The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ, edited and translated by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, is a fascinating and controversial work of alternative Christian and Essene spirituality. Originally published in English in 1937 under the fuller title The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ by the Disciple John, the work was presented by Szekely as a translation based upon Aramaic and Old Slavonic texts. Google Books
The text presents teachings attributed to Jesus with a strong emphasis upon purity, simplicity, the natural world and the relationship between physical and spiritual life. Its portrayal of Jesus differs considerably from that found in the canonical New Testament and has subsequently attracted readers interested in the Essenes, alternative Christianity, holistic spirituality and unconventional interpretations of the teachings of Christ.
Nature occupies a particularly important position within the work. Spiritual life is presented as intimately connected with the natural order, and themes concerning food, fasting, purification and bodily health occur alongside teachings about spiritual transformation. This combination helped make Szekely's work influential among later readers interested in natural living and alternative spirituality.
The bibliographical history of the book is particularly interesting. The original 1937 English publication was titled The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ by the Disciple John. Later editions appeared under titles including The Essene Gospel of Peace, particularly as Szekely developed a larger body of writings attributed to Essene sources. A 1974 edition explicitly notes that the work had originally appeared under its 1937 title. Open Library
Szekely's claims concerning the ancient origins of the text are not accepted by mainstream biblical scholarship, and no independently authenticated ancient manuscript corresponding to his claimed source has been established. The work should therefore not be confused with either a recognised early Christian Gospel or the authenticated Dead Sea Scrolls. Its importance lies instead in its influence upon twentieth-century alternative spirituality and modern ideas about Jesus and the Essenes.
The book explores:
Alternative teachings attributed to Jesus Christ
Essene spirituality and religious practice
Spiritual and physical purification
Nature and humanity's relationship with the divine
Fasting, food and natural living
Healing and spiritual wellbeing
Simplicity and personal transformation
Alternative interpretations of Christianity
The relationship between body, mind and spirit
Esoteric and non-canonical approaches to Jesus
This title will appeal to readers interested in:
Jesus and the Essenes
Alternative and esoteric Christianity
Apocryphal and non-canonical Gospel traditions
Edmond Bordeaux Szekely
Christian mysticism and spirituality
Natural and holistic spirituality
Early Christianity
Comparative religion
The Dead Sea Scrolls and their wider cultural influence
For collectors of alternative Christian literature, this is particularly interesting because it predates the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The original English edition appeared in 1937, whereas the discoveries at Qumran began a decade later. The subsequent association of Szekely's writings with the Essenes therefore needs to be understood within that historical context.