Who Is Barbelo? What the Lost Texts Say

In The Secret Book of John

The Secret Book of John describes Barbelo as the Spirit's perfect power, through whom Foreknowledge comes into being. Barbelo requests the power of knowing things in advance from the Invisible Pure Spirit, who consents. Foreknowledge then honors both the Spirit and Barbelo, acknowledging that it comes into being through her.

Barbelo also asks for Eternal Life, and Life Eternal appears after the Invisible Spirit gives consent. The text presents Eternal Life, Will, Mind, and Foreknowledge together glorifying the Invisible Spirit and Barbelo.

In Zostrianos

Zostrianos connects the name Barbelo with thought and describes her as a perfect, pure male of three kinds. The text also describes three preexistent first principles emerging from a single principle of the Barbelo Aeon.

Salamex, Semen, and Arme appear as bright ones of the Barbelo Age whom the speaker is told to call upon. They will offer instruction concerning the pure Barbelo Age and the Invisible Spirit with Triple Power.

In Marsanes

Marsanes identifies Barbelo as an Aeon and uses the description male virgin for Barbelo. A voice tells the speaker to keep silent and give attention to understanding while describing a power that continues drawing it into Barbelo.

Where Barbelo appears

What the texts say, in their own words

“Barbelo requested from the Invisible Pure Spirit the power of knowing things in advance, and the Spirit consented.”

The Secret Book of John · Barbelo makes a request to the Invisible Pure Spirit, who gives consent. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“Barbelo then requested Eternal Life, and the Invisible Spirit consented. Once consent was given, Life Eternal came into view, and together they stood and honored the Invisible Spirit and Barbelo, through whom they had come into being.”

The Secret Book of John · Life Eternal appears after the Invisible Spirit consents to Barbelo's request. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“When the Triple-Powered One’s 3rd power pondered him, it spoke to me: “Keep silent, lest you learn and then flee and arrive ahead of me. But understand that this One kept silence, and give your attention to understanding. For the power continues drawing me on into the Aeon that is called Barbelo, the male virgin.””

Marsanes · A voice urges silence and describes being drawn into the Aeon called Barbelo. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

“Judas said to him, “I know who you are and the place you have come from. You come from the deathless realm of Barbelo, and I am unworthy to utter the name of him who sent you.””

The Gospel of Judas · Judas declares that he knows where the person he addresses comes from. · Read it in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

Questions

Who is Barbelo?

In The Secret Book of John, Barbelo is the Spirit's perfect power and its first power of Forethought. The Three Steles of Seth addresses Barbelo as the unseen Father's first glory.

Is Barbelo described as male or female?

The Secret Book of John refers to Barbelo as her, while Marsanes describes Barbelo as a male virgin. Zostrianos also uses her while describing Barbelo as a perfect, pure male of three kinds.

What does Judas say about Barbelo?

In The Gospel of Judas, Judas says that the person he addresses comes from the deathless realm of Barbelo. He also says he is unworthy to utter the name of the one who sent that person.

Where is Barbelo mentioned in the lost texts?

Barbelo appears in The Secret Book of John, The Three Steles of Seth, Zostrianos, Marsanes, Allogenes the Stranger, Three Forms of First Thought and The Gospel of Judas, in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures.