Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Sethian Gnostic in orientation.
Date & Provenance
Composed in the 3rd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex VII.
Why It Matters for Study
Presents three hymns of praise to the supreme God, attributed to Seth, the son of Adam. Important for understanding Sethian liturgy and mysticism.
" We praise you, O Father, and we bless you, O Mother, and we glorify you, O Son." — Three Steles of Seth (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Three Steles of Seth — Gnostic Society Full translation with introduction.
- Early Christian Writings — Three Steles of Seth Indexed text and scholarly resources.
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.
Goehring, J. E., & Robinson, J. M. " The Three Steles of Seth." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.
Turner, J. D. " The Three Steles of Seth." In Nag Hammadi Codex VII. Brill, 1996.