"The Gnostic Library" continues where the Dead Sea Scrolls left off. It is based on the Nag Hammadi codices, which were unearthed in 1945 -- a discovery considered as significant as the Dead Sea Scrolls themselves. The "Coptic Gnostic Library" contains all the texts of the Nag Hammadi codices, both in the original Coptic and in translation. It sheds an invaluable light upon early Judaism and the roots of Christianity. Now available in paperback.

Preliminary Material /Harold W. Attridge --Foreword /James M. Robinson --Preface /Harold W. Attridge --Table of Tractates in the Coptic Gnostic Library /Harold W. Attridge --Abbreviations and Short Titles /Harold W. Attridge --Introduction /Harold W. Attridge --The Prayer of the Apostle Paul /Dieter Mueller --The Apocryphon of James /Francis E. Williams --The Gospel of Truth /Harold W. Attridge and S.J.|George W. MacRae --The Treatise on the Resurrection /Malcolm L. Peel --The Tripartite Tractate /Harold W. Attridge and Elaine H. Pagels --Indices /Harold W. Attridge.

The collection of thirteen codices found in upper Egypt near Nag Hammadi in 1946 is one of the major archaeological discoveries of our time. Apparently the library of a Gnostic community in late antiquity, the codices are a repository of important spiritual materials from throughout the ancient world. Hence a thorough analysis of this new material is indispensable for any proper understanding of the history of religions in this period. The rich documentation which the codices add to early Coptic text material promises to raise to a new precision the historical analysis of that language.|This edition presents collotype reproductions in natural size of all folios of the thirteen codices as well as reproductions of the covers and photographs previously taken of fragments that are now lost.

Preliminary Material --Foreword /James M. Robinson --Preface /Douglas M. Parrott --Table of Tractates in the Coptic Gnostic Library /Douglas M. Parrott --Abbreviations and Short Titles /Douglas M. Parrott --Textual Signs /Douglas M. Parrott --Introduction /Douglas M. Parrott --Codicological Analysis of Nag Hammadi Codices V and VI and Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 /James M. Robinson --NHC V,2: The Apocalypse of Paul /William R. Murdock and George W. MacRae --NHC V,3: The (First) Apocalypse of James /William R. Schoedel --NHC V,4: The (Second) Apocalypse of James /Charles W. Hedrick --NHC V,5: The Apocalypse of Adam /George W. MacRae --NHC VI,1: The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles /R. McL. Wilson and Douglas M. Parrott --NHC VI,2: The Thunder: Perfect Mind /George W. MacRae --NHC VI,3: Authoritative Teaching /George W. MacRae --NHC VI,4: The Concept of Our Great Power /Frederik Wisse and Francis E. Williams --NHC VI,5: Plato, Republic 588b-589b /James Brashler --NHC VI,6: The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth /Peter A. Dirkse , James Brashler , and Douglas M. Parrott --NHC VI,7: The Prayer of Thanksgiving /Peter A. Dirkse and James Brashler --NHC VI,7a: Scribal Note /Douglas M. Parrott --NHC VI,8: Asclepius 21-29 /Peter A. Dirkse and Douglas M. Parrott --BG,1: The Gospel of Mary /R. McL. Wilson and George W. MacRae --BG,4: The Act of Peter /James Brashler and Douglas M. Parrott --Word Indices /Douglas M. Parrott --References to Ancient Works and Authors /Douglas M. Parrott.

Eugnostos and The Sophia of Jesus Christ (SJC) are two closely related tractates from the Nag Hammadi Coptic Gnostic Library and Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 (only SJC). Here they are presented parallel with each other because they are literarily related, i.e. most of Eugnostos is also found in SJC. Eugnostos is printed in its two Coptic copies (too close to be versions), plus the fragmentary remains of a Greek copy (all with translations). This the first publication of the edited text of Eugnostos from Nag Hammadi Codex V and the first time that all these texts have been presented in one volume. Eugnostos is a non-Christian speculative cosmogony that begins with the primal invisible One, moves on to the structuring of the invisible and visible aeons and concludes at the point where the creation of this world would occur. SJC is a revelation discourse of Christ with his disciples which makes use of the bulk of Eugnostos, and adds new emphases: e.g. the special role of Christ as revealer and savior, the imprisonment of the divine element in flesh, opposition in sexual intercourse, and the commissioning of the disciples. While Eugnostos lacks essential elements of the gnostic world-view, SJC is unquestionably gnostic. If one assumes the priority of Eugnostos, these tractates provide the clearest textual evidence available of a non-gnostic and non-Christian speculative system being transformed into a system that is both gnostic and Christian. An introduction, textual notes and indices are included.

This volume presents critical editions of three of the most fragmentary codices in the Nag Hammadi Library. Their nine tractates are presented in an English translation with critically edited transcriptions of Coptic texts, including introductions and notes. A complete set of indices is provided for Coptic and Greek words, proper names, ancient texts and authors, and modern authors. The contents of these three ancient books reflect the rich diversity of the Library as a whole. They include a fragmentary (and apparently non-Christian) revelation descent narrative (Hypsiphrone); a non-Christian Sethian text reflecting heavy platonizing influence (Allogenes); Hellenistic Greek wisdom literature (Sentence of Sextus); a non-christian Sethian text, secondarily Christianized (Trimorphic Protennoia); Valentinian Gnosticism (A Valentinian Exposition); a Christian-Gnostic tractate with Valentinian affinities (The Interpretation of Knowledge). A Christian-Gnostic (perhaps Valentinian) homily on the gospel (the Gospel of Truth); the first page of On the Origin of the World (completely preserved in NHC II) and an identified fragmentary tractate with ethical content. There are also five Valentinian liturgical supplements appended to Allogenes. The publication of these religio-philosophical materials from Nag Hammadi provides the scholar and interested reader with critical editions of texts that help to fill in background and context of gnostic origins, and that shed light on the interaction among early Christianity and gnostic movements in antiquity.

The collection of thirteen codices found in upper Egypt near Nag Hammadi in 1946 is one of the major archaeological discoveries of our time. Perhaps the library of a Gnostic community in late antiquity, the codices are a repository of important spiritual materials from throughout the ancient world. Hence a thorough analysis of this new material is indispensable for any proper understanding of the history of religions in this period. The rich documentation which the codices add to early Coptic text material promises to raise to a new precision the historical analysis of that language.This edition presents collotype reproductions in natural size of all folios of the thirteen codices as well as reproductions of the covers and photographs previously taken of fragments that are now lost.