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{{Infobox book
| italic title = 
| name = Secret Book of John
| image =
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| author = John the Apostle
| audio_read_by =
| title_orig = Apocryphon of John
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| country = Roman Empire
| language = Coptic translation of Greek original
| series = Nag Hammadi Library
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| subject = Gnosticism
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| published = 100s A.D.
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}}

The '''''Secret Book of John''''' (the '''''Apocryphon of John''''') is:
#the teaching of the savior
#the revelation of the mysteries
#the things hidden in silence
#things he taught his student John

Genealogy summary:
#The One
#Barbelo
#Spark of light
#4 luminaries [lights] and 12 eternal realms [aeons] (including Sophia)
#Yaldabaoth [Demiurge] (from Sophia)
#12 authorities, 7 powers [archons], Adam

==The One==
The revealer appears to John the brother of James, who are the sons of Zebedee. The revealer says that he is:
#the father
#the mother
#the child
#the incorruptible
#the undefiled one

The One is:
*a sovereign that has nothing over it
*god and father of all
*the invisible one that is over all
*incorruptible
*pure light at which no eye can gaze
*the invisible spirit
*greater than a god, because it has nothing over it and no lord above it
*does not exist within anything inferior to it, since everything exists within it alone
*eternal, since it does not need anything
*absolutely complete
*has never lacked anything in order to be completed by it
*is always absolutely complete in light
*illimitable
*unfathomable
*immeasurable
*invisible
*eternal
*unutterable
*unnamable
*the immeasurable light, pure, holy, immaculate
*unutterable
*perfect in incorruptibility
*not corporeal and is not incorporeal
*not large and is not small
*not among the things that exist, but it is much greater
*not a part of the eternal realms or of time
*majestic and has an immeasurable purity
*a realm that gives a realm
*life that gives life
*a blessed one that gives blessedness
*knowledge that gives knowledge
*a good one that gives goodness
*mercy that gives mercy and redemption
*grace that gives grace
*gives immeasurable and incomprehensible light

The eternal realm [of the One] is:
*incorruptible
*at peace
*dwelling in silence
*at rest
*before everything
*the head of all realms

==Barbelo==
Barbelo, the 1st emanation, is the first power who preceded everything and came forth from the father’s mind as the forethought of all. She is:

*the perfect power
*the image of the perfect and invisible virgin spirit
*the 1st power
*the glory of Barbelo
*the perfect glory among the realms
*the glory of revelation
*the 1st thought
*the image of the spirit
*the universal womb, for she precedes everything
*the mother-father
*the 1st human
*the holy spirit
*the triple male
*the triple power
*the androgynous one with 3 names
*the eternal realm among the invisible beings
*the 1st to come forth

Barbelo asked the invisible virgin spirit [the father] to give her:
#foreknowledge
#incorruptibility
#life eternal
#truth

The father’s androgynous realm of 5 = realm of 10 = the father:
#the 1st human = the image of the invisible spirit = forethought = Barbelo = thought
#foreknowledge
#incorruptibility
#life eternal
#truth

Barbelo (Forethought) then conceives a spark of light from the father's gaze. It is similar to the blessed light but not as great. This was the only child of the mother-father that had come forth, its only offspring, the only child of the father, the pure light.

The spark of light asked to be given mind as a companion to work with, and the spirit consented. When the invisible spirit consented, mind appeared and stood by the anointed, and glorified the spirit and Barbelo.

==The 4 Luminaries and 12 Eternal Realms==
Now, from the (spark of) light, which is the anointed, and from incorruptibility, by the grace of the spirit, the 4 luminaries that derive from the self-conceived god (Barbelo) gazed out in order to stand before it.

The 3 beings are:
#will
#thought
#life

The 4 powers are:
#understanding
#grace
#perception
#thoughtfulness

The luminaries (angels) in order:
#Harmozel
#Oroiael
#Daveithai
#Eleleth

The 4 luminaries (angels) and the 12 eternal realms (aeons):

{| class="wikitable"
! Realm number !! 1. Harmozel !! 2. Oroiael !! 3. Daveithai !! 4. Eleleth
|-
| 1 || grace || afterthought || understanding || perfection
|-
| 2 || truth || perception || love || peace
|-
| 3 || form || memory || idea || Sophia
|}

===Appointees===
The virgin spirit [father] appoints the following people to each eternal realm:

{| class="wikitable"
! Realm number !! Appointee(s) !! Luminary
|-
| 1 || Geradamas || Harmozel
|-
| 2 || Seth (son of Geradamas) || Oroiael
|-
| 3 || the offspring of Seth || Daveithai
|-
| 4 || the souls of those who were ignorant of the fullness || Eleleth
|}

==Yaldabaoth's world order==
Sophia (Wisdom, Afterthought; one of the 12 eternal realms or ''aeons'') then conceived Yaldabaoth from within herself.

Yaldabaoth is the 1st ruler, who took great power from his mother. Then he left her and moved away from the place where he was born. He took control and created for himself other realms with luminous fire, which still exists. He mated with the mindlessness in him and produced authorities for himself.

This gloomy ruler (Yaldabaoth) has 3 names:

#Yaldabaoth
#Sakla
#Samael

===12 authorities===
The 12 authorities of Yaldabaoth:

#Athoth = the reaper
#Harmas = the jealous eye
#Kalila-Oumbri
#Yabel
#Adonaios = Sabaoth
#Cain = the sun
#Abel
#Abrisene
#Yobel
#Armoupieel
#Melcheir-Adonein
#Belias, who is over the depth of the underworld

Yaldabaoth stationed 7 kings, one for each sphere of heaven, to reign over the 7 heavens, and 5 to reign over the depth of the abyss. He shared his fire with them, but he did not give away any of the power of the light that he had taken from his mother. For he is ignorant darkness.

When light mixed with darkness, it made the darkness shine. When darkness mixed with light, it dimmed the light and became neither light nor darkness, but rather gloom.

He is wicked in his mindlessness that is in him. He said, "I am god and there is no other god but me," since he did not know where his own strength had come from.

===7 powers===
The rulers created 7 powers for themselves. These are the names and the corresponding appearances/faces (the 7-fold nature of the week):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Power !! Name !! Face
|-
| goodness || Athoth || sheep
|-
| forethought || Eloaios || donkey
|-
| divinity || Astaphaios || hyena
|-
| lordship || Yao || snake with 7 heads
|-
| kingdom || Sabaoth || snake
|-
| jealousy || Adonin || ape
|-
| understanding || Sabbataios || flaming fire
|}

Each has a sphere in its own realm.

The powers created 6 angels apiece, until there were 365 angels.

Sophia then repents, and the human then appears.

==Creation of Adam==
===The voice calls===
A voice called from the exalted heavenly realm:

*"The human exists
*and the human child."

The 1st ruler, Yaldabaoth, heard the voice and thought it had come from his mother. He did not realize its source. The voice was:

#the holy perfect mother-father
#the complete forethought
#the image of the invisible one
#being the father of everything, through whom everything came into being
#the 1st human — this is the one who showed them, and appeared in human shape

Yaldabaoth then ordered the authorities to create Adam in the image of god.

===7 powers create souls===
Each of the 7 powers created the following:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Power !! Name !! Face !! Soul created by power
|-
| goodness || Athoth || sheep || soul of bone
|-
| forethought || Eloaios || donkey || soul of sinew
|-
| divinity || Astaphaios || hyena || soul of flesh
|-
| lordship || Yao || snake with 7 heads || soul of marrow
|-
| kingdom || Sabaoth || snake || soul of blood
|-
| jealousy || Adonin || ape || soul of skin
|-
| understanding || Sabbataios || flaming fire || soul of hair
|}

===Angels create body parts===
The throng of angels stood by and received these 7 psychical substances from the authorities in order to create a network of limbs and trunk, with all the parts properly arranged. There are 74 of them:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name of angel !! Body part created by angel
|-
| Raphao || head
|-
| Abron || skull
|-
| Meniggesstroeth || brain
|-
| Asterechme || right eye
|-
| Thaspomocha || left eye
|-
| Yeronumos || right ear
|-
| Bissoum || left ear
|-
| Akioreim || nose
|-
| Banen-Ephroum || lips
|-
| Amen || teeth
|-
| Ibikan || molars
|-
| Basiliademe || tonsils
|-
| Achcha || uvula
|-
| Adaban || neck
|-
| Chaaman || vertebrae
|-
| Dearcho || throat
|-
| Tebar || right shoulder
|-
| N—— || the left shoulder
|-
| Mniarchon || right elbow
|-
| ——e || left elbow
|-
| Abitrion || right underarm
|-
| Euanthen || left underarm
|-
| Krus || right hand
|-
| Beluai || left hand
|-
| Treneu || fingers of the right hand
|-
| Balbel || fingers of the left hand
|-
| Krima || fingernails
|-
| Astrops || right breast
|-
| Barroph || left breast
|-
| Baoum || right shoulder joint
|-
| Ararim || left shoulder joint
|-
| Areche || belly
|-
| Phthaue || navel
|-
| Senaphim || abdomen
|-
| Arachethopi || right ribs
|-
| Zabedo || left ribs
|-
| Barias || right hip
|-
| Phnouth || left hip
|-
| Abenlenarchei || marrow
|-
| Chnoumeninorin || bones
|-
| Gesole || stomach
|-
| Agromauma || heart
|-
| Bano || lungs
|-
| Sostrapal || liver
|-
| Anesimalar || spleen
|-
| Thopithro || intestines
|-
| Biblo || kidneys
|-
| Roeror || sinews
|-
| Taphreo || backbone
|-
| Ipouspoboba || veins
|-
| Bineborin || arteries
|-
| Aatoimenpsephei || breaths in all the limbs
|-
| Entholleia || all the flesh
|-
| Bedouk || right buttock
|-
| Arabeei || left buttock
|-
| ... || penis
|-
| Eilo || testicles
|-
| Sorma || genitals
|-
| Gormakaiochlabar || right thigh
|-
| Nebrith || left thigh
|-
| Pserem || muscles of the right leg
|-
| Asaklas || muscles of the left leg
|-
| Ormaoth || right leg
|-
| Emenun || left leg
|-
| Knux || right shin
|-
| Tupelon || left shin
|-
| Achiel || right ankle
|-
| Phneme || left ankle
|-
| Phiouthrom || right foot
|-
| Boabel || toes of the right foot
|-
| Trachoun || left foot
|-
| Phikna || toes of the left foot
|-
| Miamai || toenails
|-
| Labernioum || ?
|}

Those who are appointed over all these are 7 in number:

#Athoth
#Armas
#Kalila
#Yabel
#Sabaoth
#Cain
#Abel

===Angels activate body parts===
Those who activate the limbs are, part by part (30 total listed):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name of angel !! Body part activated by angel
|-
| Diolimodraza || head
|-
| Yammeax || neck
|-
| Yakouib || right shoulder
|-
| Ouerton || left shoulder
|-
| Oudidi || right hand
|-
| Arbao || left one
|-
| Lampno || fingers of right hand
|-
| Leekaphar || fingers of left hand
|-
| Barbar || right breast
|-
| Imae || left breast
|-
| Pisandraptes || chest
|-
| Koade || right shoulder joint
|-
| Odeor || left shoulder joint
|-
| Asphixix || right ribs
|-
| Sunogchouta || left ribs
|-
| Arouph || abdomen
|-
| Sabalo || womb
|-
| Charcharb || right thigh
|-
| Chthaon || left thigh
|-
| Bathinoth || all genitals
|-
| Choux || right leg
|-
| Charcha || left leg
|-
| Aroer || right shin
|-
| Toechtha || left shin
|-
| Aol || right ankle
|-
| Charaner || left ankle
|-
| Bastan || right foot
|-
| Archentechtha || toes of the right foot
|-
| Marephnounth || left foot
|-
| Abrana || toes of the left foot
|}

7 have been empowered over all these:

#Michael
#Uriel
#Asmenedas
#Saphasatoel
#Aarmouriam
#Richram
#Amiorps

===Senses===
Those who are over the senses are the Archendekta:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Archendekta !! Sense
|-
| Deitharbathas || perception
|-
| Oummaa || imagination
|-
| Aachiaram || arrangement
|-
| Riaramnacho || all impulse to action
|}

===Demons of the physical states===
The source of the demons that are in the entire body:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name of demon !! State
|-
| Phloxopha || heat
|-
| Oroorrothos || cold
|-
| Erimacho || dryness
|-
| Athuro || wetness
|}

The mother of them all is matter (Onorthochras).

===Demons of the mental states===
The 4 principal demons of mental states are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name of demon !! Mental state !! Passions coming from mental state
|-
| Ephememphi || pleasure || evil, vain conceit, etc.
|-
| Yoko || desire || anger, wrath, bitterness, intense lust, greed, etc.
|-
| Nenentophni || grief || jealousy, envy, pain, trouble, distress, hardheartedness, anxiety, sorrow, etc.
|-
| Blaomen || fear || terror, servility, anguish, shame
|}

The mother of them all is Esthesis-Ouch-Epi-Ptoe, who dwells with Anaro (head of the material soul).

There are 365 angels in total.

==Fall of Adam==
Adam then receives spirit and life.

In the middle of paradise, there is a tree of life. The parts of the tree of life and their representations are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Part of tree !! Representation
|-
| root || bitterness
|-
| branches || death
|-
| shadow || hatred
|-
| leaves || trap
|-
| blossom || bad ointment
|-
| fruit || death
|-
| seed || desire
|}

*The dwelling place of those who taste of it is the underworld.
*Darkness is their resting place.

Next:
*Humanity is imprisoned.

==Eve and her sons==
*Eve is created.
*Yaldabaoth defiles Eve.

Sons of Yaldabaoth and Eve:
#Elohim (face of a bear) = Cain
#Yahweh (face of a cat) = Abel

Son of Adam and Eve:
*Seth

==Comparisons with ''On the Origin of the World''==
In ''On the Origin of the World'' (Marvin Meyer, trans.):

The sons of Yaldabaoth:
#Yao
#Eloai
#Astaphaios

The Seven Powers of the Heavens of Chaos (which are feminine names):
#Sambathas (forethought) = Yaldabaoth
#mastery = Yao
#divinity = Sabaoth
#kingship = Adonaios
#envy = Eloaios
#wealth = Oraios
#Sophia = Astaphaios

Order of creation:
#Psyche loved Eros, and Psyche's blood poured upon the earth and turned into the first rose, which came out of a thorn bush
#Flowers, from the blood of the virgin daughters of Sambathas (forethought)
#Plants
#Animals, reptiles, birds
#Adam of Light

==References==
<references/>
*Meyer, Marvin (trans). [http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/apocjn-meyer.html ''The Apocryphon of John'']. The Gnostic Society Library. (This original translation by Marvin Meyer of The Secret Book of John is presented in the Gnostic Society Library by permission and under license from the copyright holder. It is reproduced in The Gnostic Bible, © 2003, Willis Barnstone & Marvin Meyer.)

==External links==
*[http://texts.00.gs/Secret_Book_of_John.htm Outline of the ''Secret Book of John'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016173047/http://timelessmyths.com/mirrors/gnostic.php Gnostic cosmology] at the Dark Mirrors of Heaven
*[http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/royaltyr/AncientCities/web/helmse/project1/Heretics.html Heretics]
*[https://www.reddit.com/r/gnosticism/comments/m8tvie/sethian_emanationist_diagram/ Sethian emanationist diagram] at r/Gnostic
*[https://www.reddit.com/r/gnosticism/comments/kxdkbw/valentinian_and_sethian_cosmology_now_with_better/ Valentinian and Sethian cosmology (now with better resolution)] at r/Gnostic

[[Category:Gnosticism]]
[[Category:Mysticism]]

Secret Book of John - Revision history

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