Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.
Date & Provenance
Copied in the 4th century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Papyrus codex, 4th century CE. In the Coptic Museum, Cairo.
Why It Matters for Study
Contains Eugnostos the Blessed, the Apocalypse of Paul, the First Apocalypse of James, the Second Apocalypse of James, and the Apocalypse of Adam.
" And Adam said to Seth: My son, listen to my words, for I will reveal to you the things which I saw and heard." — Apocalypse of Adam 1:1 (NHC V,5)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Nag Hammadi Library — Gnostic Society Complete texts and introductions.
- Early Christian Writings — Nag Hammadi Indexed texts 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.
Parrott, D. M., ed. Nag Hammadi Codices V, 2-5 and VI. Brill, 1979.
Hedrick, C. W. The Apocalypse of Adam: A Literary and Source Analysis. Scholars Press, 1980.