The Nag Hammadi Codices

The Nag Hammadi Codices are a collection of ancient Christian texts discovered in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt. These manuscripts, dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries, include gospels, philosophical writings, and spiritual treatises, many of which differ from the stories in the New Testament. They offer insights into early Christian diversity and Gnostic beliefs—a spiritual movement emphasizing personal spiritual knowledge. The codices are valuable for understanding the variety of religious ideas circulating in early Christianity beyond orthodox teachings. They are written in Coptic and are considered significant discoveries for biblical scholarship and the study of religious history.