Section 97
31Cf. G. Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (London, 1955); G. Quispel, “Ezekiel 1:26 in Jewish Mysticism and Gnosis,” Vig. Chr. 34 (1980), 1-13.
32Hence the humiliating affliction by which Paul was kept from being “too elated” after his ascent and heavenly vision (2 Cor. 12:7).
33Cf. the title of G. Scholem’s work, Jewish Gnosticism, Merkabah Mysticism and Talmudic Tradition (New York, 1965). Features of incipient gnosticism have also been detected in the Qumran texts; cf. B. Reicke, “Traces of Gnosticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls?” NTS 1 (1954-55), 137-41; O. Cullmann, “The Significance of the Qumran Texts for Research into the Beginnings of Christianity,” in The Scrolls and the New Testament, ed. K. Stendahl (London, 1958), pp. 18-32; but also E. M. Yamauchi, Pre-Christian Gnosticism (Grand Rapids, 1973), pp. 143-62.
34These intermediaries might be rulers (ἄϱϰοντες) of the cosmic zones through which initiants had to pass to attain the vision of God (cf. M. Dibelius, “The Isis Initiation,” p. 93; he compares the experience of the πνευματιϰοί among the Naassenes, as described by Hippolytus, Ref. 5.8-9).