Source books

Books

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12 books of 336 · oldest first

Christian scripture and mysticism 12

  1. 3rd century BCE–1st century CE

    1 Enoch

    Enoch

    First Enoch is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic collection that names Michael, Gabriel and Raphael among a group of holy angels. The work assigns them distinct responsibilities,...

    Primary source Landmark also Jewish scripture and tradition

    Read at sacred-texts.com ↗

  2. Probably 3rd–2nd century BCE

    Book of Tobit

    Tobit

    The Book of Tobit is an ancient Jewish narrative in which Raphael travels in disguise, guides Tobias, heals Tobit and delivers Sarah. Near the story's conclusion Raphael...

    Primary source Landmark also Jewish scripture and tradition

    Read at usccb.org ↗

  3. Final form c. 167–164 BCE

    Book of Daniel

    Daniel

    The Book of Daniel is the earliest canonical biblical source to name Gabriel and Michael. Gabriel appears as an interpreter of visions, while Michael is described as one of the...

    Primary source Landmark also Jewish scripture and tradition

    Read at sefaria.org ↗

  4. c. 500

    The Celestial Hierarchy

    Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

    Organises the angels into a systematic hierarchy.

    Primary source Notable also Neoplatonism

    Read at esotericarchives.com ↗

  5. c. 500

    The Divine Names

    Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

    Explains how divine names express manifestations of a God ultimately beyond all names.

    Primary source Unmeasured also Neoplatonism

    No free edition

  6. c. 500

    The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy

    Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

    Connects earthly liturgy and hierarchy to their celestial counterparts.

    Primary source Unmeasured

    No free edition

  7. c. 500

    The Mystical Theology

    Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

    A foundational text of apophatic mysticism: God is approached by stripping away concepts and affirmations.

    Primary source Unmeasured also Neoplatonism

    Read at esotericarchives.com ↗

  8. 14th century

    The Cloud of Unknowing

    late 14th-century English mystical work

    Primary source Major

    Read at sacred-texts.com ↗

  9. 1911

    Mysticism

    Evelyn Underhill

    Secondary source Unmeasured

    Read at sacred-texts.com ↗

  10. undated

    Esoteric Christianity

    Annie Besant

    Primary source Unmeasured also Theosophy and its descendants

    Read at gutenberg.org ↗

  11. undated

    The Gospel of Thomas

    Coptic-language early Christian non-canonical gospel, part of the Nag Hammadi library

    Primary source Landmark also Gnosticism

    Read at sacred-texts.com ↗

  12. undated

    The Sibylline Oracles

    collection of oracular utterances in Greek hexameter, containing Hellenistic/Roman mythology with Jewish, Gnostic and Christian stories

    Primary source Major also Greek and Roman mysteries and Jewish scripture and tradition

    Read at sacred-texts.com ↗