Zostrianos is a Sethian Gnostic text. It is the first tractate of two in Codex VIII of the Nag Hammadi library. It takes up 132 of the 140 pages in the codex, making Zostrianos the longest tractate of the entire library. However the text is extensively damaged, especially in the center, In the text, Zostrianos goes on a heavenly journey and receives divine knowledge from the aeons. Like other Sethian Gnostic texts Marsanes, Allogenes, and Three Steles of Seth, its ideas appear more Middle Platonic or Neoplatonic than Christian. However, Porphyry said that these works belonged to Christian heretics.
The text describes different aspects of existence in the Kalyptos Aeon, including angels, daimons, souls, living creatures, trees, bodies, and the elements of air, water, earth, and number, among others. There are also different powers, wholes, and genera that exist, with some being holy and eternal, while others are changeless and incorruptible. The beings in the Kalyptos Aeon exist in unity and are filled with the aeon that truly exists. Some of them exist essentially, while others are quasi-essential. There is an incorporeal essence with an imperishable body, and an unconsuming and indestructible fire. The Four Luminaries of the Kalyptos Aeon are named as Arme, Diphaneus, Aphredon, and Solmis. Various sub-aeons and luminaries within Protophanes and Autogenes are also named.
Zostrianos continues wondering about the Triple Powered Invisible perfect Spirit and its existence. Apophantes and Aphropais lead him to Protophanes, where he unites with the Kalyptos aeon, the virginal Barbelo, and the Invisible Spirit, becoming all-perfect and empowered. Zostrianos returns to the Self-generated Aeons and receives a true image. He comes back down to the perceptible world and preaches the truth, empowering and nullifying a multitude of disgraces that brought him near death. In the final part, Zostrianos urges the holy seed of Seth to awaken their divine aspect, seek the immutable ingenerateness, and choose the salvation of masculinity by choosing the light over darkness.
Divine hierarchy
Zostrianos features a complex divine hierarchy.
Triple-Powered Invisible Spirit
The Triple-Powered Invisible Spirit is the highest-level deity. He has three powers: