Zostrianos is a Sethian Gnostic text.[1] It is the first tractate of two in Codex VIII of the Nag Hammadi library.[2] It takes up 132 of the 140 pages in the codex, making Zostrianos the longest tractate of the entire library.[3][4] However the text is extensively damaged, especially in the center,[2][3] making the document difficult to fully understand.[3][4] The Coptic manuscript is a translation of a Greek original, likely written in Alexandria in c. 200 AD.[5] In the text, Zostrianos goes on a heavenly journey and receives divine knowledge from the aeons.[2][4]
The work is likely the same Zostrianos that Porphyry criticized in Life of Plotinus.[2][4][6] Like other Sethian Gnostic texts Marsanes, Allogenes, and Three Steles of Seth, its ideas appear more Middle Platonic or Neoplatonic than Christian.[5][7] However, Porphyry said that these works belonged to Christian heretics.[7] Bentley Layton explains this apparent contradiction with the belief that Zostrianos was written by a Gnostic Christian author who was fascinated with Eastern religious heroes who had special knowledge relating to the divine, such as Zoroaster.[5]
^Suciu, Alin. "A Conversation with John D. Turner on Sethian Gnosticism". AlinSuciu.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abcdSieber, John H. "Zostrianus". The Coptic encyclopedia, volume 1. Claremont Graduate University. School of Religion. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abcSieber, John H. (1973). "An Introduction to the Tractate Zostrianos from Nag Hammadi". Novum Testamentum. 15 (3): 233–40. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abcdSieber, John H. (March 1981). The Nag Hammadi library in English. San Francisco: Harper & Row. p. 368. ISBN 9780060669294. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abcKirby, Peter. "Zostrianos". Early Christian Writings. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^Porphyry. "On the Life of Plotinus and the Arrangement of his Work". Porphyry, "Life of Plotinus". Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abMajercik, Ruth (May 2005). "Porphyry and Gnosticism". The Classical Quarterly. 55 (1): 277–292. doi:10.1093/cq/bmi020. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
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Kalyptos and Protophanes according to Zostrianos). Autogenes is mentioned in Nag Hammadi texts such as Zostrianos, The Three Steles of Seth, Allogenes...
Kalyptos and Autogenes according to Zostrianos). Protophanes is mentioned in Nag Hammadi texts such as Zostrianos, The Three Steles of Seth, Allogenes...
unrestrainable and immeasurable Voice." Zostrianos—the aeon Barbēlō is referred to in many places. In Zostrianos, Barbelo has three sublevels or subaeons...
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Sethian texts continue to interact with Platonism. Sethian texts such as Zostrianos and Allogenes draw on the imagery of older Sethian texts, but use "a large...
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have given you living water" (John 4:10). In the Sethian Gnostic text Zostrianos, the Living Water is personified with the name Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus...
of the Egyptians. Porphyry identified Allogenes in the same breath as Zostrianos, and in this purely Gnostic context, Wire adds the Untitled Text of the...
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works is a descent or ascent theme. The Three Steles of Seth—along with Zostrianos, Allogenes, and Marsanes—uses the ascent pattern. Furthermore, these four...
divine triads. The fourth, fifth, and sixth triads are also mentioned in Zostrianos. Gnostic Gospels List of Gospels Monad (Gnosticism) New Testament apocrypha...
in the text. 38 NHC-VIII 1 Zostrianos 1–132 Zost. The title at the end of the treatise. Revelations received by Zostrianos from the "angel of knowledge"...
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Apocalypse of Peter Teachings of Silvanus Three Steles of Seth Codex VIII Zostrianos Letter of Peter to Philip Codex IX Melchizedek Thought of Norea Testimony...
about judgment and a cleansing from sin through a living water. Like Zostrianos, and Allogenes, the text describes a very elaborate esoteric cosmogony...
Sethian works such as the Apocryphon of John, Trimorphic Protennoia, and Zostrianos. All Sethian works combine Jewish traditions with Platonic doctrines,...
beliefs with other Sethian Gnostic works, such as the Apocryphon of John, Zostrianos, Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit, and Three Steles of Seth. The...
Apocalypse of Peter Teachings of Silvanus Three Steles of Seth Codex VIII Zostrianos Letter of Peter to Philip Codex IX Melchizedek Thought of Norea Testimony...
Apocalypse of Peter Teachings of Silvanus Three Steles of Seth Codex VIII Zostrianos Letter of Peter to Philip Codex IX Melchizedek Thought of Norea Testimony...
Sethian texts are continuing to interact with Platonism, and texts such as Zostrianos and Allogenes draw on the imagery of older Sethian texts, but utilize...
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