The Gnostic Bible: Gnostic Texts of Mystical Wisdom form the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

202 LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM

The contents of the hymns recall other texts written in the spirit of Seth,

such as the Secret Book of John, the Vision of the Foreigner, the Sermon of

Zostrianos, and Marsanes.^1 The Three Steles of Seth reflects Jewish and neo-

platonic philosophical ideas, the latter particularly in the numerous references

to the neoplatonic triad of existence, life, and mind.

The Three Steles of Seth was likely composed in Greek. The date and place

of composition are unknown, though Alexandria, Egypt, is as likely a place of

composition as any other that has been proposed. Since the neoplatonic

philosopher Plotinos taught a course against the gnostics in 265-66 CE, and his

student Porphyry mentions Zostrianos, the Foreigner (Allogenes), and other

gnostic works, the first half of the third century has been proposed as a plau-

sible time of composition.

THE THREE STELES OF SETH

2

The revelation of Dositheos^3 about the three steles of Seth,^4 father of the liv-

ing and unshakable race.^5 He remembered what he saw, understood, and read,

and gave it to the chosen, just as it was written there.

Often I have joined in glorifying with the powers, and I was considered

worthy by the immeasurable majesties.

The steles are as follows:

THE FIRST STELE OF SETH

I praise you, father Geradamas,^6

I, your son Emmacha Seth,^7

1. Marsanes, which is the single text preserved in Nag Hammadi Codex X, is very fragmentary
   and not included in this volume.


2. The Three Steles of Seth: Nag Hammadi Codex VII,5, pp. 118,10 to 127,27; translated from the
   Coptic by Marvin Meyer.


3. Dositheos was a Samaritan religious leader and the teacher of Simon Magus. Simon Magus is
   discussed in Acts of the Apostles 8 and elsewhere in early Christian literature.


4. Or "three pillars of Seth." Steles are monuments, well known in the Middle East, typically
   with significant public inscriptions.


5. This phrase describes the gnostics, who cannot be shaken and do not waver in their commitments.


6. As in the Secret Book of John, Geradamas is the perfect exalted human, heavenly Adamas or
   Adam, the father of Seth.


7. The meaning of Emmacha is unknown. Elsewhere in gnostic literature featuring Seth refer-
   ence is also made to Emmacha Seth (in Zostrianos) or Eli Eli Machar Machar Seth (in the Bap-
   tismal Ceremony of the Gospel of the Egyptians).