A Preliminary Investigation of The Cabala contained in the Coptic Gnostic Books and of a Similar Gematria in the Greek text of the New Testament; Shewing the Presence of a system of teaching by means of the doctrinal significance of numbers, by which the Holy Names are clearly seen to represent aeonial relationships which can be conceived in a geometric sense and are capable of a typical expression of that order
Oxford: B.H. Blackwell, 1917. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 96pp, errata. Original green cloth with gilt lettering to upper cover and spine. Formulas, b&w diagrams. Bond and Lea explore the application of Gematria in the Greek version of the New Testament. Contents include: Preface; The Method of Gematria: or Association of Letter and Number; A Brief Outline of Gematria; The Existence of the Gnosis; The Uses of Gematria; The Key Applied; Note on Diagramma; [The Number] 485; Of the Square & Circle Contained; Names Epithets, and Types of Christ Appearing in the Gematria ...as Multiples of 37 ...; ... 888. Schema of the Numbers of Jesus; The Decree of the First Mystery; Table Of the Three Primary Figures ... ; Cabala of the Cosmos; The Cube of Light; On The Symbolism of Numbers; On Geometric Truth. Thomas Simcox Lea (c. 1853 - 1939) was an Oxford educated clergyman with a profound interest in gnosticism and the hidden meanings of the Bible, whose theories on the metaphysical symbolism of the geometric and mathematical aspects of the Bruce Gnostic papyrus attracted the attention of Frederick Bligh Bond (1864 -1945) who came to collaborate with him on several works on the subject. Bond was an architect, Freemason, Theosophist, and member of both the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia and the Society for Psychical Research, with a great interest in the esoteric. He was famously employed by the Church of England to undertake the excavations at Glastonbury Abbey, to which task he applied the skills normally associated with psychism and Spiritualism in addition to the more conventional archaeological and historical method. This brought down the wrath of the Church hierarchy, who eventually dismissed him. Covers rubbed, cloth darkened and spine and edges of boards, corners and spine ends lightly bumped and chafed with minor loss at spine ends, owner's name and address, etc. in calligraphy on front blank, pages lightly toned, a few spots of browning but unmarked. Despite modest wear, overall a tight, internally clean near VG copy. Scarce in first edition. Item #63304
Sold