Gnostic texts

Gnosticism used a number of religious texts that are preserved, in part or whole, in ancient manuscripts, or lost but mentioned critically in Patristic writings. There is significant scholarly debate around what Gnosticism is, and therefore what qualifies as a "Gnostic text." Gnostic textsGnostic texts preserved before 1945Prior to the 1945 discovery at Nag Hammadi, only the following texts were available to students of Gnosticism. Reconstructions were attempted from the records of the heresiologists, but these were necessarily coloured by the motivation behind the source accounts. Works preserved by the Church: Acts of Thomas (Especially Hymn of the Pearl or The Hymn of the Robe of Glory)The Acts of John (Especially The Hymn of Jesus)The Bruce Codex (purchased in 1769 by James Bruce): Books of Jeu, also known as The Gnosis of the Invisible GodThe Untitled TextThe Askew Codex (British Museum, bought in 1784): Pistis Sophia: Books of the SaviorThe Berlin Codex or The Akhmim Codex (found in Akhmim, Egypt; bought in 1896 by Carl Reinhardt): Gospel of MaryApocryphon of Johnan epitome of the Acts of PeterThe Wisdom of Jesus ChristUnknown origin: The Secret Gospel of MarkThe HermeticaCom