Library
All Collections Home

Perfect Sermon

The Perfect Sermon (Sermon of Initiation) is a Hermetic text, also known as the Asclepius, presenting a dialogue between Hermes and Asclepius on the nature of the divine, the cosmos, and the human being.|||Latin translation (4th century CE) preserved in numerous manuscripts. Greek original lost.|||Composed in Greek in the 1st–3rd century CE. Latin translation from the 4th century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||Presents a comprehensive Hermetic cosmology and anthropology. Discusses the creation of the cosmos, the nature of the human being, and the ascent of the soul.|||Copenhaver, B. P. Hermetica. Cambridge University Press, 1992.|||Mead, G. R. S. Thrice-Greatest Hermes. Theosophical Publishing Society, 1906.|||Perfect Sermon — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/th2/index.htm|G. R. S. Mead's translation of the Perfect Sermon.;; Asclepius — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepius_(text)|Background and discussion.|||" I gave the Perfect Sermon yesterday, Asclepius." — Perfect Sermon (Asclepius) 1

Collection: Hermetic Literature Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed in Greek in the 1st–3rd century CE. Latin translation from the 4th century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Latin translation (4th century CE) preserved in numerous manuscripts. Greek original lost.

Why It Matters for Study

Presents a comprehensive Hermetic cosmology and anthropology. Discusses the creation of the cosmos, the nature of the human being, and the ascent of the soul.

" I gave the Perfect Sermon yesterday, Asclepius." — Perfect Sermon (Asclepius) 1

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " I gave the Perfect Sermon yesterday, Asclepius." — Perfect Sermon (Asclepius) 1 " I gave the Perfect Sermon yesterday, Asclepius." — Perfect Sermon (Asclepius) 1

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

Copenhaver, B. P. Hermetica. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Mead, G. R. S. Thrice-Greatest Hermes. Theosophical Publishing Society, 1906.
Perfect Sermon — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/th2/index.htm|G. R. S. Mead's translation of the Perfect Sermon.;; Asclepius — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepius_(text)|Background and discussion.