Mental Perception: A Commentary on Nhc, VI, 4, the Concept of Our Great Power

Description

This book is a new edition and translation of the Nag Hammadi tractate, The Concept of Our Great Power, with introduction and commentary. It suggests that the tractate is composite, and that its basis was a non-Christian Gnostic apocalyptic work whose background may have been Samaritan, and which emanated from a breakaway Simonian group who, unlike other Simonians, believed in celibacy. The tractate later received Christian additions. The last of these may refer to the career of Julian the Apostate. This is a fresh approach to the interpretation of this puzzling tractate. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Abbreviations and Short Titles Policies Text and Translation Commentary Appendix 1: Hippolytus, Refutatio Omnium Haeresium 6.9.3-18.7 (HSim) and 5.9.5-6 (HRef Naas) Appendix 2: Other Notices of the Simonians and Their Teaching Appendix 3: The Authenticity of Hippolytus' Simonian Sources Appendix 4: HSim as a Simonian Source Appendix 5: Cherix's (1982) Perception of the Organization of GrP Appendix 6: Non-Sahidic Linguistic Features of Our "Non-Christian" and "Christian Instructions" Appendix 7: Analogs of the Simonian Ennoia in Other Literatures Appendix 8: "Power" or "Great Power" as a Divine Title Appendix 9: Samaritan Use of the Term, "Our Power" Works Consulted Index of Citations NAG HAMMADI AND MANICHAEAN STUDIES