Nag Hammadi Codices

The Nag Hammadi Codices are a collection of ancient texts discovered in Egypt in 1945, dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries CE. Comprising thirteen leather-bound books (codices), they contain early Christian and Gnostic writings that offer alternative views on Jesus, spirituality, and religious beliefs not found in the New Testament. These texts provide valuable insight into early Christian diversity and Gnostic thought, emphasizing spiritual knowledge (gnosis) as the path to salvation. Their discovery has significantly expanded understanding of religious ideas during that period and challenged traditional narratives about early Christianity.