Codex Tchacos

Coptic literature

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July 19, 2026

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The Codex Tchacos is a 4th-century papyrus manuscript discovered in Egypt in the 1970s. It contains at least four writings, including the Gospel of Judas, which gained significant attention. The codex also includes other texts, some of which are found in the Nag Hammadi library.1

Coptic literature, primarily religious, emerged in Egypt from the 2nd century CE using the Coptic language. It includes translations from Greek, original works by early Christian figures like St. Anthony of Egypt and St. Shenute, and texts shedding light on early Gnosticism and Manichaeism. The Codex Tchacos is a significant example of Coptic literature, demonstrating the diversity of early Christian writings and Gnostic traditions.21

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…a 4th-century papyrus manuscript, the Codex Tchacos, which also contained at least three other writings, two of which were found in the Nag Hammadi collection. The codex was discovered in Egypt in the 1970s but was subsequently acquired by and passed among collectors in Europe and the United States for…
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…a 4th-century papyrus manuscript, the Codex Tchacos, which also contained at least three other writings, two of which were found in the Nag Hammadi collection. The codex was discovered in Egypt in the 1970s but was subsequently acquired by and passed among collectors in Europe and the United States for…
Read More