It is most probably distinct from the "" used by the gnostic Sethites, according to Epiphanius, while the book was possibly known to the author of the Clementine Recognitions i. 32–33, a text that narrates legends known in the 2nd century AD. For this reason, and in comparison with other apocalyptic texts, the text in its current form is usually considered to be written before the second half of the 2nd century AD. Within the usually accepted range of 70–150 AD, the date of 79–81 AD has been speculated.