INTRODUCTION
MARVIN MEYERhe sacred literature of gnostic wisdom offers some of the most beautiful,
enlightening, and disturbing mystical poetry and prose in all religious litera-
ture. The selection presented here consists of twenty-nine texts, some consid-
ered classics of gnostic spirituality, that represent varieties of gnostic religions
in the Mediterranean region during the early centuries of the common era. Of
the many texts that might have been included in this part of the volume, we
have selected texts that are not only representative of major options in gnostic
spirituality but also well preserved and attractive as literature. These texts il-
lustrate early gnostic, Sethian, Valentinian, Syrian, and other varieties of gnos-
tic religions, yet there are points of similarity and connection among them. All
of the texts are concerned with wisdom and knowledge; many of them trace
the fortunes (and misfortunes) of wisdom—personified as Hokhmah or
Sophia—in the context of gnostic themes. Here, as in the wisdom literature
discussed above, the figure of wisdom remains a focal point of attention, but
now wisdom is radicalized, and reflects the very nature of gnosticism by em-
bracing the tragedy and hope of the human experience. In these texts wisdom
creates and reveals, falls and is restored, saves and is saved. And with divine
wisdom, these texts proclaim, fallen human beings too are saved and restored.
THE BOOK OF BARUCH
The church fathers and heresiologists describe, in polemical terms, a number
of figures whom they consider to be early gnostic teachers: Simon Magus, a
first-century teacher from Samaria; Dositheos and Menander, also from
Samaria; Cerinthos, Carpocrates, Saturnilus, Marcellina, and a few others.
About these figures we know only what the heresiologists choose to tell us,
and they choose to tell us little more than that these teachers proclaimed
error and impiety.