The Gnostic Gospels (1979) by Elaine Pagels analyzes 52 early Christian manuscripts discovered in 1945 at Nag Hammadi, Egypt. Pagels argues these "secret" texts reveal that early Christianity was diverse and heavily suppressed by the orthodox church to establish a unified, hierarchical structure. Gnosticism emphasized direct, personal knowledge (gnosis) of the divine over dogmatic belief. Pagels argues that the victory of "orthodox" Christianity over "Gnosticism" was as much a political choice to foster institutional strength (like the bishops and martyrs) as it was a theological one. The book argues for a more nuanced, pluralistic view of early Christian history.