🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Elaine Pagels
Elaine Pagels is an author that is best known for her novels critiquing aspects of the Christian faith. These works which some peasant stumbled upon in a small hamlet in Upper Egypt had been translated from ancient languages into Coptic. At the institution, she was the religious studies department head. She would become a Princeton University professor in 1982 where she also taught religious history. Very early in her career as a professor, she would develop a reputation as a leading scholar of early Gnosticism and Christianity. It was due to her work that the now modern understanding of Christianity and particularly its formative stages have come to light.
All Book Series by Elaine Pagels
Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 1973
The Gnostic Paul: Gnostic Exegesis of the Pauline Letters
Book 2 of 11 · published 1975
Adam, Eve, and the Serpent: Sex and Politics in Early Christianity
Book 4 of 11 · published 1988
The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans and Heretics
Book 5 of 11 · published 1995
Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity
Book 8 of 11 · published 2007 Co-authored · Karen L. King
Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation
Book 9 of 11 · published 2012
Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2025
Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces
Single-title series · published 2021
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Elaine Pagels?
Elaine Pagels is an author that is best known for her novels critiquing aspects of the Christian faith. These works which some peasant stumbled upon in a small hamlet in Upper Egypt had been translated from ancient languages into Coptic. At the institution, she was the religious studies department head.
Which Elaine Pagels series should I start with?
Elaine Pagels's books stand alone rather than forming a numbered series, so there is no reading order to follow. The natural first pick is Johannine Gospel in Gnostic Exegesis (1973).
How many books has Elaine Pagels written?
Elaine Pagels has 12 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1973 and 2025. They are filed under 2 categories rather than in numbered series — chiefly Non-Fiction and Anthologies.
In what order should Elaine Pagels's series be read?
No reading order is needed: none of the 12 books catalogued here do not form a numbered series, so any title can be picked up first. Within each category they are listed by publication year.
How are Elaine Pagels's books organised into series?
This guide splits Elaine Pagels's 12 books into categories rather than numbered series: Non-Fiction (11 books); Anthologies (1 book).