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    Sethian Gnosticism and The Platonic Tradition Turner

    Uploaded by

    Ambre Boréal

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    PALEY LIBRARY nTegesrag tet ne yer te wei rods fre tet be ned ye ‘angele altcke ce ecioreal ie Bee BIBLIOTHEQUE COPTE DE NAG HAMMADI SECTION « ETUDES » 1 apes SETHIAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION Fe PT /39/ Jo, TURNER PIs Joa/ BY LES PRESSES EDITIONS , DEL'UNIVERSITE LAVAL 3 PEETERS (QUEBEC LOUVAIN — PARIS Cet owvrage a éré publié grace au soutien de la Fondation J.-Armand Bombardier et du Conseil de recherches en sciences humatines du Conada, ‘Canadian Cataloguing i Pubiteation Data (Canada) ‘Tumer, John D, 1938 Sethian gnosticism andthe platonic tration (Bibliotheque copte de Nag Hammadi, Section Etudes; 6) (Co-published by: EltionsPecers Includes bibliographical references and indexes, ISBN 2-7637-7834-8 1. Grostcians 2, Neoplatonism. 3. Pato ~ Contributions in metaphysis. 4, Pato Religion. 5. Neg Hammadi codices. 6. Metaphysics. Tie. I. Series, BT1391.T87 2001 4 (€2001.981508.8 © Les Presses de Université Laval ISBN 2.7637-7834-8 PUL) Peeters ~ Louvain ~ Paris {ISBN 90-429.1088-7 (Peeters, Belgium) ISBN 2.87723-610-2 (Peeters, France) 2020602014 ‘Tous dite de reproduction, adaptation ou de eadstion, par quelque procké que ce soit réservés pour tous pays san autorsation rite de éditeur ou de ses ayant dei In memory of my father WARREN OSMAN TURNER 1899-1996 the granite of New Hampshire ...” CONTENTS Preface and acknowledgements. (CHAPTER Owe: THE PROBLEM OF THE RELATION BETWEEN GNOSTICISM AND PLATONISM, lews on the Relation of Gnosticism to Patonism. \. Gnosticism as Platonism Gnosticism and Later Platonism as interdependent. ‘The Gnostic Synthesis of Judaic and Platonic Conceptuality . Rethinking the Relationship between Gnosticism and Plator Caveat F, Platonizing Treatises in the Nag Hammadi Library. E PART ONE. SETHIAN GNosricism (CHAPTER TWO: THE LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC SETHIANISM 1. The Sethians. gh Ga Me ane 1. The Sethian Literature . 11.Common Sethian Doctrines and Mythologumena ‘A. The Sethian Revelation par excellence: the Apoeryphon of Fol B. The Transcendent World of the Sethian. C. Two Patterns of the Salvifie Process 1. The “Descent Pattern” Enlightenment by a Descending Revealer 2. The “Ascent Pattern”: iterment by Contemplative Ascent IV.An Anticipatory Sketch of the Ontology: of the Sethian Treatises. V. Literary Genre of the Sethian Treatises Vi.Summary of Main Doctrinal and Literary Features. xv 37 37 60 a 69 78 80 80 81 85 87 1 vi ETHAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION (CHAPTER THREE: INTERDEPENDENCIES AMONG THE SETHIAN, ‘TReanists eran 1. Thematic Interdependencies | A. Treatises Employing the Descent Patiem | | The Apoeryphon of John. . ‘The Trimorphic Protennoia . | | Meichizedek wae Apocalypse of Adam 5 ‘The Gospel of the Egyptians. | | | 6. The Hypostasis ofthe Archons 7. The Thought of Norea . . B. Treatises Employing the Ascent Pattern 1, Zostrianos $ : 2, Allogenes Bi 3. The Three Steles of Seth | | . 4. Marsanes, i : 1M, Summary of Main Doctrinal and Literary Features (CHAPTEK FOUR: THE CHRONOLOGY AND REDACTION OF THE SETHIAN TREATISES. PARTI: TREATISES OF THE DESCENT PATTERN . 1, 100-125 ck: The Earliest Sethian Compositions ‘A. Hymnie Accounts ofthe Savior's Descent . B, The Pronoia Monologue of the Apoeryphon of John 1M, 125-150+ ce: Christianized Sethian Treatises, A. The Apocryphon of Jak wer 1. Sources and Redaction. | 2. The Anthropogony and Soteriology 3. The Date of the Apocryphon of John B. ‘The Trimorphic Protennoia postage 1. The Redactional Stages of The Trimorphic Protennoia 2. The Trimorphic Protennoia and Johannine Christianity, ML.150-175+ ce: Sethian-Christian polemic. | A, The Apocalypse of Adam... . B. The Hypostasis of the Archons and the Thought of Norea : 1V.175-200+ ce: Thoroughly Christianized Sethianism 93 93 93 100 101 103 106 108 108 na ns 122 12 125 127 128 128 130 136 136 136 1B9 41 142 142 151 155 135 166 169 ‘TABLE OF CONTENTS ‘A, The Gospel ofthe Egyptians. 5. 2... B. Melchizedek . V. 200+ CE: The Platonizing Sethian Treatises. | | CCHLAPTER FIVE: THE CHRONOLOGY AND REDACTION OF THE SETMIAN TREATISES. PART I TREATISES OF THE ASCENT PATTERN AND SUMMARY « get 2 1. 200-300 ce: The Seen Raprechenent wit Poin Zostrianos. . Allogenes. . The Three Steles of Seth 1. Marsanes. ‘The Untitled Treatise of the Bruce Codex Plotinus and the Sethians ae 3. The Relative Positions of the Platonizing Sethian Treatises, IL, The Literary History of the Sethian Corpus... ‘A. Two Possible Non-Sethian Precursors ofthe Sethian Treatises. 1. The (Sethian?) Ophites of Irenaeus, Haereses 130 2. Eugnostos the Blessed B. The Beginnings of Sethian Theology: the Members of the Divine Triad... 1. The Ambiguity ofthe Second Member of the Triad: Male or Female? e7moOp> 2. The Identity of the Third Member of the Triad .. ©: The Devsepant of te Eatin icy Corer 1. Pre-Sethian Sources. 2, The First Pre-Sethian Texts of the Descent Patter . 3. The Christian Sethian Texts ofthe Descent Pattern. . 4. ‘The Shift from the Sethian-C_ Descent Pattein to the Platonic Ascent Pattern . D. A Hypothetical Literary Stemma of the Sethian Treatises 170 116 178 179 179 182 185 187 189 195 198 19 201 203 203 204 209 210 212 24 24 216 217 218 220 x 'SETHIAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION (CHAPTER SUX: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SETHIAN DOCTRINE 1, Hellenistic Jewish Wisdom Speculation... Wisdom’s “Fall” and Restoration 3 I, Interpretation of Genesis 1-9: the Sethte Sacred History IIL.A Tradition of Baptism ; Baptism, Visionary Experience, and Priestly Lustrations . 1V.The Christian Contribution... . . es V. The Platonic Contribution. | 2.) (CHAPTER SEVEN: THE HisTORY OF THE SETHIAN MOVEMENT 1 Hypothetical History of Gnostic Sethianism: Six Phases I, Jewish, Christian, and Platonic Developmental Contexts ‘A. The Jewish Context. . ¢ 2 1. ‘The Pre-Sethian Barbetoites . 2.) | 2. ‘The Pre-Sethian Sethites B. The Christian Context ‘The Pre-Sethian Christian Barbeloites ‘ 1. ‘The Catalytic Role ofthe Christian Movement. 2, ‘The Relation between Sethian and Johannine Christianity ae . The Fusion of Sethites and Barbeloites to Form Gnostic Sethianism wate 1. ‘The Identification of the Logos |. | 2. The Identity of the Autogenes Sor Christ or Adam or Seth? 3. ‘The Fusion of the Barbeloite and Sethite Supreme Triads. 4. The Demotion of the Logos | | D. The Platonic Context: A New Alliance . 1. The Platonizing Sethian Treatises. 2. The Response of the Platonists 3. The Transformation of Basic Sethian Doctrine UL. The Twilight and Eclipse of Gnostic Sethianism PaRT Two ‘THE PLATONIC TRADITION (CHAPTER EIGHT: THE BEGINNINGS OF PLATONIC SPECULATION ONFIRSTPRINCIPLES . . 221 221 223 230 BB 242 247 250 255 257 261 261 261 266 270 an 272 284 285 286 287 290 292 293, 294 296 300 305 ‘TABLE OF CONTENTS 1, Plato and the Old Academy... . : A. Plato. é 1. The Reconciliation of Being and Becoming: Demiurge and Soul 2. Paternal Reason Persuades Maternal Necessi the Receptacle Be a 3. First Principles. 4 4, Cosmogony. . 2... B. The Old Academy 1 Aiton Mater nie Dad 2. Speusippus 3. Xenocrates IL, The Old Pythagoreans (CHAPTER NINE: MIDDLE PLATONIC SPECULATION ON FIRST PRINCIPLES . 1. ‘The Revival of Platonism in the First Century BCE. IL Neopythagorean Platonism ‘A. Eudorus of Alexandria and Neopythagorean Systems of Derivation B. Philo of Alexandria 3 i MLMiddte Platonism 2. ‘A. Moderatus of Gades B. Plutarch of Cheironeia 8 . Nicomachus ofGerasa. 2 5... D. Theon of Smyma E. The Didaskalitos of Alcinous (or Albinus of Smyrna) F. Numenius of Apamea (and Amelius orTuscan) « G. The Chaldaean Oracles H. The Anonymous (Porphyrian?) Parmenides Commentary EARLY NEOPLATONIC SPECULATION ON FIRST (CHAPTER TE PRINCIPLES : 1. Plotinus js ee, ‘A. Middle Platonic Structuring of Intellect and Origins of the Being-Mind-Life Triad xi 305 306 307 310 344 324 327 328 329 334 338 345 345 347 349 355 362 363 372 376 378 380 385 389, 396 407 407 409 IV.Theodore of Asine | | 'SETHIAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION ofthe Being-Mind-Life Triad in Plotinus ©. Traces of the Derivational Application ofthe Belng-Life-Mind Triad in Plotinus . . . The Indefinite Dyad and Higher and Lower Matter BTA EE os WS ok ee Rv edie, io (CHAPTER ELEVEN: BODY, SOUL, AND KNOWLEDGE OF Goo IN PLATONISM: DESCENT ANDASCENT. . . .. Body And Soul In Platonism. A. Plato , Plato’ The Old Academy... | | | . Early Middle Platonic Doctrines of the Soul | Philo. ee Inwritten Doctrines” Later Middle Patonism and thet Plutarch . bel site 3 B. cE D. E, F G. 2 1H. Atticus and Apuleius — I x K L. M. N, Aleinous/Albinus Moderatus ‘Nicomachus . Numenius ‘ ‘The Chaldaean Oracles | ae Phtims. ee ‘The Knowledge of God in Platonism | A. Plato’s Epistemology... . | B. The Stoies ©. The Middle Platonisis. . D. Plotinus aon ae E. The Classical “Paths” to the Knowledge of God F. Learned Ignorance . . 412 413 41s 420 424 428 430 447 447 448 455 456 457 459 460 463, 465 465 466 467 467 470 47 474 475: 478 479 481 485, 492 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART THREE ‘THE PLATONIZING SETHIAN TREATISES (CHAPTER TWELVE: THE DIVINE AND CosMtc HIERARCHY OFTHE PLATONIZINGSETHIAN TREATISES: . 1, The Realm Beyond Being... , ‘A. The Invisible Spirit. || B. The Triple Powered One IL. The Realm of True Being, - The Aeon of Barbelo. . 1. Kalypiossthe “Hidden One” - Protophanes .. Autogenes—and Sophi ‘The Triple Male Child . * Concluding Observations ‘on the Complexity ofthe Barbelo Aeon . 7mone> (CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE DIVINE AND CosMc HIERARCHY OF ‘THE PLATONIZING SETHIAN TREATISES: 11. 1. Psychic and Natural Realms Below the Barbelo Aeon A. The Self-generated Acons . wane B. The Repentance . ©. The Sojourn eek D. The Cosmic Soul in Marsanes E. The Antitypes ‘ F. The “Cosmic and Material” Levels of Marsanes? Seals 1-3. G. The “Airy Earth” H. The Material Realm é a AL The Hierarchies ofthe Platonizing Treatises Compared A. The System of the Three Steles of Seth . : B. The System of Zosirianos . C. The System of Allogenes D. The System of Marsanes . E, Comparison of the Sethian Hierarchies (CHAPTER FOURTEEN: SETHIAN DOCTRINES OF THE SOUL L. Sophia and the Cosmie Soul. IL Two Sethian Treatises on the Soul A The Apocryphon of John. xu 499 499 502 512 331 331 539 540 541 347 553 387 357 561 564 567 568, 569, 370 372 572 377 578 580 sat 582 583 589 589 596 597 xv SETHHAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION B. Zosirianos IIL Ritual and Theurgieal Practices and the Soul's Ascent A. The Celestial Baptismal Ritual... . B. Ecstatic Prayer and Theurgical Utterances C. Alphabetical, Numerical and Graphic Symbol for the Soul in Marsares i . The Five Configurations o Shapes of the Soul in Marsanes ‘ E. Consonants—Symbolizing Embodiment? F. Numbers and their Properties . G. Alphanumeric Speculation and Platonic Doctrines ofthe Soul. 1V.Comparison of Platonic and Gnostic Views of the Soul | CCnaPren FIFTEEN: THE KNOWLEDGE OF GoD IV THE 5 PLATONIZING SETINAN TREATISES : 1. ‘The General Structure of the Ascent . ‘The Goel: Assimilation tothe Divine so far as Possible | IL. Piclininury Seeking by Discursive Means. A, The Three Steles of Seth Pees B. Zostrianos 5... ia Ewe ©. Allogenes. D. Marsanes et IML Ascent through the Acon of Barbelo. | ||) A. The Three Steles ofSeth . . 5. 1. B. Zostrianos ae ©. Allogenes . . . | ae D. Marsanes IV.The Ascent through the Triple Powered One ‘A. The Three Steles of Seth B. Zostrianos : ©. Allogenes. D. Marsanes. c 5 3 \V. The Final Contemplation of the Supreme Principles ‘A. The Three Steles of Seth on B. Zostrianos ‘ ‘ Gidllogetes 5.5 yi gi.3g sips pogo D. Marsanes ai ats \VI.Comparison of the Contemplative Ascents 599 603 603 608, 614 ois. 20 628 630 633 e7 637 641 643 45; 645, a8 650 652 682 653 655 656 638 659 659 660 665 666 666 668 658 669 TABLE OF CONTENTS A, Intracorporeal and Extracorporeal Vision and Revelation . B. The Sources of Divine Knowledge . Vision and Audition as Revelatory Media. D. Discursi E. Leamed Ignorance . (CHAPTER SUXTEEN: SETHIAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION . 1. ‘The Encounter between Sethianism and Platonism. I Platonizing Sethian Metaphysics and its Platonic Sources, A. The Invisible Spi and the First Hypothesis ofthe Parmenides B. The Aeon of Barbelo and the Middle Platonic Intellect . The Triple Powered One and Emanation in Middle Platonism D. The Emission of Vitality or Life from the One . E, The Invisible Spirit in Relation to the Triple Powered One. F, Self-Privation and the Determination of Boundlessness: Moderatus? . G. The Unknown Silent One of Marsanes . UL Plotinus and the Platonizing Sethian Treatises A. Plotinus’ Critique of the “Gnostics”in the “GroBschrift” aan B. Zostrianos and Allogenes in the Light of Plotinus’ Critique C. Pre- or Post-Plotinian Authorship of Zastrianos? IV. The Anonymous Parmenides Commentary ‘and the Platonizing Sethian Treatises ‘V. Marius Victorinus and the Platonizing Sethian treatise Zastriamas ‘versus Intuitive Knowledge of the Divine . xv 659 674 675 682 686 693 693, 694 694 696, 607 702 704 707 709 m1 720 72 ma 76 xv SETIIAN ONOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION ConcLusion ‘THE DEVELOPMENT OF SETHIAN RELIGION (CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: CONCLUDING OVERVIEW OF SETHIAN RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT, ‘i See 1. Sethian Treatises ofthe Descent and Ascent Pattern 1. Historical Development in the Sethian Treatises ILL Sethianism as a History of Innovations tee TV. Eschatology in the Ascent Pattem Treatises. | ||| V. History and Eschatology in the Descent Pattern Treatises ViThe Mother as Descending Savior... Vil. The Masculinization ofthe Mother. | | |) | | VILL The Platonizing Ascent Pattern Treatises |. : ibliography. Index of subjects Index of ancient authors 747 7 "9 750 752 752 754 755 787 761 789 801 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. This book is a study of the relationships between Gnosticism—in par- ticular Sethian Gnosticism—and Platonism in the five centuries from 100 pcr to 400 ce. It has grown out of my work as an editor, translator, and interpreter of various treatises of Nag Hammadi Library ftom the ‘time that certain of these materials became available to me beginning in 1967 as a doctoral student in Coptology and New Testament studies at Duke University. Just prior to completing my 1970 dissertation on the Book of Thomas the Contender from Nag Hammadi Codex Il at the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity in Claremont, California, 1 and ‘my doctoral supervisor, Professor Orval Wintermute, were assigned to dit and.translate the treatise Allogenes from Nag Hammadi Codex XI for the Coptic Gnostic Project's English language critical edition of the entire library, edited by J. M. Robinson. In 1974 Hans-Martin Schenke recognized that this treatise was one among 14 Nag Hammadi tractates that exhibited a common “system” of gnostic doctrines that clustered around the figure of Adam's son Seth, thus bringing to li existence ofa religious movement that Epiphanius of Sala tified as “Sethian.” In short, Sethianism is probably the earliest gnostic ‘movement distinctively attested by its own literature, a religious com- Petitor of early Christianity and an active participant the Platonic phi losophical discourse ofthe first four centuries. Thus began some thirty ‘Years of my own preoccupation with these Sethian treatises, and in par- ticular llogenes and three other closely related treatises, Zostrianos, Marsanes, and the Three Steles of Seth, which I have ealled the four “Platonizing Sethian treatises” that constitute the main topic of the last third of this book. Not having been trained asa classicist or historian of Greek philoso- Phy, the obvious indebtedness of these treatises to the technical meta. Physics of Platonism ted to my entry upon the steep “learning curve™ demanded of any student of the Platonic philosophical tradition from Plato to Proclus. As the footnotes and bibliography show, this book ‘stands on the shoulders of giants that have established afield of study in which T am only a reasonably-informed amateur, but one who is con. Vinced of the tremendous importance of these texts for understanding the history of Platonism, especially that murky period of the first three xv SETHIAN GNOSTICISM AND THE PLATONIC TRADITION Centuries CE when the metaphysics of what is known as Middle Platon- {sm were developed into the Neoplatonism of Plotinus and his sueces, sors ‘The book is divided into an introduction to various ways in which the relation of Gnosticism and Platonism have been characterized, followed by three main sections devoted respectively to Sethlan literature end history, to Platonic doctrines and their history, and to the Platonizing Sethian treatises in particular, and concludes with an overview of Sethian religion, The main thrust of this work lies inthe third main see- tion; readers interested mainly in the Sethian religion an its history may ‘ell confine themselves to the first seven chapters, and those welk acquainted with Plato, the Old Academy, Middle Platonism and Neopla fonism may sell skip Chapters 8 through 11 In preparing this volume, with minor exceptions Ihave generally re- fed upon the English translation ofthe Nag Hammadstens in The Nag Hammadi Library in English edited by James M, Robinson, upon an aly draft of Michael Williams’ translation of the Apocryphon of Jol, ‘and upon Bentley Layton's translation ofthe Three Steer of Seth in hig The (nostic Seriptures, while the English transltions of Zostianos, Allogenes, and Marsanes are my ovn. Biblical translations are from the 1946 Revised Standard Version of The Holy Bible. | have similarly re. {ied upon John Dillon's The Middle Platonists and the Loeb Classical Library (especially A. H. Armstrong for Plotinus) for translations of ‘most Platonic authors, and upon Gerald Bechile and Pierre Hadot for translations of the anonymous Parmenides Commentary. Citions of Greek sources are drawn from the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae CD- ROME, | am especially grateful to those colleagues who have read and crii- cized the entire manuscript: Gordon Watley, Régine Charron, Jesper Hyldabl, and Paul-Hubert Poitier. For other advice and criticism, | sen

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