Library

Concept of Our Great Power

The Concept of Our Great Power is a Gnostic text presenting a revelation concerning the nature of the great power and the destiny of the soul.|||Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex VI.|||Composed in the 3rd or 4th century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.|||Presents a revelation concerning the nature of the great power, the origin of the world, and the destiny of the soul. Important for understanding Gnostic cosmology and soteriology.|||Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.|||Wisse, F., & Williams, F. E. " The Concept of Our Great Power." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.|||Williams, F. Mental Perception: A Commentary on NHC VI, 4. Brill, 2001.|||Concept of Our Great Power — Gnostic Society|https://gnosis.org/naghamm/greatpower.html|Full translation with introduction.;; Early Christian Writings — Concept of Our Great Power|https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/greatpower.html|Indexed text and scholarly resources.|||" The great power is the source of all things, and it is the one who is without beginning." — Concept of Our Great Power (paraphrase)

Collection: Gnostic Literature Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.

Date & Provenance

Composed in the 3rd or 4th century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex VI.

Why It Matters for Study

Presents a revelation concerning the nature of the great power, the origin of the world, and the destiny of the soul. Important for understanding Gnostic cosmology and soteriology.

" The great power is the source of all things, and it is the one who is without beginning." — Concept of Our Great Power (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.
Wisse, F., & Williams, F. E. " The Concept of Our Great Power." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.
Williams, F. Mental Perception: A Commentary on NHC VI, 4. Brill, 2001.