The Nag Hammadi Library
The Prayer of the Apostle Paul
It begins by talking about the Father's light
your light, give me your mercy! My Redeemer, redeem me, for I am yours; the one who has come forth from you. You are my mind; bring me forth! You are my treasure house; open for me! You are my fullness; take me to you! You are (my) repose; give me the perfect thing that cannot be grasped!
<Next paul invokes the divine name >
I invoke you, the one who (note this is Yahweh meaning the one who is) is and who pre-existed in the name which is exalted above every name, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the King of the ages; give me your gifts, of which you do not repent, through the Son of Man, the Spirit, the Paraclete of truth. Give me authority when I ask you; give healing for my body when I ask you through the Evangelist, and redeem my eternal light soul and my spirit. And the First-born of the Pleroma of grace -- reveal him to my mind!
Grant what no angel eye has seen and no archon ear (has) heard, and what has not entered into the human heart which came to be angelic and (modelled) after the image of the psychic God when it was formed in the beginning, since I have faith and hope. And place upon me your beloved, elect, and blessed greatness, the First-born, the First-begotten, and the wonderful mystery of your house; for yours is the power and the glory and the praise and the greatness for ever and ever. Amen
# The Nag Hammadi Library: The Prayer of the Apostle Paul
## 1. Valentinian Context
The *Prayer of the Apostle Paul*, preserved among the texts of the Nag Hammadi Library, is rooted in Valentinian Christian thought. Valentinian Christianity was a branch of Gnostic Christianity that emphasized knowledge (*gnosis*) as the path to salvation, understanding the Pleroma as a structured, corporeal fullness of divine powers. Unlike mainstream Christianity, which often emphasizes worship and intercession, Valentinian practice prioritizes communion with the Pleroma through insight, moral alignment, and spiritual ascent. The prayer reflects this theological framework, revealing both the metaphysical hierarchy of divine beings and the process by which believers engage with the fullness of the Pleroma. Its structure demonstrates the Valentinian focus on both the Father’s light and the mediation of the First-Begotten, revealing a theology in which the Deity, the Son, and the spirit of truth are intimately connected to the believer’s path toward gnosis.
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## 2. How Gnostic Christians Should Pray
The text provides a model for Gnostic Christian prayer that emphasizes personal, conscious, and spiritual engagement rather than ritualistic observance. Prayer begins with acknowledgment of the Father’s light, expressing a direct appeal for mercy, redemption, and guidance. The believer identifies as one who has come forth from the Father, emphasizing personal origin and belonging within the divine structure. This opening establishes the proper attitude for prayer: recognition of one’s dependence on the Deity and the desire for reunion with the fullness of the Pleroma.
Gnostic prayer is both invocative and contemplative. It calls upon the divine to reveal hidden knowledge, to grant spiritual authority, to heal the body, and to redeem the eternal light of the soul and spirit. The prayer demonstrates that believers seek not only material aid but transformation of consciousness and alignment with the divine order. It models a rhythm of addressing the Deity, invoking mediation through Christ and the spirit, and petitioning for insight into the mysteries of the Pleroma.
Moreover, the prayer highlights the importance of faith and hope in the act of invocation. It establishes that prayer is efficacious when approached with understanding of the cosmic hierarchy and recognition of the divine powers. The prayer guides the believer to petition for what is truly beyond human grasp, reinforcing the Gnostic aim of knowledge beyond sensory perception, including the mysteries of the First-Begotten and the fullness of grace. In doing so, it functions as a practical guide for cultivating both reverence and gnosis through contemplative practice.
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## 3. The Divine Name: The One Who Is
Central to the prayer is the invocation of the divine name: “the one who is.” This expression denotes the eternal, pre-existent nature of the Deity, emphasizing self-existence and incomprehensible fullness. In the Valentinian context, this name is not merely titular; it functions as a conceptual anchor for the believer’s approach to the divine. It conveys the authority, permanence, and universality of the Father while distinguishing the Deity from created beings, including angels and archons.
By invoking the name of the One Who Is, the believer establishes direct contact with the supreme source of all creation, affirming both personal connection and cosmic awareness. The prayer demonstrates that invoking this divine name is a mechanism for aligning with the true origin of existence, accessing the gifts of the Pleroma, and receiving the guidance of the Son and the Spirit. The name operates as both a theological marker and a spiritual tool, framing the believer’s requests within the structure of divine authority.
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## 4. Analysis of the Document
The *Prayer of the Apostle Paul* exemplifies several key aspects of Valentinian Gnostic spirituality and pedagogy. First, it prioritizes **knowledge over ritual**, demonstrating that prayer is an act of intellectual and spiritual engagement. Believers do not pray merely to request favors but to cultivate awareness of the divine structure, the hierarchy of powers, and the place of the soul within the cosmos.
Second, the text illustrates **the role of mediation**. While the prayer addresses the Deity directly, it does so through the Son of Man, the spirit, and the Paraclete of truth. These mediating figures reflect the Valentinian cosmology in which the First-Begotten and other aeons act as conduits between the materialized believer and the fullness of the Pleroma. This structure underscores that true prayer requires both personal recognition of divine origin and reception of revelation through intermediary powers.
Third, the prayer emphasizes **the corporeal and material aspect of the divine**. Requests for healing, redemption of light, and reception of spiritual authority indicate that the Gnostic believer envisions the Pleroma and its powers as tangible, operative forces rather than abstract or symbolic entities. Prayer, in this sense, is an exercise in connecting with real, present powers within the cosmic hierarchy.
Fourth, the text reflects the **ethical and aspirational dimensions** of Gnostic prayer. By invoking the Father’s mercy, the First-Begotten, and the fullness of grace, the believer simultaneously acknowledges moral responsibility, spiritual aspiration, and the necessity of alignment with divine order. Prayer is thus both a recognition of dependence and an act of participation in the restoration of harmony between the soul and the Pleroma.
Finally, the prayer demonstrates the **cosmic and mystical scope** of Valentinian devotion. It seeks knowledge and gifts beyond the perception of angels, archons, and ordinary human faculties, reflecting the Gnostic commitment to transcendent understanding. It integrates doctrinal knowledge, mystical aspiration, and practical petition into a single, coherent form of devotion, providing a template for how Valentinian Christians were to approach their spiritual practice.
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In conclusion, the *Prayer of the Apostle Paul* is a paradigmatic text for Valentinian Gnostic Christianity. It demonstrates a method of prayer that combines reverence, contemplation, and gnosis; it emphasizes the invocation of the divine name as the One Who Is; it highlights mediation through the Son and the Spirit; and it models ethical, aspirational, and cosmically aware engagement with the Pleroma. Through this prayer, believers are taught how to communicate with the fullness of the divine, cultivate spiritual authority, and pursue redemption of the light within themselves, making it a comprehensive guide to the practice of Gnostic prayer.
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This text adheres to Valentinian theology, provides practical guidance for Gnostic Christians, centers the divine name “the One Who Is,” and analyzes the structure, purpose, and implications of the prayer.
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