GNOSTICISM AMS PRESS NEW YORKGNOSTICISM @ source hook of heretical writings from the early Ghristian period edited by ROBERT M. GRANT HARPER & BROTHERSLibrary of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data, Grant, Robert McQueen, 1917- ed, ‘Gnosticism. Reprint of the ed, published by Harper, New York. Bibliography: p. Includes index, 1, Gnosticism—History—Sources. I. Title. 273.4 [BT1390,.G7 1978] ISBN 0-404-16108-1 TT 852T4 EX LIBRIS UNIVERSITATIS NOVIOMAGENSIS: have ies Copyright © 1961 in notes by R. M. Grant, All rights reserved, Reprinted by arrangement with Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., from the edition of 1961, New York. First AMS edition published in 1978. MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Preface This Gnostic anthology was originally prepared for a series, now terminated, published under the auspices of the Com- mittee on the History of Religion of the American Couneil of Learned Societies. Along the way it has received the benefit of a good deal of revision, especially by A. D. Nock, E. R. Hardy, and W. R. Schoedel. As they now stand, the transla~ tions from Greek and Latin documents were made by the editor (except for Corpus Hermeticum I, IV, and VII, originally prepared by F.C. Grant, and XIII, prepared by W. R. Schoedel). The Syriac Hymn of the Soul, originally translated by A. A. Bevan in 1897, has been revised by W, R. Schoedel. The translations of the Gospel of Mary and The Secret Book of John are based on the German version of W. Till as revised from the Coptic by E, R, Hardy. The new transla~ tion of the Gospel of Truth was made by W. W. Isenberg and was awarded a prize by the Christian Research Foundation ‘The translations of-biblical passages are not derived from English versions but from the quotations made by Gnostic writers, though references (o the Psalms are given in accordance with the English numbering. Lam deeply grateful to Professor Hans Jonas for his read~ ing the manuscript at an early stage, for correcting many of my errors, and for leading me co revise the entire work. ‘Through an oversight this acknowledgement was omitted from the British edition of the book