Ptolemy and Heracleon | Earliest known Johannine authorship attributions (jan 1, 140 – dec 31, 179)

Description:

The Valentinian Ptolemy explicates a tripartite division of Jewish religious law, advocates for an ethical lifestyle little different than that described by the proto-orthodox opposition, and hints at a gnostic missionary effort. He leans into canonical gospel traditions and Pauline works (interpreting them as gnostic documents), and claims the sanction of apostolic tradition for the gnostic message.

The Valentinian Heracleon undertakes highly mystical/allegorical commentaries on the canonical gospels (including attempts at mending discrepancies), and shows familiarity with the letters of Paul. He is good-natured towards the Jews and proposes an eschatology wherein even the Demiurge could ultimately be saved via faith in the savior (universalism). Provides more evidence that gnostics had strict sexual ethics.

Both Ptolemy and Heracleon are known to have written commentaries on the gospel of John. The former is the first writer on record who explicitly identifies the apostle as the author. All of this gives credence to the notion that this most esoteric of gospels may have been broadly treated as a gnostic work in its original formulation.

Prior to 150 CE, Revelation has been attributed to John the apostle.

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