Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic View book of Isaiah

The Book of Isaiah is a collection of writings from the Old Testament of the Bible attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who is thought to have lived between 740 - 681 BC. For the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics, the book of Isaiah is an important source of Gnostic teachings. In this view, the prophet Isaiah seeks to interpret the entire course of human history as “The Day of the Lord”, in which God establishes an everlasting kingdom of justice and joy. According to the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics, Isaiah’s writings which relate to Pentecostal events set the time and circumstances of the Church’s possession of spiritual gifts – tongues, visions, dreams and other prophetic utterances. 

The primitive Pentecostal Gnostics interpret the book of Isaiah in light of Pentecost, seeing it as an account of the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit connecting adherents of different creeds and cultures who recognize the presence of God. They view Isaiah’s symbolism of a cosmic fire as a prefiguration of the fire of the Spirit at Pentecost, and his prophetic vision as a foretelling of the rebirth of the Church through the force of the Spirit.

The book of Isaiah was also a foundational source for another Gnostic concept: theosis, or union with God through theosis by living a righteous life. For the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics, the hope of salvation and redemption from evil exists in the joyful rebirth of the Spirit at Pentecost. In this view, the prophetic message of Isaiah has to do with the healing of humankind’s suffering, the physical and spiritual ends of which are accomplished by the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. For the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics, Isaiah’s writings capture the essential struggle between the work of evil and the work of salvation made real in the life of the Church. 

the Bible book of Isaiah offers a unique insight into their doctrinal understanding of Christianity. While it closely aligns with more mainstream Biblical interpretation, Gnosticism also places a greater emphasis on individual spiritual growth, stemming from its core belief that mankind is fully capable of possessing a personalized and holistic understanding of Jesits Christ's divinity.

From the outset, the Gnostic readings of Isaiah have an emphasis on prophecy – beliefs of Armageddon, the end times and salvation through the Second Coming of Christ are strongly held in the Gnostic community. The distinctive symbolism of the new heaven and new earth, as described in Isaiah 65, are understood to be both literal and allegorical - offering respite from the tribulations of the sinful world, but, more poignantly, signifying spiritual enlightenment for believers.

The main thrust of Gnostic belief that is deeply latent in Isaiah is that knowledge of God can very easily be obtained, and is open to every individual. Gnostics therefore interpret Isaiah as almost a call to action – the ‘glad tidings of great joy’ referred to in Isaiah 9 is an encouragement to pursue personal growth in knowledge of God, a challenge to “leave behind the ways of the old world,” in exchange for a conversion ‘in Truth’ (Isaiah 64).

Isaiah, too, is seen as a source of comfort to the Gnostic believer. As hermetic literature, which is outside the bounds of mainstream Judaeo-Christian orthodoxy, they view Isaiah as a trusted source of spiritual guidance, as described in verse 56 of the same chapter. It even goes so far as to provide passages that describe the peacefulness of life under the new heaven, and a ‘light to the Gentiles’, taken to represent the knowledge of the Gnostic belief system being spread, and the importance of living a lifestyle in harmony with spiritual truths and values.

Overall, the Gnostic interpretation of the Bible book of Isaiah is heavily rooted in the belief that, through piety and alignment with divine authority, believers can come to acquire a spiritual knowledge and understanding as great as any figure from the Bible who epitomizes religious knowledge. To this end, the prophetic passages and stories from the book of Isaiah are seen as key sources of divine wisdom to direct their spiritual growth, while the symbols are taken as reassurance of a new way of life and a brighter future in the afterlife.

As a source book of spiritual ideas, the Book of Isaiah forms the foundation of the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic view. This view links Isaiah’s vision to a specific prophetic event – the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – and interprets it as an example of unification, healing, and redemption. In this view, the message of Isaiah is to rejoice in the divine presence of the Spirit, to strive for spiritual growth and union with God, and to lead lives of righteousness.