Gnosticisme séthienvignette|316x316px|Seth. Le gnosticisme séthien est un des principaux courants du gnosticisme antique, appelé ainsi parce que son corpus de doctrines est marqué par la figure biblique de Seth, le troisième fils d'Adam et Ève. La bibliothèque de Nag Hammadi désigne un corpus de textes de ce courant, en copte, découverts à Nag Hammadi, ville de haute Égypte, en 1945. "Les écrits 'séthiens' de Nag Hammadi ont nécessairement des sources communes.
Sophia (Gnosticism)Sophia (Σοφíα "Wisdom", ⲧⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ "the Sophia") is a major theme, along with Knowledge (γνῶσις gnosis, Coptic ), among many of the early Christian knowledge-theologies grouped by the heresiologist Irenaeus as (γνωστικοί), "knowing" or "men that claimed to have deeper wisdom". Gnosticism is a 17th-century term expanding the definition of Irenaeus' groups to include other syncretic and mystery religions. In Gnosticism, Sophia is a feminine figure, analogous to the human soul but also simultaneously one of the feminine aspects of God.
Archonte (gnose)Les Archontes sont, dans le Gnosticisme et les religions étroitement liées à lui, les constructeurs de l'univers physique. Parmi les Archontie, Ophites, Séthiens et dans les écrits de Bibliothèque de Nag Hammadi, les archontes sont des dirigeants, chacun étant lié à l'une des sept planètes ; ils empêchent les âmes de quitter le royaume matériel. La connotation politique de leur nom reflète le rejet du système gouvernemental, comme imparfait sans chance de véritable salut.
Livre des secrets de Jeanvignette|Le livre secret de Jean (Apocryphon de Jean) est un texte gnostique séthien du IIe siècle après J.-C. qui contient des enseignements secrets. Le Livre des secrets de Jean ou Livre secret de Jean, Apocryphe de Jean ou encore Apocryphon de Jean, est un texte mythologique gnostique de la fin du . On dispose de quatre copies, une dans le codex de Berlin et les autres dans les codex de la Bibliothèque de Nag Hammadi en deux versions (une longue et une courte).
ZostrianosZostrianos is a Sethian Gnostic text. It is the first tractate of two in Codex VIII of the Nag Hammadi library. It takes up 132 of the 140 pages in the codex, making Zostrianos the longest tractate of the entire library. However the text is extensively damaged, especially in the center, making the document difficult to fully understand. The Coptic manuscript is a translation of a Greek original, likely written in Alexandria in c. 200 AD. In the text, Zostrianos goes on a heavenly journey and receives divine knowledge from the aeons.
AllogenesAllogenes is a series of Gnostic texts. The main character in these texts is Allogenes (Greek: ἀλλογενής), which translates as 'stranger,' 'foreigner,' or 'of another race.' The first text discovered was Allogenes as the third tractate in Codex XI of the Nag Hammadi library. The Coptic manuscript is a translation of a Greek original, likely written in Alexandria before 300 AD. In this text, containing Middle Platonic or Neoplatonic elements, Allogenes receives divine revelations.
IaldabaôthYaldabaoth, otherwise known as Jaldabaoth or Ialdabaoth (ˌjɑːldəˈbeɪɒθ; ⲒⲀⲖⲦⲀⲂⲀⲰⲐ, Ialdabaoth, Greek: Ιαλδαβαώθ ) is a malevolent God and creator of the material world in various Gnostic sects and movements, sometimes represented as a theriomorphic, lion-headed serpent. He is identified as the Demiurge and false god who keeps the souls trapped in physical bodies, imprisoned in the material universe. The etymology of the name Yaldabaoth has been subject to many speculative theories.
MarcosiansThe Marcosians were a Gnostic sect founded by Marcus, active in Lyon, France and southern Europe from the second to the 4th century. Women held special status in the Marcosian communities; they were regarded as prophetesses and participated in administering the Eucharistic rites. Irenaeus accuses Marcus of seducing his followers, and scornfully writes (Adversus Haereses I. 13, 4) that the whole sect was an affair of "silly women." The Marcosian system was a variation of that of Valentinus.
MarsanesMarsanes is a Sethian Gnostic text from the New Testament apocrypha. The only surviving copy comes from the Nag Hammadi library, albeit with 14 pages completely missing and a large number of lines throughout the text damaged beyond recovery. Scholars speculate that the text was originally written by a Syrian in Greek during the third century. The content of the text focuses on the 13 seals, the Triple-Powered One, the shape and structure of the soul, acquiring power and knowledge, and an apocalyptic vision.
Bibliothèque de Nag HammadiLa bibliothèque de Nag Hammadi est un ensemble de douze codex de papyrus reliés en cuir, et partie d'un treizième (un traité en huit folios), du milieu du . Retrouvés en Égypte en 1945 sur le site archéologique de à proximité du village de Hamrah Dawm situé à environ cinq kilomètres au nord de la ville de Nag Hammadi au nord-ouest de Louxor par deux paysans égyptiens, ils sont désormais conservés au musée copte du Caire. Ces codex (les plus anciens connus), contiennent une cinquantaine de traités en copte, traductions de textes écrits initialement en grec ancien.
