The Secret Tradition

[DrewM]

I think there is some strong evidence of early Christians possessing secret/sacred ordinances that were had for the mature members of the Church.

I've gathered some information, am gathering more, and will eventually also put this into a paper format.

First, to understand, you need to know what some words mean.

Mystery: derived from Latin mysterium, from Greek musterion (plural musteria), meaning “secret rite” or “secret teaching.” From myein "to close, shut," a reference to secrecy or that only initiates were allowed to observe and participate in rituals. (Harper, Douglas, ed. (2001), "Mystery," Online Etymology Dictionary, Lancaster, Pa.: etymonline.com)

Gnosis: “knowledge” usually received by secret teaching.

Teleoi: from Greek telos meaning “the finished [ones],” “completed [ones],” “initiated [ones],” “the mature [ones],” “perfect [ones],” ("perfect" fr. Latin per “through” and facio “to make.” To do completely, to finish).

Wisdom: Sofia (Greek), usually a secret or special knowledge. Paul speaks of a "hidden wisdom."

New Testament

Unto you it is given to know the mysteries [Greek: musteria] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Revised Version. Matt. 13:11)

And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the mystery [musterion] of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect [teleoi]: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, which are coming to naught: but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery [musterion], even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory… And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able; for ye are yet carnal...Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries [musteria] of God. (Revised Version. 1 Cor. 1:1-2, 6-7; 3:1-3; 4:1).

For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for fullgrown men [teleoi], even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil (Revised Version. Hebrews 5:12-14).

Ante-Nicene Fathers

For a mystery ought to be most faithfully concealed and covered, especially by us, who bear the name of faith. (Lactantius Ante-Nicene Fathers 7:221)

And Peter said: “We remember that our Lord and Teacher, commanding us, said, ‘Keep the mysteries for me and the sons of my house.’ Wherefore also He explained to His disciples privately the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to you who do battle with us, and examine into nothing else but out statements, whether they be true or false, it would be impious to state the hidden truths.” (Peter, Clementine Homilies, Ante-Nicene Fathers 8:336)

For the most sublime truths are best honoured by means of silence. (Peter, Clementine Recognitions, Ante-Nicene Fathers. 8:83)

But if [simon Magus] remains wrapped up and polluted in those sins which are manifestly such, it does not become me to speak to him at all of the more secret and sacred things of divine knowledge (gnosis), but rather to protest and confront him, that he cease from sin, and cleanse his actions from vice. But if he insinuate himself, and lead us on to speak what he, while he acts improperly, ought not to hear, it will be our part to parry him cautiously. For not to answer him at all does not seem proper, for the sake of the hearers, lest haply they may think that we decline the contest through want of ability to answer him, and so their faith may be injured through their misunderstanding of our purpose. (Peter, Clementine Recognitions, Ante-Nicene Fathers. 8:98)

But the same writer [Clement of Alexandria] in the seventh book of the same work, relates also the following things concerning him: “The Lord after his resurrection imparted knowledge (gnosis) to James the Just and to John and Peter, and they imparted it to the rest of the apostles, and the rest of the apostles to the seventy, of whom Barnabas was one...” (Eusebius. The Church History of Eusebius 2.1.4. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two. 1:104)

The science of nature, then, or rather observation, as contained in the gnostic tradition according to the rule of truth, depends on the discussion concerning cosmogony, ascending thence to the department of theology. (Clement of Alexandria. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2. 8:42)

Wherefore also all men are His; some through knowledge (gnosis), and others not yet so; and some as friends, some as faithful servants, some as servants merely. This is the Teacher, who trains the Gnostic by mysteries, and the believer by good hopes, and the hard of heart by corrective discipline through sensible operation. (Clement of Alexandria, Ante-Nicene Fathers. 2:524)

[T]he mysteries are not exhibited incontinently to all and sundry, but only after certain purifications and previous instructions. (Clement of Alexandria, Ante-Nicene Fathers. 2:449)

Now, in answer to such statements, we say that it is not the same thing to invite those who are sick in soul to be cured, and those who are in health to the knowledge and study of divine things. We, however, keeping both these things in view, at first invite all men to be healed, and exhort thosewho are sinners to come to the consideration of the doctrines which teach men not to sin…And when those who have been turned towards virtue have made progress, and have shown that they have been purified by the word, and have led as far as they can a better life, then and not before do we invite them to participation in our mysteries. “For we speak wisdom among them that are perfect.”…[W]hoever is pure not only from all defilement, but from what are regarded as lesser transgressions, let him be boldly initiated in the mysteries of Jesus, which properly are made known only to the holy and the pure…He who acts as initiator, according to the precepts of Jesus, will say to those who have been purified in heart, “He whose soul has, for a long time, been conscious of no evil, and especially since he yielded himself to the healing of the word, let such an one hear the doctrines which were spoken in private by Jesus to His genuine disciples.”… [Celsus] does not know the difference between inviting the wicked to be healed, and initiating those already purified into the sacred mysteries! Not to participation in mysteries, then, and to fellowship in the wisdom hidden in a mystery, which God ordained before the world to the glory of His saints, do we invite the wicked man, and the thief, and the housebreaker, and the poisoner, and the committer of sacrilege, and the plunderer of the dead, and all those others whom Celsus may enumerate in his exaggerated style, but such as these we invite to be healed…God the Word was sent, indeed, as a physician to sinners, but as a teacher of divine mysteries to those who are already pure and who sin no more. (Origen, Ante-Nicene Fathers. 4:487-489)

In these circumstances, to speak of the Christian doctrine as a secret system, is altogether absurd. But that there should be certain doctrines, not made known to the multitude, which are (revealed) after the exoteric ones have been taught, is not a peculiarity of Christianity alone, but also of philosophic systems, in which certain truths are exoteric and others esoteric. (Origen. Ante-Nicene Fathers 4:399)

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

Of the beliefs and practices whether generally accepted or publicly enjoined which are preserved in the Church we possess derived from written teaching; others we have received delivered to us “in a mystery” by the tradition of the Apostles... (Basil of Caesarea, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2. 8:40-41)

In the same manner the Apostles and Fathers who laid down laws for the Church from the beginning thus guarded the awful dignity of the mysteries in secrecy and silence, for what is bruited abroad random among the common folk is no mystery at all. This is the reason for our tradition of unwritten precepts and practices, that the knowledge of our dogmas may not become neglected and contemned by the multitude through familiarity. “Dogma” and “Kerugma” are two distinct things; the former is observed in silence; the latter is proclaimed to all the world. (Basil of Caesarea, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2. 8:42)

We ought not then to parade the holy mysteries before the uninitiated, lest the heathen in their ignorance deride them, and the Catechumens being over-curious be offended. (Athanasius, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2. 4:106)

But first I wish to remind you who are initiated of the response, which on that evening they who introduce you to the mysteries bid you make; and then I will also explain the saying of Paul: so this likewise will be clearer to you; we after all the other things adding this which Paul now saith [in 1 Corinthians 15:29]. And I desire indeed expressly to utter it, but I dare not on account of the uninitiated; for these add a difficulty to our exposition, compelling us either not to speak clearly or to declare unto them the ineffable mysteries. Nevertheless, as I may be able, I will speak as through a veil. (John Chrysostom. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One. 12:244)

[MorningStar]

Awesome!

[DrewM]

Awesome!

Yeah, I'd say there is strong evidence that there were the "teleoi" (initiated/endowed) in the early Church just as there is in the Latter-day Church!

[MorningStar]

Heck yeah!

[Ron Beron]

In agreement with your findings it is fairly evident that there were secret teachings. Later, I believe many of these teachings were completely eradicated during a purge of gnostic ideas during the Nicaean Council. I would think that the greatest problem to overcome is the comparison between gnosticism and Mormonism which may very well be contradictory and certainly heretical to orthodox Christianity as seen by some.

Looking at your list I would think that most of the descriptive terms, especially the Greek, were, in fact, Gnostic teachings. Elaine Pagels brings up Paul's gnostic teachings in "The Gnostic Paul".

[DrewM]

In agreement with your findings it is fairly evident that there were secret teachings. Later, I believe many of these teachings were completely eradicated during a purge of gnostic ideas during the Nicaean Council. I would think that the greatest problem to overcome is the comparison between gnosticism and Mormonism which may very well be contradictory and certainly heretical to orthodox Christianity as seen by some.

Looking at your list I would think that most of the descriptive terms, especially the Greek, were, in fact, Gnostic teachings. Elaine Pagels brings up Paul's gnostic teachings in "The Gnostic Paul".

Thanks for your comments.

Have you read "The Gnostic Paul"? If so, what did you think?

[Ron Beron]

Thanks for your comments.

Have you read "The Gnostic Paul"? If so, what did you think?

I have read parts of it and she is not very convinced that Paul was a strict Gnostic, although much of his writing reflects a gnostic edge. His adherence on concepts of "wisdom" can take us further back into some very interesting OT teachings on wisdom literature and the sub belief in Hokhma/Wisdom/Sophia which was a strong component of later Jewish belief. Philo of Alexandria taught a form of gnostic belief derived, in part, from Jewish thought.

[RodAZ]

Drew, Whew! What an excellent JOB! That is one big, impressive, study that will lead to great discussions, especially among those whose research is meant to draw members and potential members away from the church. They want to show that Mormons are a unique people and nowhere in history has a group believed as Mormons believe. All of our Temples...

The Nicaean Council is often quoted and relied upon within the dogma of Protestants. It is a shame too. Constantine (A.D. 325) and his ilk ("representing all of Christendom"?) took away much of the Sacred from the church, it was too embarrassing for them! Besides they were supposed to unite the world by Compromise.

I am not familiar with Gnostic Paul, but I will look into it. Thanks for the reference.

You did very, very good here, Drew! I appreciate it.

[DrewM]

Drew, Whew! What an excellent JOB! That is one big, impressive, study that will lead to great discussions, especially among those whose research is meant to draw members and potential members away from the church. They want to show that Mormons are a unique people and nowhere in history has a group believed as Mormons believe. All of our Temples...

The Nicaean Council is often quoted and relied upon within the dogma of Protestants. It is a shame too. Constantine (A.D. 325) and his ilk ("representing all of Christendom"?) took away much of the Sacred from the church, it was too embarrassing for them! Besides they were supposed to unite the world by Compromise.

I am not familiar with Gnostic Paul, but I will look into it. Thanks for the reference.

You did very, very good here, Drew! I appreciate it.

I'm glad you find it helpful!

[Maya]

Maybe an interesting link about babtisement in early church... http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=67&amp...Anchor-10-47783

Not sure if that works though...

[Moksha]

It is interesting to contemplate that putting the Christian Gnostics to route, as well as putting a sword through those who thought that Christ was of similar substance to God - homoiousios - was part of the apostasy process.

[Blueskye2]

The Catholic Church has always held, practiced and taught seven Holy Mysteries. Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Oil, Repentance, Holy Crowning (marriage), Holy Orders (Priesthood). In the early Church, people kept these secret because to reveal you were a Christian, and practicing these Holy Mysteries, meant a death sentence, seeing has how being a Christian was illegal.

A new convert to Christianity was kept separate from the secret meetings of the main body, for a long amount of time, until it was known for certain that the person was not out to expose the whole group. A Catechumen (someone interested in being received into the Catholic church) was not allowed to participate in any way with these Mysteries. And even today, a Catechumen is asked to retreat from the sanctuary during the season of lent, during the liturgy of the Eucharist. (Most Catholic adult converts are all received into the Catholic Church during Easter.)

Today, an adult being received into the Catholic Church is required to have a year of instruction of all Catholic doctrines and dogmas. Shortly after Christmas adults go through the Rite of Acceptance, at which point they are considered Catechumens. It isn't until a person is a Catechumen that the Holy Mysteries are taught to them.

Of course, in the early Church people didn't have readily available material, if they were even literate, to educate themselves on these Holy Mysteries prior to receiving them. After Christianity was legalized, it was no longer necessary for Christians to hide themselves or their beliefs.

And to the definition of Mystery, the Holy Mysteries are considered by Catholics how God is encountered by His creation, us. They are mysteries because encounters with the Divine can only be explained and understood via Faith. Sacramentum is the Latin translation of the Greek Musterion. Sacrament is the anglicized word of Sacramentum. Often Catholics will refer to the Holy Mysteries as the Holy Sacraments.