Demonologia jako źródło do badań nad pochodzeniem i przeznaczeniem tekstów i kodeksów z Nag Hammadi = Demonology as a source for research of the provenance and purpose of the Nag Hammadi texts and codices

Abstract

The article contains qualitative and quantitative analyses of the names of spiritual beings in the Nag Hammadi codices and two codices of similar content: the Berolinensis Gnosticus and Tchacos. The investigation shows that the majority of the names in the Nag Hammadi texts are original and find no attestations in Greek, Jewish, and even Egyptian tradition; neither are they attested in the Graeco-Roman magical repertoire. The creation of the Nag Hammadi collection was obviously not motivated by an interest in demonology; certain texts, however – especially the longer redaction of the Apocryphon of John and the sub-collection encompassing codices IV and VIII – could be created by a person or a group interested in ritual power.