Gnostics typically wrote on multiple levels, imbuing texts with complicated mystical esoteric meaning, rather than intending a base interpretation. It is possible that Epiphanius failed to realise this and only read into the text a simple literal interpretation. The quotation Epiphanius claims as a reference to semen is: While this second passage from their "apocryphal writings," says Epiphanius, was meant to represent the
menstrual cycle (it is unclear if he is quoting ): ==Interpretation==