Popularity of the Nag Hammadi Texts in Early Christianity Survey and Interpretation of External Evidence
Popularity of the Nag Hammadi Texts in Early Christianity Survey and Interpretation of External Evidence

Summary/Abstract: The paper attempts to answer the question of esotericism of the Nag Hammadi texts. I propose to see these pieces of Christian literature as an essential part of Christian book production in late antique Egypt. Many of them claim to contain secret knowledge restricted to the chosen ones. However, the textual witnesses and testimonia from outside the Nag Hammadi ‘Library’ show that the circulation of many of these texts was wide, and some of these pieces cherished readership comparable to apocryphal or even canonical books. A crucial part of the contribution is a survey of all manuscripts, testimonia, and other evidence of circulation for all Nag Hammadi works.

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