A:I believe that the Gnostic gospels are no more or less true than the gospels that were accepted by the dominant brach of Christianity, becoming part of what we now know as the New Testament. The incompatibility between the Gnostic gospels and the form of Christian teaching in the 'Catholic-Orthodox' Church inevitably meant that the Gnostic gospels would be banned, along with the Gnostic Churches.
None of the 4 Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are part of the 52 ancient texts written in circa 2th to the 4th centuries A.D.. These gnostic writings are part of the New Testament 'apocrypha.'
It is one of many Gnostic gospels, which are false gospels produced by people who were Gnostics, an early religious cult. See the Related Link below.
The 4 gosples are based onJesus birthJesus child hood and adult hoodlast supperjesus deathJesus resurectionJuduses deaththe 45,678 diciplespaul and saulhow the 45,678 diciples witnessed to others
Yes there are ones like the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary. These are known as Gnostic Gospels. See link provided below for more detailed information.
The Gnostic Gospels were rejected from the sacred canon primarily because they presented theological views that diverged significantly from orthodox Christian teachings, emphasizing secret knowledge and a dualistic worldview that conflicted with the established beliefs about the nature of God, Jesus, and salvation. Early Church leaders, such as Irenaeus and Athanasius, deemed these texts heretical, as they undermined the authority of the apostolic tradition and the teachings of the early Church. Additionally, the Gnostic Gospels often lacked the historical and apostolic connections that were essential for inclusion in the canon.
A:Many of the banned Gnostic gospels were found in 1945 at the Jabal al Tanf, a huge cliff across the Nile River from the town of Nag Hammadi. They had been hidden by Gnostic Christians in a large red earthenware jar, to avoid destruction by mobs from mainstream Christianity bent on destroying all literature that did not serve a purpose for their own Church.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek although there are older Gnostic Gospels written in Coptic (Egyptian).
They don't say anything about Catholics, because there was no Catholic church as such at the time.
The Bible. It says specifically that it is the word of God. Just make sure it actually is the bible, watch out for the gnostic gospels.
The word 'canonical' does not mean 'authentic' or genuine'. It simply means that they are considered authoritive, standard or accepted. There are numerous other gospels that could be equally authentic or inauthentic, but which are not accepted as standard New Testament gospels.
St. Andrew (brother of Simon Peter) was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus none of whom were gnostics. Scholars generally date the gnostic gopels to the early-mid 2nd century, long after Jesus and the apostles (including St. Andrew) were dead. The gnostic gospels (e.g., gospel of Thomas, etc.) were written by others over a century later.