Codex XII, Text 1 — Nag Hammadi Library

The beloved Son revealed himself and made known the Father, the ineffable one.

This is a fragmentary second copy of The Gospel of Truth preserved in Codex XII. Only pages 53–54 and 57–60 survive, all heavily damaged. For the complete text, see The Gospel of Truth in Codex I.

The surviving fragments correspond to the latter portions of the treatise as preserved in Codex I.

Page 53

[...] and those who hear him —
he gives them the heavens and the fullness
of a grace. He, the beloved Son,
revealed himself and made known
the Father, the ineffable one.
He breathed his thought into them
and did his will. Many then
received the light. They were in the grace.
At first they were strangers to it [...]
[...] he did not turn [...]

Page 54

[Lines 1–18 — missing]

[...] the gate that is shut, he broke open [...]
[...] and the gate. He gathered
those who had gone astray. A shepherd
he became for those who were scattered. A knowledge
he became for those who were ignorant.
An immortality he became
for those who were dead. This is the redemption,
laying down the pity and
the sixty sheep that had not gone astray. He
sought the one that had gone astray [...]

Page 57

He appears in every place. If he should
touch all matter, the fragrance
that is his, he gives it to the light. And
in his mercy he is exalted
above every form. For it is not
the flesh that hears, but it is the Spirit that
hears it, in the way that the Spirit
draws the fragrance to itself. And
the Spirit gives rest to it [...]
[...] upon it [...]
[...] from the fragrances of
wine. An outpouring from the fragrances,
for it is a psychic
[...] fashioning [...]
[...] the division [...]
[...] the place [...]
[...] therefore he came,
the faithful one. He dissolved the division
and came to the fulfilment
that is within, so that he might not
remain saving. For him the ploughman came, and
he will dissolve in the perfect
heart. This is the word of the
fragrance that was long
proclaimed — the salvation of those who
are called, being prepared
through him, of the salvation that is a [...]
[...] manifest. This one who [...]
[...] being prepared from [...]
[...]

Page 58

[...] is the light, in which there is no shadow.
Ask, then, whether the Fullness
comes and the deficiency does not exist
through the error. And it came to be because of it,
the divinity of the Father,
the immovable one. He gave a time to the deficiency,
although there existed no one
who would describe the nature of the
incomprehensible one. But a [...]
the depth of the Father [...]
thought at all beside [...]
[...] he exists [...]
[...] is the [...]
[...] the gain [...]
[...] for the one who turns back, he is
called a repentance.
Therefore, incorruption pursued
sin, so that there might be
a healing [...]
[...] to exist [...this]
is the forgiveness through the Word
of the Fullness. This one,
for he runs to this place where
the sickness is, because he gives
from himself [...]
the deficiency — because the one who is deficient
gives from himself. This is the way of the Fullness.

Page 59

[Lines 1–17 — missing]

[...] in their midst. They spoke of
the Anointed One, so that they might receive
a turning back — those who are troubled — and from
him receive the consolation. The consolation,
for it is the mercy of the Father.
He had mercy on them and they received the consolation.
This is what they received, the fulfilment.
For the vessels that are not yet
shattered — whenever the consolation
is dissolved, it emptied [...]
became empty. The rest, that it may
use, the dissolution of the
consolation — it overthrows [...]

Page 60

[...] since the depth of
his thought — the Word that
came, he revealed it. The Mind and
the Word, the unspeaking one from
the day when he was named
'thought,' since
he was dwelling within it before he appeared.
He shall come to appear
when the will of the one who
wills it is pleased. The will —
it is what he rests his whole heart upon,
the Father, and what he is pleased with [...]

Colophon

The Gospel of Truth (Codex XII copy) is the first text of Codex XII. Only pages 53–54 and 57–60 survive, all severely damaged with large lacunae. This is a fragmentary second copy of the same treatise preserved more completely in Codex I (pages 16–43). The surviving fragments correspond to the latter sections of the work, touching on the revelation of the Son, the pastoral parable of the lost sheep, the fragrance of the Spirit, divine mercy, and the Word as thought of the Father.

For the complete text, see The Gospel of Truth in Codex I.

Source: Coptic (Sahidic) text from Nag Hammadi Codex XII, pages 53–54, 57–60. Translation: Good Works Translation, New Tianmu Anglican Church.
Scribe: Kavi

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Source Text — Sahidic Coptic

Page 53

53.19 .
53.20 [ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲣⲟϥ
53.21 [ⲛⲉϥt ⲛⲁⲩ ⲛttⲡⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲓ ⲛ
53.22 ⲟⲩⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲧⲁϥ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ
53.23 ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲙⲟⲟⲩ
53.24 ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲓⲁⲧϣⲁϫ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉ
53.25 ⲁϥⲛⲓϥⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲣⲟ
53.26 ⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ: ⲁϩⲁϩ ϭⲉ
53.27 ϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲛ ⲡⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲥⲁ
53.28 ⲣⲭ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲟ ⲛϣⲙⲙⲟ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ
53.29 4-5 ⲉⲛⲉϥⲕⲧⲁⲉⲓⲧ ⲙ.[

Page 54

54.18
54.19 [ⲙⲣⲣⲉ ⲉⲧϭⲗⲙⲗⲟⲙⲧ ⲁϥⲡⲟⲣⲕⲟⲩ
54.20 9- ⲛⲃⲣⲣⲉ ⲁϥⲥⲟⲟϩⲉ ⲉ
54.21 ϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲗⲁⲁⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲟ
54.22 ⲉⲓⲧ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲥⲟⲣⲙ̅: ⲟⲩ
54.23 ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛⲁⲧ
54.24 ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ: ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲁⲧⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ
54.25 ⲛⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲡⲁⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲱⲥ
54.26 ⲉϥⲕⲱ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲙⲡⲓⲯⲧⲁⲉⲓⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲯⲓⲥ
54.27 ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲟⲩⲥⲱⲣⲙ ⲁϥ
54.28 ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲣⲙ

Page 57

57.1 [ϥⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲙⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉϥϣⲁⲛ
57.2 ⲧⲱϩ ⲉtϩⲩⲗⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲡⲓⲥtⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ
57.3 ⲛⲧⲁϥ ϥt ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲁⲩ
57.4 ⲱ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲛⲧϩⲁⲣϣϩⲏⲧ ϥϫⲟⲥⲉ
57.5 ⲉϫⲛ ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ: ⲡⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲁⲛ
57.6 ⲡⲉ ⲉϣⲁϥϣⲱⲗⲙ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲡⲡⲛⲁ̅ ⲡⲉⲧ
57.7 ϣⲱⲗⲙ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲙⲡⲣⲏⲧⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲡⲛⲁ̅
57.8 ⲥⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲓⲥtⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁⲩ
57.9 ⲱ ⲡⲡⲛⲁ̅ ⲡⲉⲧt ⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲁϥ
57.10 [ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉϫⲱϥ.
57.11 ⲉⲃⲟⲗϩⲛ ⲛⲓⲥtⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ ⲛϣ
57.12 ⲣⲡ̅ ⲉⲧⲁⲣϣ̅ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛⲓⲥtⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ
57.13 ⲅⲁⲣ ⲡⲉ: ⲟⲩⲯⲩⲝⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲗⲁⲥⲙⲁ
57.14 10- . ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲙⲉⲣⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ
57.15 11- ⲙ ⲡⲙⲁ .
57.16 [ 12- ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲛ
57.17 ϭⲓ ⲡⲛⲁϩⲧⲉ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲓⲙⲉ
57.18 ⲡⲓⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥⲉⲓ ⲉⲡϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
57.19 ⲉⲧϩⲏⲙ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲛⲛⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ
57.20 ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧ ⲉⲉⲓ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲓⲁⲣⲟϣ ⲁⲩ
57.21 ⲱ ϥⲛⲁⲃⲱⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲧⲱⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲉⲧ
57.22 ϫⲏⲕⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲡϣⲙ̅
57.23 ⲛⲟⲩϥⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁϣⲉ ⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲙ
57.24 ⲙⲟϥ ⲡⲟⲩϫⲁⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲟⲩ
57.25 ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲙⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏ
57.26 ⲧϥ̅ ⲙⲡⲟⲩϫⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲟⲩ.
57.27 [.ⲟⲩⲟⲛϩ ⲡⲁⲉⲓ ⲉⲧϫ
57.28 [. ⲉⲩⲥⲟⲙⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ
57.29 ϫⲱ[

Page 58

58.1 [ⲡⲉ ⲡⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲓⲃⲉⲥ
58.2 ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ϫⲛ̅ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲉϣϫⲉ ϣⲁϥ
58.3 ⲉⲓ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲓⲡⲗⲏⲣⲱⲙⲁ: ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙⲡⲉ
58.4 ⲡⲓϣⲧⲁ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̅
58.5 ⲛtⲡⲗⲁⲛⲏ: ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲏ
58.6 ⲏⲧⲥ̅ ⲛtⲙⲛⲧⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ
58.7 ⲁⲧϣⲓⲧⲥ ⲁϥt ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲙⲡⲓϣⲧⲁ
58.8 ⲕⲁⲓⲧⲟⲓ ⲛⲉϥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛϭⲓ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ
58.9 ⲉⲧⲛⲁϣⲧⲁⲩⲟ ⲙⲡⲣⲏⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲓ
58.10 ⲁⲧϫⲱϩⲙ̅ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩ
58.11 [ⲡⲃⲁⲑⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ
58.12 [ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ϩⲟⲗⲱⲥ ϩⲁⲧⲟⲟⲧ
58.13 [.ϥϣⲱⲡⲉ: ⲉ
58.14 [.ⲙⲉⲧ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲡ
58.15 [. ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲧ.
58.16 [ ⲡϭⲓⲛⲉ
58.17 [.ⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲧⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲥⲉ
58.18 ⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓⲁ
58.19 ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲁϥⲑⲁⲣⲥⲓⲁ ⲡⲱⲧ ⲛⲥⲁ
58.20 ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ϩⲓⲛⲁ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉϣⲱ
58.21 ⲡⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲟⲩⲧⲁⲗϭⲟ: ⲡ.
58.22 [. ⲛ..ϣⲱⲡⲉ .ⲡⲁⲓ
58.23 ⲡⲕⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲡⲉ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲙⲡⲗⲟ
58.24 ⲅⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲡⲗⲏⲣⲱⲙⲁ: ⲡⲁⲓ
58.25 ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϣⲁϥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲉⲧⲉ
58.26 ⲡϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ϥt ⲛ
58.27 ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲙⲗⲓ.
58.28 [ⲡⲓϣⲧⲁ: ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲣ ϣⲧⲁ
58.29 ϥt ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲙⲡⲓⲡⲗⲏ
58.30 ⲣⲱⲙⲁ

Page 59

59.17
59.18 ⲡⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲁⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉ
59.19 ⲡⲝⲥ̅ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲥⲉⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲛⲟⲩⲥⲧⲟ
59.20 ⲛϭⲓ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧϣⲧⲣ̅ⲧⲱⲣ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲟ
59.21 ⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲛⲥⲉϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲓⲧⲱϩⲥ̅: ⲡⲓⲧⲱ
59.22 ϩⲥ̅ ⲅⲁⲣⲡⲉⲡⲛⲁⲉ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ
59.23 ⲉⲁϥⲛⲁⲉ ϭⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲁⲩϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲓⲧⲱ
59.24 ϩⲥ̅ ⲡⲁⲉⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ: ⲛⲓⲥ
59.25 ⲕⲉⲩⲟⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲙϣⲁⲯⲧⲁϩ
59.26 ⲥⲟⲩ ϩⲟⲧⲁⲛ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϥϣⲁⲛⲃⲱⲗ ⲉ
59.27 ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲓⲧⲱϩⲥ ⲁϥϣ
59.28 [ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ: ⲧⲗⲟⲉⲓϭⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲣ
59.29 ⲛⲟⲩⲝⲣⲓⲁ ⲡⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲓ
59.30 ⲧⲱϩⲥ̅ ⲧⲉ ϣⲁϥⲕⲁⲧⲉⲝⲉ

Page 60

60.17 [.ϣ
60.18 [.ⲛ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲉⲩϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲃⲁⲑⲟⲥ ⲙ
60.19 ⲡⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲡⲗⲟⲅⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲁϥ
60.20 ⲉⲓ ⲁϥⲟⲩⲟⲛϩⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲛ
60.21 ⲧⲉ ⲡⲗⲟⲅⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲛ ϫⲓⲛ
60.22 ⲙⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉϥϭⲉⲉⲧ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩ
60.23 ⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲉϥ
60.24 ϭⲱ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲉⲙⲡⲁⲧϥ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ
60.25 ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲟⲩ
60.26 ⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲟⲧⲁⲛ ⲉϥϣⲁⲛⲉⲩ
60.27 ⲇⲟⲕⲉⲓ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲉⲧϥ̅
60.28 ⲟⲩⲱϣⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲡⲉⲧϥ̅ⲙⲟ
60.29 ⲧⲛ̅ ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲧⲏⲣϥ̅ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ̅
60.30 [ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧϥ̅ⲉⲩⲇⲟⲕⲉⲓ

Source Colophon

Sahidic Coptic text of The Gospel of Truth (Codex XII copy), Nag Hammadi Codex XII, pages 53–54, 57–60. Transcription from codex photographs and critical editions.

Source: Milan Konvicka / Marcion Project (GPL v2).

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