Date of composition

• Mid-100s.
• Irenaeus (d. c. 202) mentioned this book as being used by Valentinian Gnostics, and it perhaps was written by Valentinus (d. c. 170) himself.
• It was later included in the Nag Hammadi Gnostic collection of the 300s.

Biography of Jesus?

• No. It is an essay on Gnostic teachings.

Type of Apocrypha (heretical or in error (made up))

• Heresy. Contains Gnostic teachings.

Length

• 11 double-spaced pages.

Summary

• See biography above.

Noteworthy from the book

1. The first sentence states that "the Word" came from the "pleroma" to educate those "ignorant of the Father." Jesus was merely a messenger to teach about the Father, with knowledge being the center of "salvation," whichis a Gnostic idea.
2. As an example of this focus on knowledge and not faith, repentance, or forgiveness, this Gospel also states that Christ enlightened those who, through forgetfulness, were in darkness.
3. The Gospel also states that, through the cross, Christ "became the wisdom of those who have received instruction." Again, this illustrates the importance of knowledge.