Gospel In The Stars? Or Is It, Jewish Myths & Gnostic Theosophy?

By Frank J. Verderber

From time to time their are teachers - Christian or otherwise, who come to some fabrication of thought that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was developed and presented well before Israel or the birth of Jesus Christ. Suffice to say, this concept is no more than mere Gnostic Theosophy, which tries every so often, to invade the Christian Church with its fundamental pagan ideas. The text scriptures of Col.1:26 and Rom.16:25 state the obvious; "...the mystery [Christ; the Gospel] that has been kept hidden for ages and generations [past], but is now disclosed to the Lord's people." This book demonstrates the error of the "celestial gospel in the stars" as being erroneously perpetrated in every generation of Christians.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank J. Verderber
• Release date: May 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311303011

Frank J. Verderber

FRANK J. VERDERBER resides in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Westfield University and has authored several non-fictions,historical fictions, and professionally written for several trade journals and served as a news reporter.He served in the USAF during the Vietnam War, from 1968-1972, and was employed as a technician and engineering specialist in the Nuclear, Night Vision, and Metals Plating industries - later teaching high school biology and physical science.He worshiped at First Congregational Church of Otis, Massachusetts, First Baptist, Chicopee, Christian Life Center and Bethany Assembly of God, Springfield, Massachusetts. He has held secular educational positions and music ministry posts at the aforementioned churches.Frank, likes outdoors, and specifically, the mountain woodlands. He has interests in studying wildlife and photographing the flora and fauna in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts.

Book preview

Gospel in the Stars?

Or is it,

Jewish Myths & Gnostic Theosophy?

May, 2015

e-version

Frank J. Verderber BSGS, ASCT

ISBN: 9781311303011

Verderb Publishing

PO Box 106

Sandisfield, Ma. 01255

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Table of Contents

Chapter One: Review of Scripture, History, Myths and Fables

Chapter Two: Historical Examples of Greek Myths and Old Wives Tales

Chapter Three: Epitome of all Gnostic Mysteries: Osiris and the Dionysius Cult

Chapter Four: Jewish Fables that Mix Astrology with the Biblical Patriarchs

Chapter Five: Cosmology

Chapter Six: Astrology

Chapter Seven: What Early Christian Historians Wrote Concerning the Zodiac

Chapter Eight: Gospel In the Stars?

Chapter Nine: What does the Word of God Say?

Appendix: Zodiac Dioramas and Star Monument

Chapter One

Review of Scripture, History, Myths and Fables

Christianity from its origin has been attacked from without and within - by use of physical force and destruction, and as well the undermining of proper doctrine. The perpetrators of this destruction, early on, were identified by our Lord as the Pharisees [Mt.16:6; Mk.12: 38; Lk.20:46]. They demanded adherence to man-made religious injunctions and fidelity to the Old Testament ceremonial law. They were known to sow leaven – metaphorically, a type of word yeast that puffs up a batch of doctrines with nothing of substance, but air.

The Apostles Paul and John warned the believer against accepting similar heresies from Judaizers [Ac.15:1-21; Gal.2:14] and Gnostics [1Tim.1:20; 2Tim.2:17-18; 1&2Jn.]. The warnings were to help remove the leaven of obfuscation and subterfuge. The ceremonial law was not needed anymore because Christ came to be the fulfillment of the law [Mt.15:7]. Our work is to love our neighbor [Rom.13:8, 10]. Paul refined our work of love as obedience to The Faith [Rom.1:5].

These heresies continued to resurface in every generation of Christians, were nothing more than the old heresies repackaged with new window dressing. Therefore, the Church needs to be reminded, regardless of our abhorrence of the Holocaust of WWII, we must teach with conviction, as stewards of God’s commands, to hold to the truth of the Word of God, and do not mingle the teachings of Christ with Jewish fables or Gnostic Theosophy.

Further, there is a natural inclination to follow the examples of well-known Pastors and TV Evangelists, because of their public standing – if they said it must be true. Hence, why there resides in the Protestant world of American Christianity, a compendium of heresy, among which the Gospel in the Stars is the erring favorite, because it is surrounded by pseudo-profundity. Among the list of Zodiac hawkers are: D. J. Kennedy, and Chuck Missler.

But the knowledgeable and faithful disciple is to be ever vigilant, prayerful in addressing such syncretistic abominations. A disciple of Christ completes his vigilance by yielding to the authority of scripture, as the Berean Church of Acts 17 and 20. A conscientious disciple will evaluate a new teaching and studied it for approval – considering its merit before via the standards of God’s word only.

And so it was that the Apostle Paul pointed to certain errors that would disaffection the church from her Savior;

"…command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith" [1Tim.1:4].

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly" [1Tim.4:7].

"They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" [2Tim.4:4].

"…and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth" [Titus 1:14].

Even the Apostle Peter adds to Saint Paul’s counsel;

"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" [2Pe1:16].

Myths and Fables [Sub Chapter]:

The Greek has it as muthos - from the root mu, and is translated as a tale, a legend or a myth. The account for this study can be found in 1Tim.1:4; 4:7; 2Tim.4:4; Tit.1:14; 2Pe.1:16.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words has