The Nag Hammadi Library Checklist

The Nag Hammadi Library is a collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts, discovered in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt.

It consists of 13 leather-bound papyrus codices containing 52 distinct texts (often called tractates), including gospels, apocalypses, prayers, and philosophical treatises.

Six texts are duplicates, resulting in 46 unique works. Most were originally written in Greek during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE but preserved in Coptic translations from the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Below is an extensive list of the contents, organized by codex, with brief descriptions based on available ;

Codex I

1. The Prayer of the Apostle Paul: A short prayer attributed to Paul, invoking divine wisdom and grace.
   

2. The Apocryphon of James (Secret Book of James): A dialogue between Jesus and James, focusing on secret teachings and martyrdom.
   

3. The Gospel of Truth: A meditative sermon on the nature of truth, God, and salvation, possibly Valentinian in origin.
   

4. The Treatise on the Resurrection: A letter discussing the spiritual nature of resurrection, addressed to a figure named Rheginos.
   

5. The Tripartite Tractate: A lengthy theological treatise on cosmology, anthropology, and salvation, likely Valentinian.
   

Codex II

1. The Apocryphon of John: A revelation dialogue describing the creation of the world, the fall of Sophia, and salvation through divine knowledge. (Also appears in Codices III and IV.)
   

2. The Gospel of Thomas: A collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, emphasizing mystical and esoteric teachings. One of the best-preserved texts.
   

3. The Gospel of Philip: A collection of theological reflections, sacraments, and sayings, focusing on themes like marriage and resurrection.
   

4. The Hypostasis of the Archons (Reality of the Rulers): A cosmological text describing the rule of archons (evil rulers) and humanity’s divine origin.
   

5. On the Origin of the World: A detailed Gnostic cosmogony, explaining the creation and structure of the universe.
   

6. The Exegesis on the Soul: A narrative about the soul’s fall, corruption, and redemption, with allegorical interpretations.
   

7. The Book of Thomas the Contender: A dialogue between Jesus and Thomas, emphasizing asceticism and spiritual knowledge.
   

Codex III

1. The Apocryphon of John (duplicate): See Codex II.

   
   

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit): A mythological text about the divine realm and the origins of humanity.
   

3. Eugnostos the Blessed: A philosophical treatise on the nature of God and the cosmos, non-Christian in tone.
   

4. The Sophia of Jesus Christ: A revelation dialogue where Jesus explains cosmological and spiritual truths to his disciples.
   

5. The Dialogue of the Savior: A fragmented dialogue between Jesus and disciples, discussing salvation and the end of the world.
   

Codex IV

1. The Apocryphon of John (duplicate): See Codex II.
   

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (duplicate): See Codex III.
   

Codex V

1. Eugnostos the Blessed (duplicate): See Codex III.
   

2. The Apocalypse of Paul: A visionary account of Paul’s ascent through the heavens, encountering divine beings.
   

3. The First Apocalypse of James: A dialogue between Jesus and James, focusing on martyrdom and spiritual endurance.
   

4. The Second Apocalypse of James: Another discourse with James, emphasizing Jesus’ teachings and James’ role.
   

5. The Apocalypse of Adam: A revelation from Adam to Seth about the flood and humanity’s salvation.
   

Codex VI

1. The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles: A narrative of the apostles’ missionary journey, with allegorical elements.
   

2. The Thunder, Perfect Mind: A poetic text where a divine female figure (possibly Sophia) speaks in paradoxical statements.
   

3. Authoritative Teaching (Authentikos Logos): A treatise on the soul’s journey and liberation from material entrapment.
   

4. The Concept of Our Great Power: A text on the nature of divine power and the history of salvation.
   

5. Plato, Republic 588A–589B: A Coptic translation of a fragment from Plato’s Republic, discussing the soul.
   

6. The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth: A Hermetic text about mystical ascent to the divine realms.
   

7. The Prayer of Thanksgiving: A short Hermetic prayer of gratitude, with a scribal note.
   

8. Asclepius 21–29: A fragment of the Hermetic Asclepius, discussing divine revelation and cosmology.
   

Codex VII

1. The Paraphrase of Shem: A complex revelation about creation, divine powers, and salvation.
   

2. The Second Treatise of the Great Seth: A polemic text where Jesus describes his crucifixion as an illusion and criticizes false teachings.
   

3. The Apocalypse of Peter: A vision of Peter witnessing the crucifixion and receiving secret teachings.
   

4. The Teachings of Silvanus: A wisdom text blending Christian and Hellenistic ideas, urging moral and spiritual discipline.
   

5. The Three Steles of Seth: A liturgical text with hymns praising the divine, attributed to Seth.
   

Codex VIII

1. Zostrianos: A lengthy revelation text about a figure’s ascent through celestial realms, heavily Sethian.
   

2. The Letter of Peter to Philip: A letter and dialogue where Jesus imparts teachings to his disciples.
   

Codex IX

1. Melchizedek: A fragmented revelation text involving the biblical figure Melchizedek and divine visions.
   

2. The Thought of Norea: A short hymn or ode invoking Norea, a Gnostic figure, for divine aid.
   

3. The Testimony of Truth: A polemical text critiquing mainstream Christianity and advocating Gnostic views.
   

Codex X

1. Marsanes: A fragmented Sethian text about prophetic visions and cosmological revelations.
   

Codex XI

1. The Interpretation of Knowledge: A treatise on spiritual understanding and the role of the Gnostic community.
   

2. A Valentinian Exposition: A theological text on Valentinian Gnosticism, with sections on:
   

   • On the Anointing

   • On Baptism A

   • On Baptism B

   • On the Eucharist A

   • On the Eucharist B
     

3. Allogenes: A Sethian revelation about a figure’s mystical ascent and divine knowledge.
   

4. Hypsiphrone: A brief, fragmented text about a female figure’s vision, possibly related to Sophia.
   

Codex XII

1. The Sentences of Sextus: A collection of wisdom sayings, partially preserved, with Christian and Hellenistic influences.
   

2. The Gospel of Truth (duplicate): See Codex I.
   

3. Fragments: Unidentified remnants, too damaged to classify.
   

Codex XIII

1. Trimorphic Protennoia: A Sethian text where a divine figure (Protennoia) describes her role in creation and salvation.
   

2. On the Origin of the World (duplicate): See Codex II.
   

Notes

• Duplicates: Six texts appear multiple times across codices (e.g., Apocryphon of John in Codices II, III, IV), reducing the unique text count to 46.
  

• Genres: The library includes gospels, apocalypses, letters, prayers, hymns, and philosophical treatises, similar to New Testament genres, plus Hermetic and Platonic works.gnosticismexplained.org
  

• Condition: Some texts, like The Gospel of Thomas, are well-preserved, while others, like Marsanes and Hypsiphrone, are heavily fragmented with lacunae (gaps).bibliotecapleyades.net
  

• Significance: The library, primarily Gnostic but including non-Gnostic works (e.g., Plato’s Republic), provides insight into early Christian diversity and Gnostic thought. The Gospel of Thomas is particularly notable for its complete text and parallels to early Christian sayings.en.wikipedia.org
  

• Context: Likely used by a Pachomian monastic community, possibly buried after Athanasius’ 367 CE condemnation of non-canonical texts, though some suggest a funerary deposit by a wealthy individual.