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Codex III

Nag Hammadi Codex III contains five tractates, including the Apocryphon of John, the Gospel of the Egyptians, and the Dialogue of the Savior.|||Papyrus codex, 4th century CE. In the Coptic Museum, Cairo.|||Copied in the 4th century CE. Texts composed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.|||Contains the Apocryphon of John, the Gospel of the Egyptians (Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit), Eugnostos the Blessed, the Sophia of Jesus Christ, and the Dialogue of the Savior.|||Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.|||Böhlig, A., & Wisse, F. Nag Hammadi Codices III, 2 and IV, 2. Brill, 1975.|||Parrott, D. M. Nag Hammadi Codices III, 3-4 and V, 1. Brill, 1991.|||Nag Hammadi Library — Gnostic Society|https://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html|Complete texts and introductions.;; Early Christian Writings — Nag Hammadi|https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/naghammadi.html|Indexed texts and scholarly resources.|||" The holy book of the great invisible Spirit, the Father, the infinite light." — Gospel of the Egyptians (NHC III,2)

Collection: Nag Hammadi Library Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.

Date & Provenance

Copied in the 4th century CE. Texts composed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Papyrus codex, 4th century CE. In the Coptic Museum, Cairo.

Why It Matters for Study

Contains the Apocryphon of John, the Gospel of the Egyptians (Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit), Eugnostos the Blessed, the Sophia of Jesus Christ, and the Dialogue of the Savior.

" The holy book of the great invisible Spirit, the Father, the infinite light." — Gospel of the Egyptians (NHC III,2)

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.
Böhlig, A., & Wisse, F. Nag Hammadi Codices III, 2 and IV, 2. Brill, 1975.
Parrott, D. M. Nag Hammadi Codices III, 3-4 and V, 1. Brill, 1991.