Gnostic Interpretation of the Jewish Law: Ptolemy's Letter to Flora

I am guessing that most of you have never heard of the Valentinians, Ptolemy, and his letter to Flora.

To be brief. (1) The Valentians were either a Gnostic group or a group that drew on Gnostic ideas in the second century. (2) Ptolemy was a Valentinian teacher in Rome ca. 150. (3) Flora had some questions about the Jewish Law, in sum, why do we obey some bits and not others, which Ptolemy tries to answer.

So my most recent video in the Ancient Texts and Traditions series is on Ptolemy’s Letter to Flora. It covers:

- What is Gnosticism?
- Who were the Valentinians?
- Ptolemy's view of the Law
- Ptolemy's theology
- Why Ptolemy's views were rejected

I find this text fascinating because it shows one of the diverse ways that “Christian” groups tried to understand the Jewish Law in light of the Gospels and Paul. Now, Ptolemy’s view did not catch on for obvious reasons, but what he does is not that much different from the way Protestants have divided the Law into civil, ceremonial, and moral components. Watch to learn more! It goes for 26 minutes.