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Codex XIII

Nag Hammadi Codex XIII contains only one tractate: the Trimorphic Protennoia.|||Papyrus codex, 4th century CE. In the Coptic Museum, Cairo.|||Copied in the 4th century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition. Sethian Gnostic in orientation.|||Contains the Trimorphic Protennoia (Three Forms of First Thought), a Sethian Gnostic text with close parallels to the Prologue of the Gospel of John.|||Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.|||Hedrick, C. W., ed. Nag Hammadi Codices XI, XII, XIII. Brill, 1990.|||Poirier, P.-H. La Pensée première à la triple forme. Peeters, 2006.|||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.|||" I am the Thought of the Father, the Protennoia, the first thought of the All." — Trimorphic Protennoia (NHC XIII,1)

Collection: Nag Hammadi Library Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition. Sethian 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 the Trimorphic Protennoia (Three Forms of First Thought), a Sethian Gnostic text with close parallels to the Prologue of the Gospel of John.

" I am the Thought of the Father, the Protennoia, the first thought of the All." — Trimorphic Protennoia (NHC XIII,1)

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.
Hedrick, C. W., ed. Nag Hammadi Codices XI, XII, XIII. Brill, 1990.
Poirier, P.-H. La Pensée première à la triple forme. Peeters, 2006.