What is the Apocryphon of John?

The Apocryphon of John, also known as the Secret Book of John, is a second-century Sethian Gnostic Christian text attributed to John the Apostle. It details an appearance of Jesus imparting secret knowledge to John after returning to his heavenly origin. The text is classified as New Testament apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, and its early composition is evidenced by Irenaeus addressing it in his Christian polemic Against Heresies before 180 AD.

What we know

• The Apocryphon of John is a second-century Sethian Gnostic Christian pseudepigraphical text. [1, 2]
• The text is attributed to John the Apostle and recounts Jesus imparting secret knowledge, or gnosis, to him. [2]
• The composition of the text is placed before 180 AD because it was addressed by Irenaeus in his polemic Against Heresies. [2]
• It is also known by alternative names such as the Secret Book of John and the Secret Revelation of John. [1, 2]

Where to go next

• how we knowWho was Irenaeus and how did he combat Gnosticism?
• the bigger pictureWhat are the core beliefs of Sethian Gnosticism?
• a case in pointWhat other writings make up the New Testament apocrypha?
• what caused itHow did the early Christian church establish the biblical canon?
• compared withWhat stories are contained within the Acts of John?
• an unexpected connectionHow does the Gospel of Peter differ in its account of the crucifixion?Both texts belong to the non-canonical New Testament apocrypha that survived outside the standard biblical canon.

Sources

• [1]Apocryphon of John (Wikidata Q618874) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Apocryphon of John · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]New Testament apocrypha · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Acts of John · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Gospel of Peter · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

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