The Three Forms of First Thought (NHC XIII,1), and the Secret Book of John (NHC II,1 and par.)

This chapter examines the relationship between the treatise and another Nag Hammadi text, namely, the Secret Book of John , which has come down to us in versions, one long and one short, each of which is found in manuscripts (NHC II, 1 and IV, 1 for long version, and NHC III, 1 and the BG, 2 for short version). A parallel reading of hymn and the Three Forms demonstrates that we are faced with two texts in which all of the essential elements of first are found dispersed throughout the second, along with other material borrowed from long version of the Secret Book . The author of the Three Forms has peppered the text with 21 occurrences of a particular stylistic formula, namely, the explanatory relative clause etepaipe. The chapter examines only common mythological themes or particular expressions which are most important and which imply a close relationship between the texts. Keywords: etepaipe ; final hymn; manuscripts; mythological themes; Nag Hammadi text; Secret Book of John ; Three Forms