InSethian Gnostic texts, theFive Seals are typically described as abaptismal rite involving a series of five full immersions in holy running or "living water," symbolizing spiritual ascension to the divine realm. The Five Seals are frequently mentioned in variousSethian Gnostic texts from theNag Hammadi library.^[1]

While some scholars consider the Five Seals to be literary symbolism rather than an actual religious ritual,Birger A. Pearson believes that the Five Seals refer to an actual ritual in which the initiate was ritually immersed in water five times. Pearson also finds many parallels between the Sethian ritual of the Five Seals and theMandaean baptismal ritual ofmasbuta.^[2]

Tractates in theNag Hammadi library that mention the Five Seals include:^[1]

• Apocryphon of John
• Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit
• Trimorphic Protennoia
• Zostrianos

TheHoly Book of the Great Invisible Spirit,Trimorphic Protennoia,Zostrianos, andApocalypse of Adam also mentionMicheus, Michar, and Mnesinous as three heavenly guardian spirits presiding over the rite of baptism performed in the wellspring ofLiving Water, whileYesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus (i.e.,Jesus of Nazareth the Righteous [ho dikaios]) is equated with theLiving Water.^[1]

In contrast,Marsanes mentions Thirteen Seals rather than Five Seals.

At the end of theApocryphon of John, the Five Seals are described as protecting against death.^[1]

I raised and sealed the person in luminous water with Five Seals, that death might not prevail over the person from that moment on.

This quote has a parallel in Saying 19 of theCopticGospel of Thomas, attributed to Jesus.^[1]

For there arefive trees in paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death.

In theTrimorphic Protennoia, the Five Seals are described in the following manner:^[1]

1. When you enter the light, you will be glorified by those who give glory,
2. and those who enthrone will enthrone you.
3. You will receive robes from those who give robes,
4. and the baptizers will baptize you,
5. and you will become exceedingly glorious, as you were in the beginning, when you were light.

In more detail later in the same text:

1. I delivered him to those who give robes, Yammon, Elasso, Amenai, and they clothed him with a robe from the robes of light.
2. I delivered him to the baptizers, and they baptized him,Micheus, Michar, Mnesinous, and they immersed him in the spring of the [water] of life.
3. I delivered him to those who enthrone, Bariel, Nouthan, Sabenai, and they enthroned him from the throne of glory.
4. I delivered him to those who glorify, Ariom, Elien, Phariel, and they glorified him with the glory of the fatherhood.
5. Those who rapture raptured, Kamaliel, ...anen, Samblo, the servants of the great holy luminaries, and they took him into the place of the light of his fatherhood.

InZostrianos, the protagonist Zostrianos is baptized five times in the name ofAutogenes, the divine Self-Generated One.^[1]

Thenumber five was also an important symbolic number inManichaeism, with heavenly beings, concepts, and others often grouped in sets of five.

Buckley (2010) notes similarities withMandaean baptism (masbuta).^[3]

• Masbuta, the main baptismal ritual in Mandaeism
• Tamasha (ablution), Mandaean ablution involving triple immersion in water
• Masiqta, divine ascension in Mandaeism
• History of baptism
• Immersion baptism
• Ritual washing in Judaism
• Mikveh inJudaism
• Five Trees
• Three Seals (Manichaeism)

• Sethianism
• Baptism
• 5 (number)

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata