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 XIII.
Why It Matters for Study
Presents the revelation of the divine First Thought (Protennoia) in three forms, with close parallels to the Prologue of the Gospel of John. Important for understanding the relationship between Gnosticism and the Johannine tradition.
" I am the Thought of the Father, the Protennoia, the first thought of the All." — Trimorphic Protennoia (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Trimorphic Protennoia — Gnostic Society Full translation with introduction.
- Early Christian Writings — Trimorphic Protennoia 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.
Turner, J. D. " Trimorphic Protennoia." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.
Poirier, P.-H. La Pensée première à la triple forme. Peeters, 2006.