To Heaven

All Biblical prophecy was fulfilled in the first century. Case in point: no one went to heaven until the advent of Christ and the Great Judgment (that is, the Resurrection either to glory or judgment). If you as a Christian believe that you may go to heaven when you die, you must accept that all Biblical prophecy is fulfilled, because the only “going to heaven” option listed in the Bible is the Resurrection. The early Christians had to explain this paradigm to Jews and Gentiles alike. In short, the Resurrection (or the “General Resurrection”) = Going to Heaven. Here is a supporting excerpt from Justin Martyr in the 2nd century, which shows that the most elementary Christian doctrine, even in the 2nd century, was founded on a fully realized (fulfilled) eschatology:

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Justin Martyr, “On The Resurrection”

Ch. 9: And when He had thus shown them that there is truly a resurrection of the flesh, wishing to show them this also, that it is not impossible for flesh to ascend into heaven (as He had said that our dwelling-place is in heaven), He was taken up into heaven while they beheld, Acts 1:9 as He was in the flesh. If, therefore, after all that has been said, any one demand demonstration of the resurrection, he is in no respect different from the Sadducees, since the resurrection of the flesh is the power of God, and, being above all reasoning, is established by faith, and seen in works.

[worldwithoutendamen]

Brilliant

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