JOHN D. TURNER

Cotner Professor of Religious Studies, Charles J. Mach University Professor of Classics and History

Department of Classics and Religious Studies 
238 Andrews Hall 
Lincoln, Nebraska 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 68588-0337 
Voice: (402) 472-7008 
FAX: (402) 472-9771 
E-Mail: jturner2@unl.edu 		John Turner

Education

  • 1960     A.B., Dartmouth College, (Philosophy, Mathematics)
  • 1962-6  B.D., Th.M., Union Theological Seminary in Virginia
  • 1970     Ph.D. with Highest Distinction, Duke University (Religion)

Professional History

  • 1867-8  Teaching Assistant, Duke University
  • 1968-9  Research Associate, Institute for Antiquity and Christianity
  • 1970-1  Assistant Dean, Claremont Graduate School
  • 1971     Visiting Assistant Professor, Claremont Graduate School
  • 1971-5 Assistant Professor, University of Montana
  • 1976-   Cotner College Professor of Religion, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 1978-   Chair, Program in Religious Studies
  • 1984     Professor of Classics and History, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 1991     Visiting Research Professor, Faculté de Théologie, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
  • 1994     Visiting Research Professor, Faculté de Théologie, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
  • 1997     Visiting Research Professor, Faculté de Théologie, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
  • 2003     Charles J. Mach University Professor of Classics and History, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2004-    Graduate Chair, Department of Classics and Religious Studies

Some Memberships and Offices held

Interests

My principal areas of interest are biblical studies, especially New Testament; Hellenistic and Graeco-Roman religion and philosophy; Gnosticism; later Platonism and Neoplatonism; and Coptic language and literature.

Teaching

At Nebraska, I regularly teach courses in Religious Studies:
    Ways of Western Religion [CLAS/RELG 206G],
    Early Christianity [CLAS/HIST/RELG 307/807],
    Comparative Religion [CLAS/HIST/RELG 308],
    Religions and Philosophies of Late Antiquity [CLAS/HIST/RELG 409/809],
    Gnosticism[CLAS/RELG 410/810];
and in Classical Greek:
    Plato[GREK 372],
    Seminar in Greek Philosophical Prose [GREK 961/2];
 and in Biblical languages:
    New Testament Greek [GREK 373],
    Introduction to Coptic [CLAS 300E].

Fellowships, Awards, and Grants

  • John Allen McLean Fellow, Union Seminary, 1966
  • Otis Green Fellow, Duke University, 1968
  • Rockefeller Dectoral Fellow, Duke University, 1968-9
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Duke University, 1969
  • University of Montana Research Grant, 1971, 1972, 1975
  • American Society of Learned Societies Fellow, 1976
  • Maude Hammond Fling Fellow, University of Nebraska, Summer 1979
  • Jane Robertson Layman Fellow, University of Nebraska, Summer 1983
  • Grantee and Project Director, Nebraska Committee for the Humanities, $10,500 for "Other Realities: National Conference on New Religion and    Revitalization Movements," Lincoln, Nebraska, March 27-30, 1985
  • Geore Holmes Fellow, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Summer 1988
  • Exective Committee, Alpha Chapter of Nebraska, Phi Beta Kappa, 1992-6
  • President, Alpha Chapter of Nebraska, Phi Beta Kappa, 1993-4
  • Grantee, Convocations Committee, UN-L Convocations Committee and College of Arts and Sciences, $1950 for 1997 Cotner Lecture in Religion
  • Grantee, UN-L Research Council, $1100 for 1998 Cotner Lectures in Religion
  • Grantee, UN-L, Research Council, $2475 for 2002 Montgomery Lectureship
  • UN-L Parents' Award for Outstanding Service to Students, 1997-, 2000, 2005
  • College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Research and Creativity Award, 2002
  • UN-L Humanities Center Outstanding Research and Creativity Award, 2002
  • University of Nebraska system-wide Outstanding Research and Creativity Award, 2003
  • UN-L Research Council, $3500 Grant-in-Aid, 2003
  • Conferencier du College de France, 2004
  • UN-L Research Council, $6500 Grant-in-Aid, 2006
  • UN-L Research Council, $5500 Grant-in-Aid, 2008

Publications:

A few of my more important publications are:

A. My dissertation:

The Book of Thomas the Contender from Codex II of the Cairo Gnostic Library from Nag Hammadi (CG II,7): The Coptic Text with Translation, Introduction and Commentary (Revised text and translation 1975; Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series 23; Missoula, MT: Scholar's Press), 1975.

B. English Translations and Introductions of various treatises from the Nag Hammadi Codices discovered in Egypt, December 1945:

"The Book of Thomas the Contender," "The Interpretation of Knowledge," "A Valentinian Exposition," "Allogenes," "Hypsiphrone," and "The Trimorphic Protennoia," in The Nag Hammadi Library in English (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1977; paperback edition 1984; San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1977, paperback edition 1981); third, completely revised edition, R. Smith and J. M. Robinson, eds. (San Francisco: Harper & Row and E. J. Brill, 1988; paperback edition San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1990; unaltered fourth revised edition, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1996).

From Codex II:

From Codex VII:

From Codex VIII:

From Codex X:

From Codex XI:

From Codex XIII:

Critical text editions: This contains:
  • Introduction to Nag Hammadi Codex XI, pp. 1-22.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XI, 1: The Interpretation of Knowledge: 1,1-21,35: Coptic Text and English Translation, pp. 33-75.
  • NHC XI, 1: The Interpretation of Knowledge: Notes to Text and Translation, pp. 76-90.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XI, 2: A Valentinian Exposition: 22,1-44,38: Coptic Text and English Translation, pp. 106-151.
  • NHC XI, 2: A Valentinian Exposition: Notes to Text and Translation, pp. 153-172.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XI, 3: Allogenes: 45,1-69,22: Coptic Text and English Translation, pp. 192-240.
  • NHC XI, 3: Allogenes: Notes to Text and Translation, pp. 243-267.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XI, 4: Hypsiphrone, 69,23-72,35: Introduction, pp. 269-270.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XI, 4: Hypsiphrone, 69,23-72,35: Coptic Text and Translation, pp. 272-279.
    NHC XI, 4: Hypsiphrone: Notes to Text and Translation, p. 280.
  • Codex XI: Fragments, pp. 283-287.
  • Introduction to Codex XIII, pp. 363-373.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XIII, 1*: Trimorphic Protennoia, 35*, 1-50,24: Introduction, pp. 374-405.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XIII, 1 *: Trimorphic Protennoia, 35*,1-50*,24: Coptic Text and English Translation, pp. 406-437.
  • NHC XIII, 1*: Trimorphic Protennoia: Notes to Text and Translation,pp. 439- 458.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XIII, 2*: On the Origin of the World: 50,23-38: Introduction, p. 459.
  • Nag Hammadi Codex XIII, 2*: On the Origin of the World: Coptic Text and English Translation, pp. 460-461.
  • NHC XIII, 2*: On the Origin of the World: Notes to Text and Translation, p.463.
  • Nag Hammadi Codices XI, XII and XIII: Indices of Coptic, Greek and Proper Names, 467- 551.
  • "Introduction" and "Commentaire," in C. Barry, W.-P. Funk, P.-H. Poirier, J. D. Turner, Zostrianos (NH VIII, 1). (Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi, section « Textes; »  24; Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval; Leuven-Paris: Éditions Peeters, 2000).
  • "Introduction" in W.-P. Funk, P.-H. Poirier, J. D. Turner, Marsanès  (NH X,1).  (Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi, section « Textes » 25;  Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval; Leuven-Paris: Éditions Peeters, 2000).
  • "Introduction" in W.-P. Funk, P.-H. Poirier, M. Scopello, J. D. Turner, Allogène (NH X1,3).  (Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi, section « Textes » 32;  Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval; Leuven-Paris: Éditions Peeters, 2003).

C.  Books and articles dealing mostly with the relation between Gnosticism and Platonism, and with the nature of a religious movement of the first three centuries CE, known as "Gnostic Sethianism":
D. Projects Underway:
  • "Introduction aux traités séthiens," "Introduction et annotations au traité « Zostrien »," "Introduction au traité « Marsanès »," "Introduction et annotations au traité « Hypsiphroné », in Les Écrits gnostiques (2 vols., ed. P.-H. Poirier and J.-P. Mahé; Bibliothèque de la Pléiade; Paris: Gallimard, forthcoming 2006).
  • “Introduction” and “Commentaire,” in W.-P. Funk and J. D. Turner, Hypsiphrone (NH XI,4). Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi, section “Textes” 41; Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval; Louvain /Paris: Éditions Peeters, planned for 2005.
  • La gnose séthienne et les orignes du néoplatonisme. Séries de l’Âne d’Or. Paris: Les Belle Lettres, jointly with Yale University Press (Sethian Gnosticism and the Origins of Neoplatonism), planned for 2005
  • Fresh translations of "The First Thought in Three Forms" ("Trimorphic Protennoia"), "The Three Steles of Seth," "Zostrianos," "Marsanes," and "Allogenes" and introductions to "The Secret Book of John," "The Book of Thomas," "The Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit" ("The Egyptian Gospel"), "The Three Steles of Seth," "Zostrianos," "The Thought of Norea," "Marsanes," "Allogenes," "Hypsiphrone," and "The First Thought in Three Forms" ("Trimorphic Protennoia") for The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition, Edited by Marvin Meyer (HarperSanFrancisco, forthcoming 2006).

University Service:

  • Chair, Academic Procedures Committee, Claremont Graduate School, 1969-70
  • University of Montana Research Advisory Committee, 1973-75
  • Graduate Committee in History, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1978-80
  • Chair and Chief Advisor, Religious Studies Program, UNL, 1978-2004
  • Chair's Advisory Committee in History, UNL 1981-83
  • Cotner Lectures in Religion Committee, 1983-present
  • Graduate Committee in Classics, UNL, 1983-present
  • Faculty Development Committee in English, UNL, 1983-87
  • Faculty Senator, UNL, 1985-1993
  • Faculty Senate Budget Committee, UNL 1985-87
  • Faculty Senate Committee on Committees, UNL, 1986-89, Chair, 1989
  • Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee, UNL, 1986-89, Chair, 1989
  • Teacher's College Curriculum Committee, UNL, 1986-7
  • Faculty Senate Computational Services Committee, UNL, 1988-91, Chair, 1991
  • Steering Committee, Humanities Research Facility, UNL, 1988-2002
  • Research Council, UNL, 1989-1992
  • Search Committee, Ancient History, History Department, UNL, 1993-4
  • Fellow, Harris Center for Judaic Studies, Arts & Sciences College, 1992-present
  • University of Nebraska Executive Graduate Committee, 1994-96
  • Chair, College Committee on the Reorganization of the Major in Classics, 1995
  • Academic Rights and Responsibilities Grievance Committee, 1992-1999, Chair, 1994
  • College of Arts and Sciences Productivity Committee, 1995
  • Chair, College Committee on the Reorganization of the Minor in Religious Studies, 1996
  • Selection Committee, Sellers Distinguished Professorship in History, 1996
  • Steering Committee, Public Discourse & Human Values Interdisciplinary Area, 1996-99
  • Co-Chair, Search Committee for Chair of Classics Department, 1997
  • Selection Committee, Schlesinger Distinquished Professorship in Social Justice, 1997
  • College of Arts and Sciences Alpha Learning Communities Search Committee, 1997
  • Advisory Board, UNL Humanities Center, 1998-2002
  • Vice Chair for Religious Studies, Department of Classics & Religious Studies, 1998-2003
  • College Selection Committee, Sorensen Professorship in History, 1999
  • College Selection Committee, James E. Ryan Professorship in English, 2000
  • Steering Committee, Great Plains Studies Symposium, "Religion on the Great Plains," 2002
  • Fellow, UNL, Center for Great Plains Studies, 2003-
  • Mentor, UNL Summer Research Program, 2003
  • Graduate Chair, Classics & Religious Studies, 2004-
  • Mentor, Coptic Grammar, UCARE project, 2006-7

Prof. Turner with colleagues

Paul-Hubert Poirier, John Turner, and Pierre Hadot during the colloquium "La Bibliothèque
de Nag Hammadi et la philosophie grecque" held in Paris at the Séminaire des missions
étrangères September 26-27, 2002 on the occasion of the 340th anniversary of the
founding of the Séminaire de Québec and the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria's,
granting of Université Laval's royal charter, at which time Université Laval
awarded Pierre Hadot, Professeur honoraire au Collège de France, its honorary doctorate.


Prof. Turner Holding Award

Dennis Smith, President of the University of Nebraska, John Turner, and Harvey
Perlman, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on the occasion of John Turner's
receipt of the University of Nebraska's system-wide Outstanding Research and Creative
Activity Award, April 21, 2003.


Related Stories:
    UN-L College of Arts and Sciences Feature, August 2002
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln - The Scarlet, April 2003
    Lincoln Journal-Star Values Feature, August 2003
    Appointment as Distinguished University Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln - The Scarlet, April 2003

Turner and Robinson

John Turner and James M. Robinson at the Colloquium on "L'Evangile selon Thomas
et les textes de Nag Hammadi: Traditions et Convergences," Université Laval, May 29-31, 2003.


Turner in Classroom

Just prior to his June 24, 2004 lecture at the Collège de France on "The Sethian Platonizing Apocalypses," John Turner confers with his host, Michel Tardieu, Professeur au Collège de France.


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