According to Robinson, Melchizedek is a Greek text translated into Coptic and dates from the late second to early third century. It was likely favored by Egyptian Sethian Gnostics with a fascination for Melchizedek. (page 598)
The text has three parts: "(1) a revelation mediated by the angel Gamaliel (1,1-14,15); (2) a liturgy performed by the priest Melchizedek on behalf of his community (14,15-18,bottom); and (3) a revelatory vision to Melchizedek by unnamed heavenly 'brethren,' probably including Gamaliel (18,bottom-27,10). (page 595)
Highlights:
- An unusual (for a gnostic source) polemic against docetism:
"Furthermore, they will say of him,
'He was not born,' though he was born;
'he does not eat,' though he does eat;
'he does not drink,' though he does drink;
'he is not circumcized,' though he was circumcized;
'he is without real flesh,' though he did endure suffering;
'he did not rise from the dead,' though he did rise from the dead." - "O essence of [every aeon, A]BA[BA AI]AIAI ABABA (read: Primal Father)
O divine Autogenes of ...,
O movement of every nature, Mother of the aeons, Barbelo
O firstborn of the aeons, Aithops Doxomedon Domedon,
O possessor of lives, Jesus Christ,
O commandeers in chief, luminaries, power--Harmozel, Oroiael, Daveithe, Eleleth,
And you, luminons immortal aeon, Pigeradamas,
And you, good God of the virtuous worlds, Mirocheirothetou,
I call upon all of you through Jesus Christ, Son of God. (page 600) - "When he came he caused me to be raised up from ignorance and the fructification from death to life. (page 603)"
