Who Are the Archons? What the Lost Texts Say

In The Secret Book of John

The Secret Book of John names Yaldabaoth as the first ruler, an archon who draws enormous power from his mother. The blessed Mother-Father takes pity on the Mother's power, as the archons might regain mastery over mind and body. Wise Understanding stays concealed within Adam to escape the archons' notice and supply what the Mother has lost.

In Testament of Adam

Testament of Adam places the archons above others and gives them governance over the upper air. Their charge covers rain, snow, hail and frost, as well as the winds and lightning.

Where the Archons appear

What the texts say, in their own words

“Wise Understanding stayed hidden inside Adam, so the archons would not detect her, and so that Understanding could supply what the Mother had lost.”

The Secret Book of John · Wise Understanding remains within Adam, hidden from the archons' notice. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“From then on the 7 archons formed humanity with a body resembling their own bodies — though its appearance copied the human who had been shown to them.”

On the Origin of the World · The seven archons form humanity after a human has been shown to them. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“Above these are the archons, who govern the upper air: the rains, the snow, the hail, the frost and the winds and the lightning are in their keeping.”

Testament of Adam · The account assigns the archons their charge over the upper air. · Read it in The Complete Books of Enoch

Questions

Who are the Archons?

The archons are rulers, described in The Nature of the Rulers as lesser beings formed through ignorance. In Testament of Adam, they govern the upper air and have weather in their keeping.

Do the Archons form humanity?

In On the Origin of the World, seven archons form humanity with a body resembling their own bodies. Its appearance copies the human who has been shown to them.

Why does Wise Understanding hide from the Archons?

Wise Understanding hides inside Adam so the archons cannot detect her and she can supply what the Mother has lost.

Where is the Archons mentioned in the lost texts?

The Archons appears in The Secret Book of John, The Nature of the Rulers, On the Origin of the World, The Revelation of Paul, The Second Discourse of Great Seth and Melchizedek, in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures; Testament of Adam, in The Complete Books of Enoch.