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The ''Untitled Text'' in the
Bruce Codex The Bruce Codex (Latin: ) is a codex that contains Coptic, Arabic, and Ethiopic manuscripts. It contains rare Gnostic works; the Bruce Codex is the only known surviving copy of the Books of Jeu and another work simply called Untitled Text or ...
—also called the ''Untitled Treatise'', the ''Untitled Apocalypse'', and ''The Gnosis of the Light''—is a
Gnostic Gnosticism (from Ancient Greek: , romanized: ''gnōstikós'', Koine Greek: nostiˈkos 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced in the late 1st century AD among early Christian sects. These diverse g ...
text. When
James Bruce James Bruce of Kinnaird (14 December 1730 – 27 April 1794) was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who physically confirmed the source of the Blue Nile. He spent more than a dozen years in North and East Africa and in 1770 became the fir ...
acquired the codex in
Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
in 1769, "very little knowledge" was available about this period of Gnostic
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
. It was one of the few known surviving Gnostic works until the discovery of the
Nag Hammadi library The Nag Hammadi library (also known as the Chenoboskion Manuscripts and the Gnostic Gospels) is a collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts discovered near the Upper Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945. Thirteen leather-bound papyrus c ...
in 1945. Carl Schmidt described the text's author as having "full knowledge of
Greek philosophy Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BC. Philosophy was used to make sense of the world using reason. It dealt with a wide variety of subjects, including astronomy, epistemology, mathematics, political philosophy, ethics, metaphysic ...
" and being "full of the doctrine of the Platonic ideas."


Background

James Bruce purchased the Bruce Codex near
Medinet Habu Medinet Habu (; ; ; ) is an archaeological locality situated near the foot of the Theban Hills on the West Bank of the River Nile opposite the modern city of Luxor, Egypt. Although other structures are located within the area and important disco ...
,
Upper Egypt Upper Egypt ( ', shortened to , , locally: ) is the southern portion of Egypt and is composed of the Nile River valley south of the delta and the 30th parallel North. It thus consists of the entire Nile River valley from Cairo south to Lake N ...
, around 1769. It contained text in Coptic,
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
, and
Geʽez Geez ( or ; , and sometimes referred to in scholarly literature as Classical Ethiopic) is an ancient South Semitic language. The language originates from what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea. Today, Geez is used as the main liturgical langu ...
.
Carl Gottfried Woide Carl Gottfried Woide (, ; 4 July 1725 – 9 May 1790), also known in England as Charles Godfrey Woide, was an Orientalist, a biblical scholar and a pastor. Career Woide began his career as a pastor at the Reformed church in Leszno, Poland. In 175 ...
transcribed the entire codex in 1776. The
Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...
obtained the codex in 1848, and in 1886 they
bound Bound or bounds may refer to: Mathematics * Bound variable * Upper and lower bounds, observed limits of mathematical functions Physics * Bound state, a particle that has a tendency to remain localized in one or more regions of space Geography * ...
the texts together. Between Woide's transcription of the codex and the 1970s, seven leaves disappeared altogether, and there is significant damage throughout the manuscripts. Among the texts in the Bruce Codex were the ''Untitled Text'' and the
Books of Jeu The Books of Jeu are two Gnostic texts. Though independent works, both the First Book of Jeu and the Second Book of Jeu appear, in Sahidic Coptic, in the Bruce Codex. They are a combination of a gospel and an esoteric revelation; the work profes ...
. The manuscript in the Bruce Codex is a Coptic translation of an older
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
original. The existing Coptic manuscript of the ''Untitled Text'' probably dates to around 350 CE, and an original Greek manuscript may date to the late third century. It is written in the
Sahidic Coptic () is a dormant Afroasiatic language. It is a group of closely related Egyptian dialects, representing the most recent developments of the Egyptian language, and historically spoken by the Copts, starting from the third century AD in R ...
dialect. It contains 31
leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
in
uncial script Uncial is a majuscule script (written entirely in capital letters) commonly used from the 4th to 8th centuries AD by Latin and Greek scribes. Uncial letters were used to write Greek and Latin, as well as Gothic, and are the current style for ...
on dark, reddish
papyrus Papyrus ( ) is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface. It was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, ''Cyperus papyrus'', a wetland sedge. ''Papyrus'' (plural: ''papyri'' or ''papyruses'') can a ...
, including eight fragmentary leaves and four missing leaves. There are five leaves that do not clearly correspond with any portions of the text, so they have been variously placed by editors at the beginning or end of the text. The text may be several texts compiled together; in 's edited sequence, chapter 21 is possibly a different version of the text that recounts the same stories as earlier chapters.


Summary

The opening of the text describes the First Father as the king of unassailables and the first source who cannot be understood. He gave form to the All within himself and is the source of all. The
demiurge In the Platonic, Neopythagorean, Middle Platonic, and Neoplatonic schools of philosophy, the Demiurge () is an artisan-like figure responsible for fashioning and maintaining the physical universe. Various sects of Gnostics adopted the term '' ...
is the Father of the All and oversees the
aeons The word aeon , also spelled eon (in American and Australian English), originally meant "life", "vital force" or "being", "generation" or "a period of time", though it tended to be translated as "age" in the sense of "ages", "forever", "timele ...
, which are a crown upon his head. The Father creates through the breath of his mouth and commands the All, creating the holy
Pleroma Pleroma (, literally "fullness") generally refers to the totality of divine powers. It is used in Christian theological contexts, as well as in Gnosticism. The term also appears in the Epistle to the Colossians, which is traditionally attributed ...
with four gates. There are many beings and rulers in the Pleroma, including the forefather,
Adam Adam is the name given in Genesis 1–5 to the first human. Adam is the first human-being aware of God, and features as such in various belief systems (including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and Islam). According to Christianity, Adam ...
, and the perfect mind. The indivisible one has three aspects and contains an only-begotten one with triple powers. The immeasurable deep has a table with three greatnesses and a sonship called
Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...
the Verifier with twelve aspects and twelve sources called rational sources. The text describes the deep of Setheus, which has twelve fatherhoods with three aspects each. The only-begotten one is hidden within Setheus and has twelve fatherhoods in his right hand and thirty powers in his left, giving light to the aeons. The
monad Monad may refer to: Philosophy * Monad (philosophy), a term meaning "unit" **Monism, the concept of "one essence" in the metaphysical and theological theory ** Monad (Gnosticism), the most primal aspect of God in Gnosticism * ''Great Monad'', an ...
has twelve monads, ten decads, nine
ennead The Ennead or Great Ennead was a group of nine deities in Egyptian mythology worshipped at Heliopolis: the sun god Atum; his children Shu and Tefnut; their children Geb and Nut; and their children Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. The Enn ...
s, and seven hebdomads. The only-begotten
God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...
is in the monad, which is in Setheus. The creative
Word A word is a basic element of language that carries semantics, meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. Despite the fact that language speakers often have an intuitive grasp of what a word is, there is no consensus among linguist ...
commands the All to work, and the grace of the aeons of the light was granted to some and taken away from others. Watchers were sent to helpers to those who believed in the light-spark. The text describes the indivisible one's crown, which contains every species and
gnosis Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge ( γνῶσις, ''gnōsis'', f.). The term was used among various Hellenistic religions and philosophies in the Greco-Roman world. It is best known for its implication within Gnosticism, where ...
and gives power to every power, prayed for by all the
immortal Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life. Immortal or Immortality may also refer to: Film * ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film * ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film '' The Wisdom of ...
ones. The god-begetting land is described, where all powers receive crowns upon their heads, and the Paralemptores (receivers) are known by the crowns upon their heads. The only-begotten one hidden in the indivisible one commands twelve beneficent ones with crowns upon their heads who bless the only-begotten king and receive the unfading crown. There are multiple enneads and fatherhoods, each with their own rules and monads. The immeasurable deep, surrounded by 365 fatherhoods, is where the
year A year is a unit of time based on how long it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun. In scientific use, the tropical year (approximately 365 Synodic day, solar days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds) and the sidereal year (about 20 minutes longer) ...
was divided. The text describes the roles of an all-visible being and a mother figure in assigning rank and bestowing crowns to believers. The mother figure sets up the self-father and the protogenitor son, who is given the power to create worlds and an aeon called imperishability and
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
. The father of the all sends a crown and an ineffable
garment Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) is any item worn on a human human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin s ...
to the protogenitor, who gives light to all and gathers them into the form of a veil. The text also explores the concept of the existent being separated from the non-existent, and the mother is placed as head with purifying powers and a hidden all-womb. The forefather is given the authority of fatherhood, powers to make all things live and perish, and a power out of the aeon called Solmistos. The text describes the forefather's powers, which were given to him in the aeon of the mother, and his creation of a great aeon, where he placed all the powers he received. He wished to turn the All towards the hidden Father and cried out for his children to bring forth Christ. The mother established her first-born son, gave him hosts of
angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
s and
archangel Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the Catholic hierarchy of angels, based on and put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book ''De Coelesti Hierarchia'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy'') ...
s, twelve powers to serve him, and a garment containing all bodies. The protogenitor divided all matter, raised up myriad kinds, and gave law to them to love and honor God. The mother of the All, forefather, self-father, protogenitor, and powers of the aeon of the mother sang a great song of praise and blessing to the One Alone, praying for ranks and
ordinance Ordinance may refer to: Law * Ordinance (Belgium), a law adopted by the Brussels Parliament or the Common Community Commission * Ordinance (India), a temporary law promulgated by the President of India on recommendation of the Union Cabinet * Em ...
s for their offspring, while those who fled from the matter of the aeon received praise, joy, and knowledge of the true God. The text describes the prayer of the mother to the infinite and unknowable one who sends a power from the Man they desire to see, the Lord of Glory. He separates matter into two parts, the land of life and the land of death, and grants eternal life and immortality to those who
worship Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity or God. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, ...
him. The beings begotten of matter rejoice in their existence and pray for authority to create their own aeons and worlds. God sends powers of discernment to establish ranks and create a dwelling place, which is described as a place of repentance and immersion in the name of the self-begotten one who is God over them. Within this dwelling place are the aeons of the Sophia, truth, and the pre-existent living Jesus, and powers are placed over the
living water Living water (; ) is a biblical term which appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In and , the prophet describes God as "the spring of living water", who has been forsaken by his chosen people Israel. Later, the prophet Zechariah describ ...
to purify those who come to this dwelling place.


Analysis

While many scholars place the ''Untitled Text'' in the Sethian school of Gnosticism, it was likely written after other Sethian works and has influences from
Valentinianism Valentinianism was one of the major Gnostic Christian movements. Founded by Valentinus ( CE – CE) in the 2nd century, its influence spread widely, not just within the Roman Empire but also from northwest Africa to Egypt through to Asia Minor ...
(such as two divine mothers). The writing has a significant amount of similarities with ''
Zostrianos ''Zostrianos'' is a Sethian Gnostic text. It is the first tractate of two in Codex VIII of the Nag Hammadi library. It takes up 132 of the 140 pages in the codex, making ''Zostrianos'' the longest tractate of the entire library. However the text ...
'', an apocalyptic and
neoplatonist Neoplatonism is a version of Platonic philosophy that emerged in the 3rd century AD against the background of Hellenistic philosophy and religion. The term does not encapsulate a set of ideas as much as a series of thinkers. Among the common id ...
text found near Nag Hammadi. The similarities are so substantial—their shared descriptions of Aeons, of celestial "judges", of Michar and Micheau, and occasional identical wording—that scholar Dylan M. Burns writes that the texts demonstrate "literary dependence, although its direction cannot be ascertained". It also shares theological similarities with
Numenius of Apamea Numenius of Apamea (, ''Noumēnios ho ex Apameias''; ) was a Greek philosopher, who lived in Rome, and flourished during the latter half of the 2nd century AD. He was a Neopythagorean and forerunner of the Neoplatonists. Philosophy Statements ...
, particularly Numenius's conception of a second god, which was common in late Platonist philosophy.


References

{{Reflist 4th-century Christian texts Coptic literature Gnostic texts Sethian texts