Seth

This article is about the third son of Adam and Eve, Seth.

Genesis

According to Genesis 4:25, Seth was born after the slaying of Abel by Cain, and Eve believed God had appointed him as a replacement for Abel.

Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. Genesis 5:3

The Genostics believed that Seth was given as a replacement for Abel and it was said that late in life, Adam gave Seth secret teachings that formed part of the esoteric traditions which were later incorporated into the Kabbalah.

Generations of Adam

"Generations of Adam" refer to the line of descent going through Seth rather than Cain or any of Adam's other offspring. The Sethite line extends to Noah and his three sons. Lamech, the nineth generation from Adam is described as the father of Noah. Geneis 4:17:22, Genesis 5:1-32

Sethianism

The Sethians were a Gnostic sect so called for their veneration of the third son of Adam and Eve and the lineal descendants who were considered more originally divine than other men. Iranaeus is the main source of information about the Sethians who were considered a pre-christian Jewish sect.

Sethian texts

Non-Christian texts

• The Apocalypse of Adam - but surviving with Christian redaction.

Christian texts

• The Apocryphon of John
• The Thought of Norea
• The Trimorphic Protennoia
• The Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians
• The Gospel of Judas
• The Untitled Apocalypse (or The Gnosis of the Light)

Later texts (arguably with a Platonist influence)

• Zostrianos
• Three Steles of Seth
• Marsanes
• Allogenes

See also

• Providential Figures
• Antediluvian Patriarchs