4.0

This my introduction to the whole field of Gnostic studies, so I was looking for something basic.

It's organized into a series of short passages with introductions, each on some different themes. There's also a short essay on the background of the texts, and some general principles.

It goes into very little detail about the ways in which the original texts relate to present-day religions. That's not its function.

It's background -- I have a set of more clueful questions now to explore.

One thing -- I know it's an introduction, but given the centuries of scholarship, I would have liked to know where the translation is from and a hint at the axes to grind in this respect. Nowhere does this say it's a new translation -- would have liked a little more forthcomingness in this regard.

Good first intro. Let's see how it holds up in its subsequent translations and commentary.