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Nag Hammadi Library

NHC-XIII-2

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On the Origin of the World — NHC-XIII-2 — sourceblocks 1–4

NHC XIII, 2 Fragment Introduction (Corresponds to NHC II, 5, 97-98) Given that everyone, (both) cosmic gods and humans, says that nothing existed before Chaos, in contrast to them, I will prove [that] all of them have been in error, because they are ignorant of the origin of Chaos and of its root as well. Here, however, is the proof: When it comes to the topic of Chaos, how it pleases all people to claim that it is a type of darkness! Actually, it originates from a shadow [called by the name] “Darkness,” but the shadow [originates from an] active entity that has existed from the beginning. […]

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About this edition

Nag Hammadi — Sophia, Three Steles, Peter/Philip and Origin fragments

Unverified edition

Reading language: eng · Original language (catalog): Coptic; many works reflect Greek antecedents

Recorded completeness: Complete supplied author-dedicated English translations of Sophia of Jesus Christ (NHC III,4 and separate BerlinBG8502,3), Three Steles of Seth (NHC VII,5, with original Dositheos prologue and all three steles), Letter of Peter to Philip (NHC VIII,2 and separate CodexTchacos1), and the supplied Origin of the World fragments (NHC XIII,2 and separately attributed BritishLibrary/Oeyen fragments). Seven distinct Reader chapters. Berlin, Tchacos and Oeyen alternate witnesses are explicitly identified as related material, not manuscripts discovered at Nag Hammadi. These are complete supplied translations of fragmentary witnesses, not reconstruction of missing text or all Nag Hammadi Library. Full source word order, source page markers, lacunae and sigla retained; separate Notes/marketing/bibliographic intro excluded. Prior anthology editions remain public unchanged. No original Coptic or newly generated HSLT claim.. Available reading sections are listed below.

Limited body coverage in this view · eng

7 chapter/reading unit(s) · 63 nonempty passage record(s).

Fewer reading units or passage records than another edition of this work shown here. Editions may divide text differently.

Supported chapters & passages
  • NHC-III-4 · 15 passage record(s)
  • BG-8502-3 · 14 passage record(s)
  • NHC-VII-5 · 6 passage record(s)
  • NHC-VIII-2 · 11 passage record(s)
  • CT-1-PETER-PHILIP · 9 passage record(s)
  • NHC-XIII-2 · 1 passage record(s)
  • OEYEN-ORIGIN-FRAGMENTS · 7 passage record(s)

Body coverage is separate from textual verification. Counts do not establish complete chapters or textual completeness.

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