Fall as Ascent: The exegesis of Gen 3-4 and 6:1-4 in the Apocryphon of John

The Apocryphon of John presents an inverted reading of the biblical fall narrative. As the material world is evil, its creator is an incompetent and malevolent demiurge and therefore disobedience to him is a sign of liberation from the ties of matter. The gnostic idea of the spirit seed sees the real fall in the descent and subsequent capture of the divine spark inside matter. The revelation of its true origin leads to its ascent and return to the true, immaterial deity.