The Gnostic Christian Interpretation of Paul’s Letter to the Romans – introduction by William C. Kiefert

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My interpretation of Paul’s Letter to the Romans is not about a new Paul, rather it is about a side of Paul that has been lost to us since the Council of Nicea. This side of Paul is even more relevant in our atomic age than in his.

The side of Paul you will discover in my interpretation is his practical side. The majority of his letter addresses differences over practices that divided the early Church into three factions-Conservative Gnostic Christians with Jewish heritage, like Peter and James; Liberal Gnostic Christians with Jewish heritage, like Paul; and Hellenists, meaning Gnostic Christians who were Greek and Roman by birth. Romans 5:12 and 8:29-30 are exceptions. Romans 5:12 explains how sin entered the world, i.e. what the root of evil is. Romans 8:29-30 reveals the clearest examples of terms Paul uses for five developmental stages of consciousness. It is imperative to know these stages-they are the format in which Paul writes.

My interpretation of Rm 1:26-27 (verses that justify homophobia for Christians) demonstrate that here Paul is trying to convince Conservative Gnostic Christians (unfortunately translated females) that it is unnatural for them not to want to socialize with (or as tradition would say, have intercourse with), Liberal and Hellenistic Gnostic Christians (unfortunately translated males). Likewise, Paul argued, it was unnatural for Liberal and Hellenistic Gnostic Christians (males) not to socialize with Conservative Gnostic Christians (females). I feel confident this interpretation is authentic to Paul. It flows with the subject matter Paul is discussing, namely differences between early Christian factions, not homosexuality.

Paul also addresses (in Rm 12:17-24) how Gnostic Christians should respond to an enemies attack-namely defeat your enemy with love. Advice we did not take after 9-11.

I sincerely hope you will find after reading this book, a new understanding of love for one another and our planet.